| The Sweet Spot INFORMATION concerning sugar glider health and husbandry matters |
| | Giving Meds? | |
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Goldwinger
Posts : 193 Join date : 2009-12-13 Age : 64 Location : Virginia Beach, VA
| Subject: Giving Meds? Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:15 am | |
| I've been reading through as many topics as I can and I haven't ran across one on Meds yet. This is a big concern and problem especially with new glider owners. Is there a thread/topic on how to give meds? Links to instructions and different methods of giving them. It can be hard if you have a new glider and you are not bonded yet. If there is one I just haven't located it yet. Could you direct me please.
When Fivel ripped himself up after his neuter I found myself having to give him Meds. He would not take them at all. I tried using just the syringe, yogurt, honey, HPW to name a few. I finally found something that worked for him. I mixed his meds in just a drop of peanut butter and he ate it thus took his meds.
Does anyone else have any secrets or foolery they use to give meds to their babies. | |
| | | Something_To_Believe_In Associate
Posts : 4565 Join date : 2009-12-10 Age : 50 Location : Texas
| Subject: Re: Giving Meds? Mon Feb 08, 2010 7:17 pm | |
| {I have combined your two posts here, Anita, since they both ask good questions. I also cleaned the thread up a bit, so that it stays on topic.}
There are many, many different ways to give medications, but the very best way is directly into the mouth. This helps assure that the entire dose is dispensed into the mouth. However, this method is very stressful for the glider. So, there are pros and cons to EVERY method for delivering medications.
One thing that one can do is to begin very early with their gliders (during the bonding process even) with giving treats through a syringe. You can give honey, yogurt, etc as a TREAT through a syringe. This will get the glider used to licking from a syringe - they will see the syringe and think "Yummy stuff!" Then, when you DO have to give meds, you can mix them with the treat and the glider will easily take them.
Of course, this was not an option with Fivel, and it is not an option with all gliders. But, when it IS an option for you, you might consider doing so.
Another thing that you can do is to keep a food journal. Make note of all the glider's most favorite foods - things that you may not give very often. For example, I have one glider that LOVES ice cream - especially banana nut flavor. I do not regularly give ice cream to my gliders, but if I ever have to give that glider meds, I will try in ice cream.
Another thing one should be sure to do is to request that your vet FLAVOR the medication. Most meds can be compounded to be flavored - just like human meds can - this does not necessarily make them palatable to gliders, but it does make it easier to conceal them in a food substance if this is how you are going to deliver the medication.
IF you are not dispensing the medication directly into the mouth, then be sure that you DO regulate and monitor the food substance you are using. If, for example, you are using yogurt, you might mix the med in a bit of yogurt in a measuring spoon, then remove the glider from the cage, and hand feed the yogurt to the glider until it is ALL eaten. Be sure you use a small amount. Also, if using this method, be sure to ask your vet if the medication will react with any food substances and if so, which ones to avoid. | |
| | | insanesquirle
Posts : 1 Join date : 2010-10-24
| Subject: Re: Giving Meds? Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:20 pm | |
| Hi everyone, this is my first post!
I just want to say that the people from this forum have been a TON of help for me. With a little help from Linda and Val, I got my suggies to the vet this week and just got them back... With the gliders, came THREE medicines... One of them twice a day for 2 weeks, and the other two once a day, all for the girl... All the vet told me was that she grabbed the girl with a wash cloth, and the glider bit the syringe and she was able to put the medicine in her mouth... I tried this while she was in the pouch and I couldn't get her to open her mouth... What I did was put a little bit on her lips at a time, and she licked it off... Is this okay, or do I need to try another method like you guys suggested? Thanks for your help!
Mark | |
| | | Usha77 MENTOR
Posts : 1808 Join date : 2009-12-13 Age : 46 Location : Greeley, CO
| Subject: Re: Giving Meds? Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:12 pm | |
| I believe that is fine, as long as she is getting all of the medicine into her mouth and not just spitting it out. It can be very difficult to force a glider to take medicine, so if they will do it on their own, so much the better. Good luck! | |
| | | GoGoGliders
Posts : 131 Join date : 2009-12-18 Age : 57 Location : Long Island NY
| Subject: Re: Giving Meds? Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:22 pm | |
| You all are going to think I am crazy but I when Mojo needed anitbiotics for mastitis, the amount was so small, I just injected it (using an insulin syringe) into a mealworm and she gobbled it up....... | |
| | | Something_To_Believe_In Associate
Posts : 4565 Join date : 2009-12-10 Age : 50 Location : Texas
| Subject: Re: Giving Meds? Fri Nov 05, 2010 7:35 am | |
| That's not crazy. I know many people do that when the amount is very small. Just one more easy way to get meds down. | |
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