Tips on giving baytril

Sarah9969 · 08-05-2016, 02:07 AM

Hi,

I've just been to the vets with my little dwarf hamster, the vet thinks he has a small skin infection and has prescribed 0.05ml of baytril twice daily. I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on giving to him without much fuss, the vet said such a small dose can be tricky giving it via his water bottle. She suggested putting it in his food but he's quite selective with that at the moment so him not eating it is a possibility, also he's not very keen on wet foods like banana, yoghurt or peanut butter! Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

cypher · 08-05-2016, 02:18 AM

It can be difficult with Russian hams that often don't like wet food, are there any veg that he likes? As the dose is only one drop I've found it easy enough to put onto things like lettuce or cucumber when I've been sure they'll eat them, even mashing it into a bit of walnut or other nut or sunflower seed can work, if there really isn't any food you can be sure he'll eat it may be best to just go for it & put it directly into his mouth, not easy but doable & it doesn't stress them too much & they soon recover especially if they get a nice treat after.

Penguin · 08-05-2016, 02:35 AM

I found that if your hamster refuses to eat it in any other way, swaddling it into a teatowel or small towel works quite well. It makes them unable to move and to push away the syringe with their paws.
First time it might seem a bit tricky, but after 2-3 times it only takes around 5-10 sec to wrap the towel around the hamster to give them their meds before you can unwrap them again (:

leedsgurl · 08-05-2016, 03:02 AM

There's a great guide here on swaddling: How to put Eye-Drops in your Hamster's Eyes
(although it's for eye drops, it works for administering medication into the mouth as well)

Try to get the syringe in the side of the mouth / cheek, and angle the hamster down slightly.

Sarah9969 · 08-05-2016, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cypher

It can be difficult with Russian hams that often don't like wet food, are there any veg that he likes? As the dose is only one drop I've found it easy enough to put onto things like lettuce or cucumber when I've been sure they'll eat them, even mashing it into a bit of walnut or other nut or sunflower seed can work, if there really isn't any food you can be sure he'll eat it may be best to just go for it & put it directly into his mouth, not easy but doable & it doesn't stress them too much & they soon recover especially if they get a nice treat after.

He likes broccoli but tends to have it raw, he does like egg white, but I'm not sure if cooking it into the egg will ruin the effect. I think it'll be trial and error this weekend, maybe to try cooked mashed broccoli or some yoghurt. Failing that I'll have to try the direct into his mouth. The vet said if I was putting it directly in his mouth I should use 0.05ml baytril topped up with 0.25ml water but not sure he'll drink all that!

AmityvilleHams · 08-05-2016, 05:12 AM

Maybe try it in the syringe then pop a yogurt drop or something else really sweet in after so it goes down?That idea came from a really interesting way of getting children to take medicine and keep it down from my aunt that I just remembered,but she uses candy.I imagine it would be the same with hamster friendly foods since it covers up the taste of medicine,so it is worth trying

cypher · 08-05-2016, 05:21 AM

Cooked egg white could work well, don't cook the meds though! Just mash it up a bit & put the drop of baytril on when it's cooled.

GhostsInSnow · 08-05-2016, 06:00 AM

I usually mix it with baby food, draw it up in the syringe and mine take it that way

**kyrilliondaemon** · 08-05-2016, 01:37 PM

It sounds like the raw broccoli or cooked egg white could work well for you, one of my gerbils had her baytril on a small piece of apple this morning and that was gone in minutes

Once you get used to the meds I'm sure you'll both be okay with them, I think my gerbil will actually miss all her meds laced treats once the course finishes lol

Sarah9969 · 08-06-2016, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

It sounds like the raw broccoli or cooked egg white could work well for you, one of my gerbils had her baytril on a small piece of apple this morning and that was gone in minutes

Once you get used to the meds I'm sure you'll both be okay with them, I think my gerbil will actually miss all her meds laced treats once the course finishes lol

Today he's had his morning dose on a tiny sprig of millet which he ate fine, for his dose later I think I'm going to try it in a tiny bit of yoghurt. It was surprisingly easy, the difficult but was trying to apply 5 drops of spot on/xeno50 to the skin on his neck. He's been grooming all morning so he's most upset that I've come along and ruined his look haha.