• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Query on medicines

esmepickle

esmepickle

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 26, 2021
Messages
24
Reaction score
31
Points
175
Location
SUTTON COLDFIELD
Hi, My senior Boar Oreo has today been prescribed Baytril 0.6ml & Metcam Cat 0.3ml for a suspected URI. (The Metacam Vet said was for anti-inflammatory aid?)
I have 2 Queries:
1 - Oreo hates the taste of Baytril and freaked out taking it from the syringe (I had a droplet, it does taste yuk). So can I mix in perhaps some apple juice to make it a more palatable mocktail?
2 - Do the dosages sound right? It seems really low - and he's a big lad!

Any advice welcome as ever :)
 
Baytril is not safe for humans - even a small amount can make a person ill, please now keep an eye on yourself and seek medical advice if you feel unwell

It’s one of the worst tasting medications to try to get into an animal.
However It’s not recommended to mix it with something nicer tasting as the issue is then that you have to get an even larger volume of liquid into him…and piggies have twice the amount of tastebuds to humans so they can still taste it through whatever you mix it with so it will not actually make things any easier and then risks him not getting the full dose.

It’s better to just get the dose in, give some water and then follow it up with something nicer tasting

Dosages are based on weight but also clinical need - if you are concerned about the dosages then please speak to your vet but they will have their reasons for dosing the way they have.

And yes metacam is an anti-inflammatory so can help in that respect as well
 
Thankyou for the prompt reply and the guidance. Suppose I shall have to accept the fact that in his best interests I have to force a dose of the horrid stuff, shame he can't understand why I would be force feeding him something so hideous....however I have indeed followed up with immediate peace offerings of favourite veggies, and will continue on this path in the hope that he heals and recovers.
 
esmepickle said:
Thankyou for the prompt reply and the guidance. Suppose I shall have to accept the fact that in his best interests I have to force a dose of the horrid stuff, shame he can't understand why I would be force feeding him something so hideous....however I have indeed followed up with immediate peace offerings of favourite veggies, and will continue on this path in the hope that he heals and recovers.
Click to expand...

Hi

Please have a look at the relevant chapter in our medicating guide with pictures and video. Baytril is the worst tasting medicine you can give to a piggy. Unfortunately, it is also the most commonly prescribed and only one of two officially licensed antibiotics.

It is generally easier to get a small quantity of baytril into a piggy than to try and dilute it. Piggies have double the amount of tastebuds than humans, so that tactic doesn't really work. Follow the baytril up with a little water to wash away the horrible taste in the mouth and then finish with a favourite treat. The mouth cleanser with water is needed to prevent any treat from tasting of baytril and your piggy going off that treat.
Here is the link: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures



Please never try to taste baytril yourself. Even a small amount can make humans very ill. :(

Metacam is an anti-inflammatory as well as a painkiller (the two often go hand-in-hand). Sometimes it is given more for its swelling-down properties than the discomfort that any swelling causes.
 
Hi, yes thanks to your forum I was aware of some points already, but I learn something new every time, such as that Baytril is harmful to humans, it was literally a tiny dab, enough for me to understand what Oreo is having to consume. I am against antibiotics in humans or animals as a rule, but when I'm told its necessary for health recovery then of course I must go that route so he will have the meds. I've watched a few videos on administering and am doing that method, also having treats on hand for immediately afterwards (I'll also introduce the water syringe follow up)
I knew Metacam was for pain relief, but hadn't considered it was also anti-inflam. So anyway, we shall continue and hope that the stressful taste of the meds is worth it for him to shake this illness.
Thanks again, Claire & Oreo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top