Getting Them To Take Medicine

[VickyMidlands]

my gujnea pig will not take medicine by syringe. I've given medication by syringe to his brother who passed away a number of times so I know how to do it but whatever I do he won't take it.

The vet suggested putting it onto food that absorbs it so we've just injected it into tomatoes but he has eaten a bit of one but that's it. It's his first dose and I'm worried how to get it into him.

He's Been prescribed loxicom and baytril.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you x

 

[VickiA]

Baytril tastes vile. You can mix it with neat ribena but it still tastes vile. It's safest to administer directly by syringe into the mouth to ensure that the piggy gets the whole dose rather than adding to food. Have you looked at this thread which has photos? Administering Medications

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

You need to ensure meds go in, and that means holding your piggy firmly and confidently and syringing the medication straight into the mouth. If you are nervous about it your piggy will pick up on this and it will become so much more difficult. I sit the piggy on my lap facing towards my right hand (I am right handed). I hold the head firmly with my left hand and use my right hand to syringe the medication in.

 

[VickiA]

You need to ensure meds go in, and that means holding your piggy firmly and confidently and syringing the medication straight into the mouth. If you are nervous about it your piggy will pick up on this and it will become so much more difficult. I sit the piggy on my lap facing towards my right hand (I am right handed). I hold the head firmly with my left hand and use my right hand to syringe the medication in.

That's exactly what I've been doing tonight, too! @VickyMidlands it does get easier. Even my wriggliest piggy accepts syringed mess in this way.

 

[Cookies&Glitter]

My vet used to put Baytril with cherry syrup and I tasted it. Just a teeny amount one time to see why my girl hates it.......it was bad. You could mixing a little with a favorite treat. One of my piggies loved grapes and since I only gave them to her once in a while I mixed a grape up with her dose and it made it a little easier and she didn't spit it all out.
Once you got a good hold on her put the syringe in a little farther like back cheekish so it's less likely to all get spit out

 

[Freela]

Baytril is gross, which is probably why a lot of guinea pigs don't want to take it. One of my pigs is on longterm suppressive antibiotics and is not fond of them... Basically, I put her on my lap facing outwards, pick her up with one hand so her back feet are on my lap, my hand is across her belly/chest, and her back is against my stomach. Then I use the other hand to stick the syringe in the side of her mouth (in the gap between her front teeth and her molars) and syringe towards the back of her mouth. She's pretty good now, but she use to fight a lot and this is the easiest way I've found to gently keep her still and get the meds in.

 

[VickyMidlands]

Thank you everyone. I'll try again in the morning. He's had the tomatoes as syringed the medicine into. Do you think that's ok for today's dose?

 

[Cookies&Glitter]

Something is always better then nothing but going to school to be a nurse has certainly taught me the importance of finishing antibiotics and taking the correct doses on time, try again tomorrow

 

[VickyMidlands]

Tried again and he won't sit still, he moves violently away and becomes distressed. I'm going to ring the vets and see if they can give it to him if I go in with him. He's quite poorly - either assess infected or the tumour is getting bad so I'm due back Saturday to see if there's been any improvement.