Tube feeding plunger problems?

[Redbrew]

I've tried something that seems to be helping ... Before filling the clean gavage syringe, I tried drying it throughly inside the barrel with 8a paper towel and drying the rubber end of the plunger to ensure it's still very dry before putting plunger in and filling with formula. Several feedings and this seems to be working for this particular syringe and tube.

This occurred to me after noticing they worked fine when I first picked them up out of the dish drainer ... when they were completely dry. They have worked even after being filled with formula then submerged in warm water for warming (I had wondered if the temperature had something to do with it).

 

[RebbyB80]

I've tried something that seems to be helping ... Before filling the clean gavage syringe, I tried drying it throughly inside the barrel with 8a paper towel and drying the rubber end of the plunger to ensure it's still very dry before putting plunger in and filling with formula. Several feedings and this seems to be working for this particular syringe and tube.

This occurred to me after noticing they worked fine when I first picked them up out of the dish drainer ... when they were completely dry. They have worked even after being filled with formula then submerged in warm water for warming (I had wondered if the temperature had something to do with it).

I made the mistake of putting small 3mL syringes in the dishwasher and had to throw them out because the plungers no longer fit in the barrel. Fortunately, I had a large supply of these syringes. We just started tube feeding a sick duck this week and ran into the syringe sticking on the second use, even after oiling it liberally prior to filling. Unfortunately, we only had one of these large feeding syringes on hand and had to ensure it keep working. We tried storing the plunger portion of the syringe in the fridge after cleaning, hoping the rubber will contract and slide easier through the barrel. It has worked much better since doing this, so I think you are right that temperature and moisture has something to do with the slide action

 

[casportpony]

Try using mineral, cooking oil makes them worse for whatever reason.

 

[RebbyB80]

Try using mineral, cooking oil makes them worse for whatever reason.

Thank you! We were using avocado oil will switch to mineral asap!