I’ve been feeding supplements by syringe, one of the big ones for medicine. The rubber part of the plunger always starts to swell or something and it makes it hard to push in the syringe. I’ve tried to keep it lubricated, I’ve tried keeping it really dry. Dry worked longer than lubrication. But it still seems to happen after a while. Anybody have any ideas?
Disposable syringes are not made to keep reusing them and they fail if you do it.
Use one as long as works, then don’t be stingy and get a new one.
Or use the old glass ones and wash them thoroughly and keep them in alcohol, as we used to do before the disposables came to be.:yes:
I find they last longer if you keep them in the body of the syringe, and not stored separately.
I’ve used something like this:
http://www.animalhealthexpress.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1524
These come in many sizes - I bought mine at Horse Health USA (aka PBS Livestock)
http://www.pbsanimalhealth.com/details/Arplex-Syringes/36-10.html
Go to Walgreens or WalMart and buy a children’s oral dosing syringe. They do not have the rubber stoppers and are easier to use long term. Just plastic parts.
Vaseline
My guess is you are lubricating it with a petroleum based product, which causes rubber to swell, decay, crack, and fall apart. If you feel you need lubrication, use some olive oil or vegetable oil. Clean the syringe, dry it with a towel, lightly lubricate it (finger tip dipped in oil spread on the stopper), store with stopper inside syringe.
ETA: Do NOT use vaseline unless you want to have to replace the syringe every two or three days.
Buy several. When they start acting as you describe, dispose of them and use a new one. They’re disposable for a reason!
As was referenced earlier in the thread, you can buy syringes designed for dosing livestock that are very long lived. Go to any store that sells livestock supplies and you will find a selection to choose from. They are not terribly expensive and they last. Or, just buy a box of the plastic ones and understand that you will have to replace them fairly frequently. I’m not a big fan of using glass items around horses.
ah, store it inside, hadn’t thought of that. I was leaving it out so it could dry off.
I do have a bunch of them, just trying to get it to last longer than a few days.
I’ll look at some of the longer term options, but i don’t think i would use glass either.
Get one of these http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=9896e1f5-ae0f-44f9-b0c9-1e55355838c1 - I’ve used them on goats, dogs, cows, and yes, horses. They’re great.
[QUOTE=blueboo;6109464]
Get one of these http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=9896e1f5-ae0f-44f9-b0c9-1e55355838c1 - I’ve used them on goats, dogs, cows, and yes, horses. They’re great.[/QUOTE]
When processing cattle, we use those for vaccines.
Some of them have a hose that connects to the vaccine bottle and are self refilling.
They last long, but also have finite lives, we replace them regularly.
I am not sure it makes sense for a horse owner, for one time use thru one horse needing medication, it made sense to buy those, but maybe it does.
I was teasing with the glass syringes with steel needles we had to clean and disinfect after every use and then we kept in a square glass box in an alcohol bath.
I expect those are only found in a museum today.:lol:
[QUOTE=BeeHoney;6109226]
As was referenced earlier in the thread, you can buy syringes designed for dosing livestock that are very long lived. Go to any store that sells livestock supplies and you will find a selection to choose from. They are not terribly expensive and they last. Or, just buy a box of the plastic ones and understand that you will have to replace them fairly frequently. I’m not a big fan of using glass items around horses.[/QUOTE]
Bears repeating ~
“… syringes designed for oral dosing livestock that are very long lived. Go to any store that sells livestock supplies and you will find a selection to choose from. They are not terribly expensive and they last.”
:yes:
[QUOTE=blueboo;6109464]
Get one of these http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=9896e1f5-ae0f-44f9-b0c9-1e55355838c1 - I’ve used them on goats, dogs, cows, and yes, horses. They’re great.[/QUOTE]
This is what I use. It is designed for repeated use!
I don’t store it in the syringe as it sticks. I was it let them dry seperately, and then dip the rubber in veggie oil right before use. Works like a charm…
I can sometimes restore mine with some Aveeno
The dosing syringes mentioned by Foxyrab look great.
For long term storage, keeping the plunger inside the syringe body seems to work best. Before storing (or when it gets sticky), smearing a bit of Aveeno lotion on the black rubber seems to restore it. Please check your bottle of Aveeno (they have different formulations); mine doesn’t list any toxic ingredients. I haven’t tried the vegetable oil, but Canola or corn oil seem to oxidize under long term storage.
I use a bit of butter smeared on the sides of the rubber.
PAM! or any other non-stick cooking spray. Or even us a tab bit of cooking oil. Just put a tab inside the syringe top, insert the plunger and twist it around in the oil then run it up and down the inside of the syringe. It just needs a bit of lubeing. Yes, any petroleum product will break down rubber over time but I have lots of dosing syringes that I have used for years and years. Endurance riders use them to get electrolytes into their horses and they are made to last. I use PAM most of the time but I have dipped a finger into a tub of margarine more than once!
chicamuxen
I also use Pam. 
