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Syringe Feeding Baytril. Help!

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Bitzy&Patches

Bitzy&Patches

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HI! So I'll just get straight to the point, how do syringe feed baytril to a once willing pig turned reluctant pig? Patches was so easy to give meds but now possibly the trickiest pig.

She has to get 0.48ml twice a day, the baytril has also been diluted in water. So I believe it would 0.24mls that she getting of baytril.

I've tried putting it on her veggies but she's out smarted me there and I also tried putting the end of the syringe in fruit juice. But she's not even wanting to sniff the end of the syringe anymore.

So I'm wandering if it would be worth diluting it even more? But would that take away the effect of the baytril? Plus it would mean giving her more of the liquid.

Do you have any tips on how to make this less stressful for both her and I?! As his morning I had to wake up at 6 to give her her first dosage and she bearly took any as she stopped eating the veggies with the baytril on it. And she's going to have to have even more now when I get home from school! So I'm a bit stuck.

But thank you in advance!<3
 
Hello, the best and only way to ensure your piggy gets the whole dose of any liquid medication is to give it orally by syringe. It's a skill we all need to be able to carry out for our piggies - so that we can medicate them , or give them extra feed or liquids if they are ill.

Here's a link to our syringe feeding/medicating guide. Syringe Feeding & Medicating Guides, Probiotics Links, First Aid Kit...
 
I feel for you - my 1st Guinea Pig was a nightmare to give meds to ..


Firstly , have you seen this thread ?

Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

I think you'll find post no: 4 onwards helpful.

Baytril tastes awful ( apparently) . But, your guinea pig needs it so, I'm afraid you're just going to have to persevere . It's not somethng I've ever done - but, some members have has success giving a small amount of Ribena after the medication .
 
Alfie is getting meds twice a day, he's reluctant to take them at times, I put him on his back in the crook of my arm, I have the syringes ready, put it in his mouth and press the plunger before he realises what's happening, the second one is given in quick succession. ;)
 
I've JUST finished weeks of this with Willow. She's very young and still quite small, so I can get my thumb and first finger of my left hand around her neck in a loop, then it's just a case of hoiking her on her back, I found she squirmed less if I covered/stroked her belly with my right hand, then just syringe in asap, right her and give her masses of cuddles! By the end, we were both well versed at this, took 10 seconds, max.

It was initially SUCH a struggle and trauma (for us both!), and I tried watering it down and mixing it with juice but of course, you end up with more liquid to syringe, and I found that just extended the whole process.

For me, the short, sharp, shock procedure worked, can't think of a piggy out there who'd willingly take Baytril so there's always going to be some level of resistance! I had to get over feeling like the biggest piggy abuser ever (if Willow's squirming and squeaking was anything to go by!) by reminding myself that she's not going to be harmed/traumatised long term by this... the effects of some well-timed kale afterwards aren't to be underestimated :))
 
:agr: .


They need it - so, you have to be assertive. I just want to remind everyone that, if you put a Guinea Pig on their back , please make sure their head is kept higher than the rest of their body .

I also agree it is better not to dilute the Baytril .

And , of course, a bit of their favourite veggie afterwards.

I have a Guinea Pig on long term Cystease and Metacam - the Metacam is no problem at all - he LOVES it ! Sometimes , he won't take his cystease without me syringing it in but, he doesn't resist in the way he'd resist Baytril so , I can manage just by having him on my lap and making sure I put the syringe in his mouth behind his front teeth.
 
I always keep Alfie at a 45 degree angle so he is on a slight decline with his head a lot higher than his body. ;)
 
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