Nugget's thread - Page 27

souffle · 03-05-2019, 10:04 AM

I'm sure Newt would like a little spoonful of that as a treat. Hope the other type arrives and he takes it easily.

Pebbles82 · 03-05-2019, 10:47 AM

Thank you Cypher, Emma and Souffle

Yes I am sure Newt would like some! I will try the chicken broth one. I am back to making up jelly cubes for the metacam (to cut into 10 pieces with 10 doses in). Seeing as Nugget is now rejecting the syringe. The Hunter/Applawse will be for the Baytril.

Pebbles82 · 03-06-2019, 03:42 AM

I have a dolls house tea set with little tiny plates

Newt has one for his hemp seeds. So used one of those and put a tiny bit of mashed banana on it with the Metacam mixed in. It's gone this morning, so he got his dose for yesterday. Still waiting for the Hunter food to start the baytril but I think both meds will need to be in food to avoid stressing Nugget any further.

Pebbles82 · 03-06-2019, 06:28 AM

I think I may have ordered the wrong Hunter food too

Mixed pouches - it is mainly solid meat in jelly, but have tried a bit with the Baytril in. Also ordered the Applaws cat and dog versions in broth from Zooplus. Hopefully one at least will be liked!

cypher · 03-06-2019, 06:51 AM

Have you ever tried him with any baby food or porridge? I find it easy to mix meds in with those, never had the Hunters food but I would find it really hard to disguise meds in the Applaws I think.

Pebbles82 · 03-06-2019, 08:39 AM

Yes I will probably use baby food for the Metacam - the Baytril is supposed to be hard to disguise in food and them actually eat it, so needs a strong flavour apparently. Vet reckoned baby food etc wouldn't work. Vectis found the meaty Applause and Hunter worked for Baytril so I'm trying that

Mind you I will end up with a cupboard full of dog and cat food at this rate ha ha. Just got some baby food so will use that instead of mashed banana for the metacam tonight.

EmmaAndChester · 03-06-2019, 08:46 AM

My idea of thinking with the applaws was to take up some of the broth in the syringe with the baytril (or metacam) to entice him to take it that way. Baby food is also an option, though I think porridge - if the plan is to draw it into the syringe - is going to get very messy.

I think anything is worth a try when you're dealing with a ham who is skittish/doesnt like being handled. Personally; I honestly haven't had any luck in disguising baytril in food, period - not with our four buns, and not with any hamsters we've had prescribed it over the years. My frenchie (rabbit), Wolf, is a food addict haha; he will eat anything and everything, even if it's not edible - but he can smell baytril like a shark smells blood, and I've had to legitimately wrestle him (he's a big bun; 5kg +, and pure muscle) to take it. It's a difficult medicine to disguise; and I take my hat off to anyone who manages. I always syringe it, but I usually add something (pureed carrot, applaws broth, pureed fruit, etc) to make it a little more palatable. They still taste it, judging by the reaction I get at least, and all have been held and forced to take it, because they wont do it willingly (no matter what flavour I've tried) but my hope is that it's not as unpleasant as it would be if it was just straight up baytril.

Even if Nugget were to just smell the broth on the tip of the syringe and open his mouth for a taste nibble, if you're only administering such a tiny amount (and if I read correctly; it's just 0.01ml?) you could take that opportunity and plunge the syringe immediately. My concern is that some animals then learn to associate the syringe with an awful taste, and will refuse to take it again - and then we're all the way back to the start. It's the same issue with food; they can fall for it maybe one or two times - but they can and often do pick up on the baytril and refuse to touch it again. but hey; it's worth a shot!

cypher · 03-06-2019, 09:12 AM

I think maybe my hams have had funny tastes then as I've never had a problem with them taking baytril & other meds in baby food or porridge.
I hope you find something that works for little Nugget anyway, fingers crossed!

Pebbles82 · 03-06-2019, 09:17 AM

Thank you both. Lol Emma - wrestling with a rabbit ha ha. Nugget is completely awol at the moment and is grumpy and won't go anywhere near the syringe. I think he is doing well to get the daily Metacam in food. But I'm aware the Baytril is going to be tricky. Cypher you must have very well behaved hamsters! Anyway I have a bit of Baytril mixed into a tiny bit of beef and jelly so will see if he eats it. Syringing him isn't going to be an option so it'll be trial and error!

SKB_Hamsters · 03-06-2019, 10:07 AM

Been keeping update to date with Nuggets thread although haven't had time to post here - but sorry to hear that he has a few lumps on his belly but it good that he was well behaved at the vets and has meds to help him to feel better. I hope the meds do the trick.
I hope you manage to figure out the best way to give the meds to him with a bit of trailing! I'm sure you will find something he cant resist and will take his meds without knowing.