Lemon Juice

[BorisPasha]

We adopted a rescue ham about 3.5 weeks ago, his cheeks were really big and we put it down to the fact that he hadn't felt safe enough to make a food stash. After being home with us for a couple of weeks one of his cheeks was still big. We took him to the vets and he has an abscess on his mouth. I feel really bad for not taking him to the vets sooner He was given pain relief and antibiotics and they showed us how to give him the medicine.

He was back at the vets last Wednesday and we had to continue on with just the antibiotics. The problem is although it was going ok to begin with he is now just refusing to take it. He won't open his mouth at all and just squirms.

I thought maybe I could bribe him by putting a bit baby food on the end of the syringe, he didn't seem interested in the vegetable one so we picked up a fruit and veg one. He's a hybrid so I know he shouldn't have anything fruity but I hoped that he might open his mouth to take it. That wasy we could get it done quickly as at the moment he is just getting really stressed and it's horrible the way he's fighting against us.

I was so busy checking it didn't have any added sugar that I missed that it has a dash of lemon juice concentrate

Do you think it would be ok to just put a tiny bit on the end of the syrinde or would I better to avoid using it?

Thanks and sorry for the very long post!

PS He is called Artie and I'll do a proper introduction for him later on

[Drago]

Poor little Artie! I would avoid the lemon juice, there's other alternatives you can use that are much yummier and healthier. Since lemon is a citrus fruit, it might burn or sting his abcsss when he takes the medicine! I'd put other kinds of fruit juice on it if possible, and though he's a diabetes prone species, he still CAN have fruit just in small and controlled quantities. Rubbing a bit of fruit on the syringe won't hurt. I hope he feels better soon

[cypher]

I wouldn't worry about the tiny bit of lemon juice that he's had, it really is minimal but would try to find something else he likes, hybrids can be a bit funny about soft foods & won't always take them but maybe some plain fruit puree or defrosted frozen berries might work, some like porridge but some really don't so it might be a bit too hit & miss.
It might be easier to mix the meds with the fruit so you don't have to stress him with the syringe, just a tiny bit so it all gets taken.
I wouldn't be concerned about the potential for diabetes as he will only be getting a tiny bit short term.
I have used tofu as all my dwarf hams love it so I know it's a safe bet with mine so that might be worth considering too.

Well done for taking little Archie on, hope he's better soon.

[BorisPasha]

Thanks for the replies Drago and Cypher I hadn't even thought about the possibility of the lemon juice being stingy on the abscess. I'll not use it then, maybe I'll just eat it myself, it sounds quite tasty

I've tried porridge and he acted like we were trying to poison him. He hasn't seemed keen on any fresh veg we've offered him either. He's really quite fussy unless it's sunflower seeds or worms lol. The tofu or defrosted berries sounds a good idea actually.

Thanks again guys

[cypher]

Good luck with him & apologies to Artie for typing his name wrong there!

[BorisPasha]

Don't worry about it Cypher I called him Archie myself one day when I was talking to him lol.