Ways to make medicine more palatable

[LaurenS]

Hi so my pig Peach is currently on metacam, gabapentin and cystophan (she had blood in her urine which was said to be cystitis) I was just wondering if I’m best to give these spaced out over the day or if any can be given at the same time (Forgot to ask the vet at the time but have been giving them spaced out just incase).

Also looking for ideas on how to make them taste better that people have found to work as the latter two are apparently not pleasant Metacam is always delicious so no problem there

Because the cystophan is a powder I’m going to try mixing it in with a little mashed fruit but more ideas would be fab incase that doesn’t work, aswell as what to give with the gabapentin

 

[Wiebke]

Hi so my pig Peach is currently on metacam, gabapentin and cystophan (she had blood in her urine which was said to be cystitis) I was just wondering if I’m best to give these spaced out over the day or if any can be given at the same time (Forgot to ask the vet at the time but have been giving them spaced out just incase).

Also looking for ideas on how to make them taste better that people have found to work as the latter two are apparently not pleasant Metacam is always delicious so no problem there

Because the cystophan is a powder I’m going to try mixing it in with a little mashed fruit but more ideas would be fab incase that doesn’t work, aswell as what to give with the gabapentin

Hi

You can give the meds together. Please split the metacam dosage in half and give every 12 hours.

It is better and healtier to just give the meds quickly and then follow up with a tasty treat afterwards to wash away the bad taste.
Guinea pig have double the amount of taste buds to us humans (and about five times that of cats), and veterinary medications are generally unflavoured. If you mix with the same amount of ribena or squash, you have to get double the volume into the mouth of not much more delighted piggies and incidentally deliver a big load of sugar.

The pictures and videos in our new updated medicating and syringe feeding guide show you how to hold your piggy
with extra tips for uncooperative ones: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

All the best!

 

[LaurenS]

That’s very helpful thank you, just wasn’t wanting to give all at once incase it upset her stomach but if it’s fine then that’s good

 

[Wiebke]

That’s very helpful thank you, just wasn’t wanting to give all at once incase it upset her stomach but if it’s fine then that’s good

You can also make use of our piggy whispering tips to assert your authority and demand more compliance mimicking real guinea pigs; which is surprisingly effective; especially in combination with piggy 'love' for reassurance and plenty of praise and chivvying.
Who is the Boss - Your Guinea Pig or You?

 

[Lady Kelly]

Most piggies have a tendency to like metacam (I've had one who would push it away so it's not impossible). Where possible I set up all the syringes ready, give the metacam and then try and get the others in while the piggy is still thinking it might be more metacam

 

[LaurenS]

Good idea She does like the metacam but that’s the only one lol

 

[YvonneBlue]

I recently found that if I rub a little Metacam on the end of the syringe with the nasty tasting meds in, it makes getting it into their mouth a little easier (as long as they like Metacam). Not sure how long my piggies will be tricked by this but it's working at the moment.