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Syringe feeding baytril - can you mix anything with it to make it taste nicer?

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Piggiewinkles

Piggiewinkles

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Hi,
Just after some advice as i'm currently having to syringe feed Stanley who has a bit of a poorly chest and is a bit snuffly and sneezing. I'm having to syringe feed him baytril twice day but he really doesn't like it and I don't want to stress him out. I even just tried putting a bit of baytril on to a little bit of green pepper....and he ate the end that didn't have it on and left the bit with his medicine on! So i'm guessing he doesn't like the taste! Can I mix the baytril with juice or squash to make it more appealing? I have some no added sugar apple and blackcurrant squash and was wondering if this would be ok?
Thanks
 
It's ok to try that or something like orange juice - but be aware that then you've got more to syringe in and this can risk aspiration (it going down the wrong way into the lungs). Sometimes it's just easier to wrap them firmly in a towel and squirt it in the side of the mouth so it's done -at least piggies don't generally spit!

Paula
 
I always put equal amounts of ribena to the amount of bayril I have to give. Most of my guinea's will always put up a fight having it as they don't like syringes, but I have to really hold them and get it done as quickly as possible.
 
Thanks, will pop to the shops in a while and get some ribena. This may sound like a silly question, but do i need to mix the ribena and baytril together first before adding it to the syringe? or can I simply add the 0.1ml of baytril to the syringe and then 0.1ml ribena to the syringe?
 
Just wanted to say thanks for the advice on wrapping him up in a towel and adding ribena to the syringe....gave him is dose about an hr ago and it was an easier experience :)
 
Syringing anything to a guinea can be very difficult until you've got the knack of it. First time I had to syringe anything to a piggie, three people were involved! I held the pig, my grandmother held his head still, and my mum put the meds in. :))

Needless to say, six years on, that doesn't happen any more! I'm a bit of a meanie now really, tend to just get it over and done with, no messing however unpleasant the taste is for them - although I have some who really will do anything to get out of it. Wish I had known about the Ribena trick that first time syringing though.
 
I've just about got to grips with syringe feeding Stanley, and now i've got to do the same with his housemate! Only problem is Monty is a fiesty piggie and I think it's going to be a lot harder! He doesn't like cuddles and i've accepted that and just let him run about...as long as he's happy so am i :) Really going to have to hone my syringe skills to get the medicine in him!
Good news is Stanley's chest is much better and the vet said he's looking very well and healthy. He's gone from 377g to 387g in 2 days! little fatty! lol
Fingers crossed Monty gets better now too.
 
I'm really struggling syringing my pig at present
shall try the ribena but suspect she'll be dead against the syringe period, regardless of what's inside.
and no, she won't eat any food with baytril on!
 
Baytril tastes about as horrible as they come - I made the mistake of licking some that had ended up on my finger and it was simply the most AWFUL thing I've ever tasted! So you can't blame the piggies. Sadly, the first experience they have with a syringe is often baytril.
 
catslovelycats said:
I'm really struggling syringing my pig at present
shall try the ribena but suspect she'll be dead against the syringe period, regardless of what's inside.
and no, she won't eat any food with baytril on!
Click to expand...

Hi cats, have you seen this thread yet, may help give you some ideas on administering the Baytril?

http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36533

I appreciate how difficult it is, you'll soon learn the knack, but in the early days it's extremely tricky to get a syringe even near the recipient!
 
Yes you can just use the syringe to suck up the 0.1mls of baytril, then I'd probably add 0.4mls of ribena, orange squash or any type of fruit juice and make it up to 0.5mls. You're unlikely to cause aspiration with half a ml so don't worry about that. Also make sure the syringe is behind his teeth - it's harder to spit out.
 
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