Syringing Medication

[ylaena11]

One of my piggies has a course of antibiotics to take. He is very active and he escapes sideways when I try to stop him reversing away from me. He also does this when I try to wrap him in their blanket. As he is less than 5 months old and still getting used to me I haven't lifted him and he backs away from it.

Does anyone have any other advise for being able to handle him to give him the antibiotics? Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

One of my piggies has a course of antibiotics to take. He is very active and he escapes sideways when I try to stop him reversing away from me. He also does this when I try to wrap him in their blanket. As he is less than 5 months old and still getting used to me I haven't lifted him and he backs away from it.

Does anyone have any other advise for being able to handle him to give him the antibiotics? Thanks

Hi! We have an illustrated chapter on medicating uncooperative piggies in our medicating guide. I find it most effective to prop a piggy against my chest, facing forward so I can control and restrict it with one hand, especially the head, (if necessary by leaning back a bit) while medicating with the other.
My rather miffed Pili Pala has modelled this pose. Other experienced members are also finding this the easiest way to cope and to get the job done.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

 

[ylaena11]

I

Hi! We have an illustrated chapter on medicating uncooperative piggies in our medicating guide. I find it most effective to prop a piggy against my chest, facing forward so I can control and restrict it with one hand, especially the head, (if necessary by leaning back a bit) while medicating with the other.
My rather miffed Pili Pala has modelled this pose. Other experienced members are also finding this the easiest way to cope and to get the job done.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide

I've looked at that and trying to give the antibiotics again this morning and my piggies is wary of me, that I cant get close enough to even stroke him. Picking him up and wrapping him in blanket/towel doesn't look an option

 

[Wiebke]

I

I've looked at that and trying to give the antibiotics again this morning and my piggies is wary of me, that I cant get close enough to even stroke him. Picking him up and wrapping him in blanket/towel doesn't look an option

Have you tried this method of picking up here? Please be aware that in case of a severe illness and major loss of appetite you need to be tough or your guinea pig will die.

The good news is that they will forgive you afterwards. Use the piggy whispering tricks to assert authority (that goes a long way for cooperation), but also to tell your piggy that you love it. Praise it lavishly for being such a good sport.

If you are inexperienced, your piggies feel that. It is often a battle of wills at first. Once they realise that they cannot get away with it, they will give in more.

If medicine is bad tasting (and baytril is the foulest tasting thing there is; please do not try it yourself - it is harmful to humans), then try to get it in as quickly as you can and follow it up with the same amount of strong tasting fruit juice or concentrated juice to wash off the taste.

 

[ylaena11]

th

Have you tried this method of picking up here? Please be aware that in case of a severe illness and major loss of appetite you need to be tough or your guinea pig will die.

The good news is that they will forgive you afterwards. Use the piggy whispering tricks to assert authority (that goes a long way for cooperation), but also to tell your piggy that you love it. Praise it lavishly for being such a good sport.

If you are inexperienced, your piggies feel that. It is often a battle of wills at first. Once they realise that they cannot get away with it, they will give in more.

If medicine is bad tasting (and baytril is the foulest tasting thing there is; please do not try it yourself - it is harmful to humans), then try to get it in as quickly as you can and follow it up with the same amount of strong tasting fruit juice or concentrated juice to wash off the taste.

Thanks for the advice. He has finally learnt that he cant get away from it no matter how much he tries, and he's always back eating a bit of lettuce and cucumber within seconds after having the medicine (was Baytril). Luckily my cage has a Smaller section attached to it that I could block off to make his escape routes smaller. Hopefully the follow up appointment with the Vet goes well and he doesn't need any more.