It's impossible to give my rat medicine!?

I have had good luck with unbuttered popcorn. Poke a hole in a piece with a fork tine and squirt the medicine in. I have had success using this method with all of our rats and hamsters that ever needed oral medication and the majority of my mice. For those that refused, I had better luck mixing it with food although it can take awhile to hit upon the right one. You might try offering the food without meds first to find his favorite so that you will not waste any of the medication. Also, for those that would cooperate with just the syringe, I found holding the head firmly with the thumb and forefinger of one hand whilst using the other hand to insert the tip of the non-needle syringe into the side of the mouth worked well.

JoinRats does a good job of showing various methods of using the syringe for rats that might be helpful. They also have an extensive list of foods to try mixing it with. The links follow:

http://www.joinrats.com/RatHealth/GIVINGMEDS/VetSy...

http://www.joinrats.com/RatHealth/GIVINGMEDS/Medic...

(scroll for a printable food list)

Another member brought up a good point about some antibiotics and dairy products. Tetracycline is the medicine I know of that cannot be used with dairy. You can check the RatGuide medication chart to see if there are others:

http://www.rmca.org/Articles/dchart.htm

I am super paranoid about respiratory illness in rodents because secondary infections often occur. If your rat is not showing signs of improvement in a few days, you might consider talking about this with your exotic vet as your rat may need an additional antibiotic and/or a stronger one. The RatFanClub does a good job of discussing secondary infections below:

http://ratfanclub.org/resp.html

I hope you are able to get your rat to take the medication, and he improves soon. I have read many of your posts and know how much they mean to you.

Antibiotics have a really really bitter taste. They won't take it neat and it really stresses them out if you try and syringe in the mouth.

I find it really really easy to get them to take it if you make it into a treat - spoonful of sugar type thing. I use ready made custard or even cheesecake topping - about a third of a teaspoon mixed with a pinch of soft brown sugar (totally counteracts the bitterness) and then the antibiotics (baytril or whatever) really well mixed.

Then wee rattie sees this as a treat. Rattie not only takes it but gets a wee psychological boost from getting a treat. If you get he mix right they will start looking for it.

If you find they don't show interest in it when it's in a dish, then put some of it on the end of your finger and let them lick it - seriously this totally engagese them (in most cases). It's also an interactive and bonding thing. Win - win. Rats are so sociable - they love a wee bit interaction - especially if you speak to them and offer them sympathy for being poorly - and don't forget to tell them how gorgeous and super they are!! They totally respond to coaxing and praise - just like the rest of us!

Oh much do I love pet rats!! Love em love em love em - sweeties and cuties!

btw - I totally know it's not ideal to feed them sugar - they don't get any of this in their normal food, but if they are ill and just for a course of antibiotics - way way better than the stress or even worse not getting the medicine into them.

You want to be careful with what antibiotic you are mixing with yogurt, not all can be given with dairy products. When my boy was on antibiotics we tried to mix it with all kinds of things, sweet potato baby food, squash baby food, turkey baby food, spaghetti sauce, maple syrup, chocolate syrup, ensure, and apple sauce. He would take them mixed with something one time and the next time he new it was there and he wouldn't take it. We even tried putting it on and in his treats. I finally just had to have my boyfriend hold him for me so I could give them to him. If he didn't help me my rat would squirm and squeak and bat at the syringe with his paws, my boyfriend would hold him so I could get him to take his meds and wouldn't let him down until we new he had swallowed. After we would give him a treat, he got his last dose of antibiotics last night and I am happy I don't have to fight him anymore. My other boy on the other had loves everything we give him, he is easy to give meds to.

Get a square of cheese. Roll it around your fingers until it softens up and is easy to shape. Once you have made a circular shape, use a knife to cut through the middle. Then cut out dome INSIDE the ball on each half ( a semi-circle on each half), place the dosage of medicine in the semi circles and seal up the two halves together so the dosage remains inside the cheese ball. Only do a small ball so it is bite size. Hopefully because the medicine is within the ball and not around it he will not smell it. It should then eat it!

As you may already know, severe dairy has poor outcomes on a rats digestion. Small quantities of dairy is high quality, yet taking into attention you will might desire to provide this dosage two times an afternoon yoghurt the two cases may be pushing it. i will propose melon or grape as they blend nicely with baytril and its a delicate adequate and candy fruit it is going to entice the rats to consume it.

Have another person hold your rat. Gently squeeze his cheeks. Put the tip of the syringe in his mouth towards the back of his cheek, and squeeze the medicine in. It'll go in his mouth and he'll have no choice but to swallow it.

all rats are different.

one of my males is quite prone to respiratory conditions, and I'm often having to give him antibiotics

try getting a teatowel, and carefully fold their arms down to their side and wrap the towel around them, leaving just their head exposed to give medication in the corner of their mouth. in the rat community, this is usually referred to as burrito rat.

my boy finds this level of restraint stressful, so if yours struggles too much too, what I do is still use the teatowel. make sure his tail isn't in the way and with the towel loosely folded around his shoulders, sit him on the back of his hips loosely hold the towel around him and then give him the meds.

it's about finding what your rat responds to best where medicating is concerned.