Flavor meds?

[regnant]

My chinchilla Kira was prescribed Vetmedin which of course is meat flavored. She doesn't even like the smell of it. What I've done so far to get her to at least take some is to water it down a lot and put a drop of blackstrap molasses on the tip of the syringe. Problem is she'll get a bit of the meds then run and hide after getting disgusted. She won't sit and take it all at once.

I'm more than willing to hold her down to make her take the meds all at once, but the thing is I have a trip I'm going on soon and my roommate doesn't feel comfortable doing that (she'll feed meds in the cage, but doesn't want to accidentally hurt or let Kira loose). I'd like to get Kira to take the meds all at once for a few days, just while my roommate is taking care of her.

I don't have enough time to get compounded meds with a different flavor by my trip. So I was wondering if a small amount of vanilla extract is safe for chinchillas? Just a drop or two per dose, enough to cover the smell/taste of the meat flavor so she won't run off. This would only be for 5 days.

(And I've tried fruit and baby food already with no luck, even with her favorite types)

[deguconvert]

I am unable to answer that . . . although I would say that the alcohol used in flavor extracts could be a problem. I am really astounded that a vet would prescribe a medicine with a meat flavor for a herbivor!! That is just weird!!

[regnant]

Dec 20, 2016 20:50:27 GMT deguconvert said:

I am unable to answer that . . . although I would say that the alcohol used in flavor extracts could be a problem. I am really astounded that a vet would prescribe a medicine with a meat flavor for a herbivor!! That is just weird!!

The medication is only available in a meat flavor unfortunately. Fairly cheap, but it's made for dogs and cats. My vet has given this to rodents and even birds before so it's safe for all, but just not tasty!

[deguconvert]

UGH!! I guess if your main customers are dogs and cats, it makes sense . . . your poor chin!!

[moletteuk]

I don't know about the vanilla either, but it isn't something I would have thought of reaching for. I think I would try fruit juice, or even fruit juice concentrate or squash before I tried vanilla, unless you know she loves vanilla/

Perhaps nuts, tiny pieces of dried fruit, dried veg or locust bean would work.

[polly]

I would ask for the meds to be changed to something that is appropriate for a chin at your earliest convenience. I'm surprised that a vet would even prescribe something meat flavoured when dealing with an obligate herbivore. Have you considered changing your vet? I would not recommend the use of vanilla, fruit juice, nuts or fruit when dealing with a sick chin. You do not state what the condition of your chin is, and this may help.

[natnat899]

I have looked on the internet about this medicine and I can find nothing stating anything about use for rodents, let alone chinchillas. From my impression it sounds to me like more of a long term medicine, and considering it is meat flavoured and there is nothing mentioning the use for chinchillas, I personally would be questioning the vets judgement.

I have little experience with medicines, but www.chinformative.com have knowledgeable members on there and I would really recommend asking for their advise. As polly has said, it would be useful to know the condition your chinchilla has, so someone may be able to suggest a better alternative.

[polly]

Natnat,
Vetmedin is used exclusively to treat congestive cardiac failure in dogs, and possibly cats. I can't believe that any vet would prescribe a med of this potency to a chinchilla, and God alone only knows what medical condition the poor chin mentioned is suffering.

[natnat899]

Yes, that's what I found when I looked it up, which does concern me because it doesn't sound at all suitable for a chinchilla!

[polly]

I have used this med on a dog in recent times. It's incredibly strong, and it concerns me deeply that any vet would prescribe it for an animal with the body mass of a chinchilla.