Baytril

[Winniethepiggy]

Hi,

My guinea pig HATES taking her baytril from the syringe, its a challenge to get it into her mouth. So ive found a way to possibly make her have it without syringing it. I put the baytril onto a piece of romanine lettuce and hand feed her it which she eats all the lettuce with no issue. I'm wondering if this will have the same affect on her doing it this way and if the baytril will still work properly if I'm doing it this way?

Thanks

 

[Bubble and Squeak]

Hi,

I'm not sure about the effectiveness of administering Baytril on a piece of lettuce, hopefully someone will be along soon who can advise you better on this.

What might help though, is when Bubble was prescribed Baytril recently, the vet suggested giving it with apple juice or Ribena being it is so bitter. We used the Innocent apple juice, as it didn't have any "extra's" like some, and Bubble was happier taking it from the syringe this way.

Hope you piggy is better again soon.

 

[Winniethepiggy]

I tried giving her cranberry juice too but she hates it lol i may try her with some apple juice too

 

[Digital-Sneeze]

I'm not sure I would advise doing it that way, as lettuce won't absorb baytril, and you risk her not getting a full dose.

What you could try is getting something that you dip / scoop onto the end of the syringe. Something like crushed up pellets in some water, emeraid, or just something semi-solid she likes.

Of course she may clock on pretty quickly what's happening and stop taking it

 

[Piggies&buns]

Baytril is very bitter. Piggies have a huge amount of taste buds. This is why they don’t tend to want it from a syringe.
We wouldn’t recommend putting it on food - it is much harder to ensure they get the full dose plus they can simply refuse to eat the food.

You are better off to just give the dose via syringe - without diluting it with other liquids as this simply increases the amount of fluid you have to try to get in it - and then follow it up with something nice tasting.

 

[Winniethepiggy]

Thing is i can do it through a syringe but its not convenient for my mum to do it when I'm not home as she struggles doing it alone and then wont end up giving her it which she does need her medication. So we are trying to find a way that is most convenient so we both can give her it with no struggles. I had to basically fight with her to even give her it the first few times out the syringe then half of it drips down her chin anyway, its way too much of a struggle to be doing especially when I'm not at home and my mum has to work

 

[Digital-Sneeze]

Unfortunately syringing food and medication is just a matter of practice really, being able to hold their head firm while getting into the corner of their mouth if possible.

Weirdly I've had some pigs snatch the syringe when using baytril, and refuse to let go. I refuse to believe they like it. They've sometimes done it with cat metacam as well, which smells foul.

 

[fluffysal]

My Dignified Sir George is on baytril and HATING it. It is a task getting it into him especially as his mouth is black so difficult to see, also he's a bit of a chunk so it's quite a big dose. I follow it up with some yummy metacam and a nice green bean. We will both be glad when it's over with. I have been nipped a couple of times too so if anyone finds a foolproof effective method please let me know!

 

[Digital-Sneeze]

I've thankfully never had a nippy guinea pig when giving meds, but I suspect my time will come one day!

 

[fluffysal]

Dignified Sir George is not usually a nippy pig.

 

[fluffysal]

Scrap that, Dignified Sir George seems to have developed a taste for it now. I had to fight to get the syringe back last night and this morning!

 

[Idris]

Chips is resisting the Baytril and the Metacam. As he has a sore ear I’m careful about holding his head. We should soon be in sync with the two doses which won’t really help but at least it will be twice a day instead of four times!