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Old 10-17-2020, 10:28 AM   #1
Shadow Cat
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Default I have to give my hamster antibiotics and I'm scared of messing it up!!

I took my syrian Peggy to the vets today because she was sneezing. The vet has given my antibiotics to give her twice a day for seven days via syringe and I'm very nervous I won't be able to do it.

She doesn't like being held very much, but at this point I think I'm more nervous than she is. The vet suggested mashed banana to disguise the taste but I still have to hold her to me and force her to take the syringe in her mouth.

Has anyone had to do this with their hamsters? Do you have any tips for me?
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Old 10-17-2020, 10:56 AM   #2
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: I have to give my hamster antibiotics and I'm scared of messing it up!!

I hope Peggy feels better soon.

I found it helped me when i reminded myself if my hamster didn't like it that it would only last a few seconds and it's for the greater good of your hamsters health, they just don't know it or understand.

A few tips that can make it less stressful on you both is have a treat ready to give after the medicine.
you can put the medicine in the syringe, than add same amount of water and then add a drop of honey on the end. This way it dilutes and disguises the taste of the antibiotics. I wouldn't do that long term because of the honey, but for 7 days it will be fine.

If you do have problems with the syringe, you can also add it to babyfood (ensure hamster safe, no garlic, onion, lemon etc added)
or add to oats. or oats and babyfood
or add to something like hunters dog food.

Personally I found baby food worked best for me.
I did a video on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FGKt2d5KVE&t=9s
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Old 10-17-2020, 11:30 AM   #3
Ria P
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Default Re: I have to give my hamster antibiotics and I'm scared of messing it up!!

Food didn't work for my Syrian so had to be the syringe and he soon got used to it. I also had a treat ready as a reward afterwards. The first few times he pushed the syringe away with his paws but it was too important not to perservere. I drew up the antibiotic first and then a little Ribena so he'd get the sweet taste first. He tried to wriggle out of my hold so i had to put him down a couple of times which also made sure that he had swallowed it and we always got there. It had to be done so i didn't fluff around, picked him up and got it done and over with as quickly as possible.
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Old 10-17-2020, 11:49 AM   #4
Shadow Cat
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Default Re: I have to give my hamster antibiotics and I'm scared of messing it up!!

Thanks guys, I'm really nervous! I'm hoping it will work with me just holding her against me, maybe with a small towel, as there is not a chance in hell I'll be able to hold her upside down or by her scruff like I could with my previous, tamer, hamster. I'm so upset thinking that I might not be able to give her what she needs to get better, or that I will but she'll never want to come near me again!

There's a chance I'm overthinking things and worrying about nothing.
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Old 10-17-2020, 12:10 PM   #5
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: I have to give my hamster antibiotics and I'm scared of messing it up!!

Shadow cat, I totally get that, I was the same with my Luna, But they do forgive you, especially if you give them a treat afterwards, i promise

I also used a towel at some point which helped.
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Old 10-17-2020, 01:11 PM   #6
Shadow Cat
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Default Re: I have to give my hamster antibiotics and I'm scared of messing it up!!

I have to give her the medicine twice a day. I am not looking forward to potentially having to wake her up in the morning if she's not awake when I wake up. Do you have any tips for that?
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Old 10-17-2020, 01:54 PM   #7
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: I have to give my hamster antibiotics and I'm scared of messing it up!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shadow Cat View Post
I have to give her the medicine twice a day. I am not looking forward to potentially having to wake her up in the morning if she's not awake when I wake up. Do you have any tips for that?
rustle the bedding in front of where they sleep, and give them time to wake up slowly. don't be straight in there sticking the syringe in.
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Old 10-17-2020, 01:59 PM   #8
Ria P
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Default Re: I have to give my hamster antibiotics and I'm scared of messing it up!!

Try the food first and put it in a very small amount. It may work with Peggy.
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Old 10-17-2020, 05:28 PM   #9
Pebbles82
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Default Re: I have to give my hamster antibiotics and I'm scared of messing it up!!

I was very nervous about this too with our Robo and it would have been too stressful to catch him and hold him from meds plus he wouldn’t take it from the syringe (he attached the syringe!). I had an excellent tip from vectis to use beefy dog food and it worked a treat. They like it. It was the country hunter beef. Little pouches and it looks a bit like corned beef in jelly. So easy to get a tiny pee sized amount and drop the meds on top then mix it in a bit - I used a cocktail stick for that. Put it out on a separate little dish - eg a jar lid. Our Robo ate it all up and licked the plate clean then pushed it around for more . The flavour is strong enough to hide the nasty taste of the antibiotics. Most foods don’t disguise it. It was a bit of a waste of dog food if you don’t have a dog as the pouch only keeps in the fridge two days once opened then you open another one.

It made a huge difference as no stress to my Robo. He was not impressed when I stopped giving him the dog food though!

It’s not cheap. This is for six pouches (ie about 18 days with a fair bit of waste). They need the full dose of antibiotic so it needs to be something they eat all of. Very tiny amount of this worked for me.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Natures-Men...ger+bee&sr=8-1
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Old 10-18-2020, 12:01 AM   #10
Shadow Cat
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Default Re: I have to give my hamster antibiotics and I'm scared of messing it up!!

Thank you so much everyone. Turns out I was worrying for nothing (at least this morning) I put the medicine in the syringe and a blob of mashed banana on the end and Peggy came to the cage door and bit the syringe for the banana and I was able to get the medicine into her mouth too. She was even awake when I woke up so I didn't even have to wake her.

She still won't let me pick her up though and tried to jump out my hand when I tried! Which now begs the question why was she good as gold for the vet and not me?!
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vet, syringe, nervous, give, antibiotics, mashed, banana, taste, suggested, disguise, point, hamster, hold, hamsters, tips, force, mouth, day, syrian, vets, sneezing, peggy, days, scared, held

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