Giving medication to a degu- HELP!

[jkw]

Hello,

I am new to this forum and this is my first post.

I rehomed two middle aged female degus last year that are approximately four years old.  One of them, Ivy has recently had some dental problems. She had her teeth trimmed in March but started developing mild symptoms like she had before her treatment (less lively, ignoring favourite treats - but no pawing at her mouth though like before). I took her in to the vet again and they think she might have a slight upper respiratory infection and she has been given antibiotics. The problem is she absolutely hates it (it's a liquid Baytril administered with a small syringe) most of ends up all over her face. Trying to give her the medicineis really ruining the trust I've built with her as now she is reluctant to come and be picked up whereas before she was very outgoing and friendly. Also I'm not even sure how much she is actually ingesting so it might be a lot of stress for her with absolutely no benefit.

Does anyone have any tricks, advice or techniques on how to give a degu liquid medication?

I would be most grateful.

Thanks!

[animalmadchloe]

Helloo you might find you get a better response if you repost this in the degu health section rather than the chinchilla health. I find for my degus is putting the antibiotic on some plain dry sugar free porridge oats let the oats soak up the liquid then let the degu eat the oats, keep others separated wile doing this, others use shredded, shredded wheat, some wheetabix or even on nuts hope this helps

[animalmadchloe]

Here is the link to the degu health section in future post any queries in here and you should get a quicker response

deguworld.proboards.com/board/26/degu-health

[moletteuk]

Anything absorbant and tasty like shredded wheat or oats, or a slice of nut or even a tiny bit of peanut butter, or a combination. There is a good chance she has ingested at least some so far if she has licked and groomed the bits where it went over her face.

There is a chance that her symptoms are caused by her dental issues, if she needs more dental work or things don't improve it might be worth getting some head xrays done which should show if there is a problem with the teeth roots.

Our members with degus with dental issues often find that following a forage rich diet with plenty of calcium can extend the times between dental work being necessary.

Once I know you have seen this, I'll move this thread over to the degu health area for you.

[klbishop]

oats usually work with our lads

[chinsight]

We wrapped our chins in a towel so as to immobilize their arms. Then put the syringe in the side of their mouth and shot it down.

[animalmadchloe]

May 17, 2015 18:52:18 GMT chinsight said:

We wrapped our chins in a towel so as to immobilize their arms. Then put the syringe in the side of their mouth and shot it down.

Not as easy with a degu ;-)

[littlepaws1999]

When giving meds to my degu, my mom wears gloves and holds his back against her chest. Then when the timing is right I quick shoot the meds from the syringe in his mouth. It is a bit of work and stressful for our degu but it's the only way possible that he will eat it.

[jkw]

Thanks everyone

[yasmin]

What flavour is the Baytril? My degu Lilac drinks Ribena-flavoured (blackcurrant) Baytril right from the syringe; she loves it.

(I have had no luck giving banana-flavoured or even peanut-flavoured Baytril to any of mine – even when added to a treat.)

[Karma]

I had one degu that did well me holding against my chest, fingers on the jaw and shoving the syringe into the mouth, he loved the metacam so that was the "treat" after the baytril hahahaha. But trying to put the meds on ANY TREAT and it would not be eaten or touched.

My other boy however this failed miserably ..... Even the tightest wrap in a dish cloth to the period I was worried he couldn't breathe, he still moved around too much and would get out! The strength in these little bug gars is crazy!! However I could soak a treat in the meds and give it to him dripping with medicine and he would gulp it down ....

So all about finding the method that suits your particular animal.