Guinea Pig refusing to do syringe medication feeding..

[Mama Squeak]

Both my piggies have a UTI and they have been given antibiotics which I have to dilute into a 1ml syringe (with diluted apple juice). Maisie hates being syringe fed but sits really still whilst I feed it her. She clamps her mouth but sits still enough for me to get the syringe into the back of her mouth behind her teeth (its not a great experience but do-able with Maisie). Biscuit however fights, wriggles, squeaks and moves her mouth away. No matter what I do, I cant get her to sit still for long enough to get the syringe in her clamped mouth. Just as I get into that little gap behind her teeth she moves. We end up with most of it down me, or down Biscuit, My husband has tried holding her whilst I give her the medicine but she gets that stressed that I think she is going to have a heart attack. I have administered Metacam drops in the past on pieces of apple. Can I give her the enrofloxacin neat and then see if she will drink lots of normal water. WHAT DO I DO ! Please help. I am struggling.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Unfortunately baytril tastes awful if you’re a piggy (and piggies have more taste buds than we do) not something they take willingly. (Unlike metacam which tastes nice so most take it very willingly, I’m surprised you needed to add it to apple - best to just give the dose directly ).
Diluting it means you just have to give even more liquid - it is usually best to just give the dose of baytril undiluted and then follow it uo with something nice tasting.
Its not usually easier to put meds on food because with something like baytril, they will then just refuse to eat the food.

All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

 

[Deleted member 148738]

I've been giving my rusty antibiotics for over a month via syringe. I've found the best way (for me take or leave my advice) is to hold her on her back on a cushion quickly give her the med via syringe and pop her back in the cage. I do have to gently but firmly hold her also.

 

[Mama Squeak]

So are you saying I can just syringe the 0.25ml of neat baytril into their mouths and then give them a treat rather than messing about diluting it and trying to give them 1ml syringe full. That would be sooo much easier. Why did the vets say to dilute it. Its very confusing.

 

[Lady Kelly]

So are you saying I can just syringe the 0.25ml of neat baytril into their mouths and then give them a treat rather than messing about diluting it and trying to give them 1ml syringe full. That would be sooo much easier. Why did the vets say to dilute it. Its very confusing.

Yes, it's not common practice for vets to instruct it to be diluted though I have known vets to say adding it to juice could help make the piggy more willing to take it. I usually line both syringes up, start with the metacam (I've only ever had one piggy not willing to taste metacam) and then while they are licking their lips get those nasty antibiotics in before they realise it's not more metacam. Firm and fair for their own benefit

 

[Pigmeister]

I'm syringe feeding a pig now who has had operation on back teeth and is NOT happy about syringe feeding but I've gotten more used to it over the week.
If you look in the syringe feeding guide there's a part about uncooperative pigs- that's how I do it for medicine or feeding. It's the only way I can get anything they don't want into them.