$1.00 – $7.49
O-ring syringes do not contain rubber and therefore make feedings easier, faster and safer due to their smooth plunging and resistance to sticking/jamming and hardening.
Reusable European syringes designed to be easier to depress, less likely to eject formula forcefully and more suited for long term use. Available in a variety of sizes for use with medications, flushes, and ease of use with smaller hands.
If your food/formula is blended properly you should be able to draw the food directly into the syringe. After using a syringe, rinse it out with warm water (you may also use a mild soap) and take it apart to dry until the next use. Do NOT try to sterilize your syringes in boiling water as they will become misshapen.
Please note: recent FDA regulations regarding dyes that can be used on syringes mean that the numbers/graduations may wear off more quickly. You can mark your syringes with a Sharpie pen if you wish.
1. Predictable gliding
The o-ring syringe does not rely on lubrication. Its silicone material is smoother (and won’t harden like rubber) and so it will glide reliably for hundreds of uses; often until the numbers wear off. You may have used syringes with black rubber plungers/stoppers (often marked “Monoject”). These syringes are designed for a single use as they have lubrication that fails after the first use. If you use them repeatedly, you will begin to feel resistance until you either can’t push the plunger, or it squirts forcefully and unpredictably.
2. Reusable
The correct feeding syringe depends on the type of e-tube and tube closure (“plug”) your pet has. There are basically two types of syringes, luer tip (“slip” and “lock”) and catheter tip.
1. Luer Tip: Look at the end of your pet’s e-tube. The first type of tube has a top that is threaded and unscrews (usually, but not always, these tubes are clear). For these tubes, you will need a luer slip tip syringe, OR a luer lock syringe which has a small diameter to fit (“slip”) perfectly inside the opening.
Luer “lock” syringes are like the luer slip tip syringes, but they screw directly into the e-tube port to lock onto the tube. This keeps them from accidentally slipping out, but there is a disadvantage. If your cat or dog is frightened and bolts during feeding while you are holding the locked-on syringe, the e-tube will be pulled out. We do have a supply of 60cc luer lock syringes, if you prefer them. Please note that if your vet gave you luer lock syringes, luer slip syringes will also fit.
2. Catheter Tip: Your pet may have an orange or “red rubber” tube; normally the veterinarian will insert some sort of plug into the end that you remove or uncap to feed the animal. If this plug must be removed to feed the pet, you need a larger diameter catheter tip syringe in order to fit directly into the funnel-shaped opening of the tube (about 1/2 inch wide). The photo illustrates how the tip tapers down to fit snugly into the red rubber tube. At this time, we have catheter tips in only the 60cc size.
3. Either Type: Sometimes the vet will do a hybrid type of tube by inserting various adapters into the end of a red rubber tube. In the case of this picture of a “y” port, either syringe will work since there are two different sized openings.
Luer slip tip syringes: 1cc*, 10cc, 5cc, 35cc*, and 60cc syringe.
Luer lock syringes: 60cc
*The 35cc is recommended for feeding if you have small hands or arthritis as they don’t require you to spread your hand as wide to use them. Since most pets require more than 35cc per feeding, you may want to purchase at least two.
*1cc syringes are not designed to pull apart & you should not remove the plunger. Simply draw up warm water and agitate to clean.
Catheter Tip syringes: 60cc
Notes: CC are equivalent to ML for syringes
You may find o-ring syringes advertised that are “oral” syringes. These syringes are designed for giving oral medications and have a larger tip that will not fit into the standardized luer openings.
Syringes are not returnable
