Difficulty Medicating Baytril

[Carma Violet]

Gadget has got an infected wound, which is being treated with Baytril.

However, the last three doses have caused us MAMMOTH problems. Gadget has decided she will NOT take it. And no matter what I do, she fights me at every turn. This morning, it was impossible to administer her.

She is being restrained by three hands, but she has learn't to buck her head with all her strength whenever the syringe is at her mouth. We are using as much force as possible without causing her pain or damage, but she is unbeleivably strong. We have tried disguising it with Innocent Smoothie, and on Spinach. But she refuses to touch anything tainted by it.

Gadget and I have a really close bond (<---That's her in my avatar), and I cannot tell you how terrified I am of her being scared of me. She prefers my company over the other girls, and I can't bear to damage our connection with continued stressful episodes like the one we are having presently.

Luckily, I am taking great care to behave very differently when catching her for medicating, and I NEVER catch her by 'tricking' her to come to me. She still comes to me, and still trusts me enough to fall asleep on my chest. But she still needs these meds and I have no idea what else I can try

HELP!

-Carma

 

[Hanwombat]

have you tried wrapping her in a towel?
Also, what with being on the Baytril, has she been giving a probiotic?

 

[nutmeg]

You need to swaddle her in a towel, so just her head is peeking out and all other movement is restricted. xx

 

[Wiebke]

I have made the mistake once to lick a bit of baytril that had gone astray from my hand and it was the most awful thing I've ever tasted! You can't blame a piggy for doing their very best not to get it in their mouths!

Here are tips for medicating piggies:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36533

I have found it useful to mix baytril with some water or unsweetened fruit juice to mask the taste a bit. Thankfully, most of the Tribe are actually very good at taking their meds (as well as being more experienced now), but I have been through the wars with my Minx RIP!

 

[Carma Violet]

have you tried wrapping her in a towel?
Also, what with being on the Baytril, has she been giving a probiotic?

We originally tried with a towel... Then switched over to bare hands... Now she has learnt how to wriggle out of it I will try the towel again tonight.

Nar she hasn't been given a Probiotic. None of my girls ever were when on Baytril. I also HATE the Probiotic our vets give (Fibreplex) as it doses FAR too much into their mouths. I will be asking for an alternative to this next time.

Should she have this too... If so, what are the reasons for this?

-Carma

 

[AudioHeart]

What i did with Artie when he was on Baytil was..be very quick!I found that trying to do it carefully, taking my time with him just resulted in him getting very stressed and agitated.

So i wrapped him up in a towel, dipped the tip of the syringe in marmalade (i know its sugary and should never be fed to piggles but i only dipped it slightly and i found worked well). I then slotted the syringe into his mouth gently but quickly before he had time to register what it was and did not buck his head and then medicated the baytril. It was done very quickly, and over in a flash, and Artie enjoyed licking and sucking the marmalde at the end of it

You do need to be quick mind you, the slower you go makes yourself and the piggle more stressed - well thats what i felt!#

Fingers crossed that things improve!

 

[Hanwombat]

Sometimes Baytril can stop them eating so its good to have a probiotic to keep a good gut function

 

[Carma Violet]

Sometimes Baytril can stop them eating so its good to have a probiotic to keep a good gut function

Nar, Gadget is DEFINATELY eating, thank you for letting me know though, I will keep an eye on that

-Carma