Won't Take Her Meds.

[Joy&Anna Babies]

My new piggies went to the vet for a URI and she was prescribed baytril mixed with strawberry whatever it is. The only problem, she hates it. I have to wrap her in a towel and shove it in her mouth. And I'm afraid she'll never forgive me D: is there any other way?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Baytril is one of the foulest tasting things that you can come across, so there are only two ways to give it:
- syringe bayril pure and then clear the mouth with something strong tasting like ribena afterwards
- mix the baytril with ribena to try cover up the taste somewhat

I usually use the first method, as it is much easier to get in a smaller amount of undiluted baytril in one fell swoop. Even if you try to hide the taste, it still is pretty horrible! I have made the mistake of licking up a little spill on my hand once, and still wish I hadn't!

The good news is that your piggy will eventually foregive you, especially if it is feeling better afterwards and once it realises that you are no longer picking it up for medication. Praise it lots and fuss about it after you have given the meds and give a little special veg or herb treat! I hope that it wll feel better soon!

 

[Freela]

Most of them don't like taking meds... Baytril smells pretty nasty, I'm sure there's a reason they don't like it! The method I usually use is to put the piggy on my lap, facing away from me. Then I stand the piggy up on her hand legs with my left hand supporting her belly and her back pressed to my stomach. Then I can reach around with the right hand and syringe the meds into the side of her mouth, in the space between the incisors and molars. After that, I will give her a treat of some kind so it ends on a positive note and takes some of the nasty taste out of her mouth. I do find that it gets easier with practice, both because you will know what you're doing and because your pig will realize that there is no escape! Make sure you also pick up the pig for lots of other reasons, like snacks and cuddles, so that he/she does not associate you only with medication. She will forgive you! One of my pigs has been on a LOT of antibiotics for bladder issues and then an abscess, plus I had to squeeze and irrigate the abscess every day for weeks on end, and she still loves me!

 

[Briony_S]

Hi I have used baytril with 3 of my pigs and mixex it equal parts with neat ribena and they all love it. I would pour some ribena into a saucer then syringe correct dose of baytril into syringe then suck up same amount of neat ribena from saucer then I flick it to mix and then they open wide for it

 

[theoretikos]

I use Ribena to mask the taste as well.

 

[Stewybus]

When I was giving Minky Baytril I tried mixing it with the unsweetened tomato juice I have at breakfast time & she took it much easier. I mixed it 50/50. Even now she's off the Baytril & on other meds I give her the juice from the bottom of my glass usually 1 or 2 mls each morning in between her other meds. A lot of vets mix it with Abidec Drops so that's another alternative with plenty of vitamins too.

 

[Bekki]

I can confirm that baytril to a really not that sensitive human set of tastebuds is one of the most disgusting things in the world honestly cant blame animals for disliking it!

 

[Joy&Anna Babies]

Thank you for your suggestions. I have tried carrots and lettuce but I need to get some Cilantro or something with a strong taste to mask the baytril.

 

[Jess]

Maple was on Baytril for a week and took it fine without having to mix it with anything - it was just clear. There were times Maple was a little awkward taking it but never had to wrap her up or anything. She tended to be an awkward moo to the OH more then me

She wasn't the easiest pig to handle but the constant handling, cleaning and cream we had to put on her made her so tame! At times when I would come she would just stand there knowing it was medicine time!