Ribena with baytril

RolyRocks · 10-14-2022, 09:14 AM

I have read posts about adding Ribena to Baytril to disguise the taste...
I have a very old dwarf on Bayril so would the no added sugar version be better? They both contain citric acid but it is higher up in the ingredients in the less sugar version so not sure which one is best?!
He doesn't always eat his baby food but obviously hates the taste of Bayril so I am desperate to disguise it!!

Ria P · 10-14-2022, 09:29 AM

I've always used the no sugar added Ribena to disguise the baytril. A vet gave me that tip and tbh, i've never looked at the ingredients list.

AmityvilleHams · 10-14-2022, 09:49 AM

I responded in the other thread already but regular & no added sugar Ribena both contain artificial sweeteners as I stated there, making it unsafe for pets in general including hamsters.

There are much safer options to disguise the taste of medicine though - including certain dog or cat foods, but you do have to be careful with ingredients with anything you use.

ETA I didn't mention it in the other thread but to be perfectly honest citric acid at preservative levels is really not the thing to be concerned about. I know there's been a lot of panic around it in the hamster community off and on but it really isn't the same as feeding citrus fruit & it's basically harmless at preservative levels which would be very low too!

RolyRocks · 10-14-2022, 10:49 AM

Thank you for your replies.
I am wondering as it is going to be in such a small quantity, like literally a single drop, whether that would be considered safe?!
And if sweeteners are very bad for them, I'm guessing the original ribena (not the no added sugar version) would possibly be the better option as it contains more natural sugars?!
Do you know of any cat and dog foods off hand that are safe for hamsters?

AmityvilleHams · 10-14-2022, 11:06 AM

The original still has artificial sweeteners, so not really. As for it being only a drop I still wouldn't do it. At the very least it would still add up over time since medication has to be given for a certain period of time, and often multiple times a day at that. It's very difficult to say just how much would be enough to cause any problems for a tiny hamster though.

I think some people here have used Country Hunter dog food. The main thing is finding ones with safe ingredients, a big thing being not using anything with unspecified/vague meats(meat and bone meal, biproduct meals, etc - anything that isn't specific with what is used) as well as no pork(including boar), and the same safety in terms of ingredients that would apply to hamster safety in general.

sushi_78 · 10-14-2022, 12:48 PM

You could use apple juice for a similar effect without the artificial sweeteners, although there is still the sugar. Personally I think in a non-diabetic dwarf, a bit of sugar to get them to take necessary medication is ok, if it's what it takes.

I don't think you will find a dog food that is unsafe for hamsters per se (it won't kill or harm them) but some are low quality with lots of fillers. Though you can say the same of most hamster foods. Pork isn't unsafe for hamsters, it's just that ham/bacon are rather salty.

Fluffagrams · 10-15-2022, 01:40 AM

I was once told to add a bit of Ribena to Baytril although that was many years ago, before they changed the recipe for Original Ribena and added the sweeteners. You can still buy a non-sweetener squash but they're not always easy to find so I would probably look to find something else that you could use.

I've often used Applaws wet cat food as it's pretty much just chicken and rice but you could also use a small amount of porridge.

RolyRocks · 10-15-2022, 07:20 AM

Thank you everyone for your replies.
As he was due his meds shortly after my post yesterday, I added one very small drop (roughly 0.01ml) of Ribena to his 0.1ml of Baytril and he licked it straight up. I have weighed up the pros and cons and I think because he only has 5 more doses left and because it is such a small amount, I may continue to use the Ribena as he can now take his antibiotics without causing him any stress. For his dear old age (2 years and 8 months) I just want him to be happy and comfortable.

Ria P · 10-15-2022, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RolyRocks

Thank you everyone for your replies.
As he was due his meds shortly after my post yesterday, I added one very small drop (roughly 0.01ml) of Ribena to his 0.1ml of Baytril and he licked it straight up. I have weighed up the pros and cons and I think because he only has 5 more doses left and because it is such a small amount, I may continue to use the Ribena as he can now take his antibiotics without causing him any stress. For his dear old age (2 years and 8 months) I just want him to be happy and comfortable.

Sometimes we have to weigh things up, make informed choices and trust our own judgement.