Just Curious

[crumbilina]

Hi everyone!

I took my ratties to a vet on friday (i FINALLY found a vet that knows what to do for rats!). The vet put both rats on Baytril. My first impressions were "OH NO! I have to force another pet to take meds" (my cat is terribly sick and has been on oral antibiotics for 2 years now and also, within the past month has had ear drops in each ear -- poor little guy cowers anytime someone comes near him for fear of medicine). I didnt want to have my rats hate me too!

WELL I gave them their first dose this morning (I was away on saturday and wanted to observe them while taking it so waited until today to start). Could you imagine my surprise when I held the syringe up to their mouth and instead of cowering away from it, they LUNGE at it and start to lick the meds right out of the syringe?!?

I was just wondering if this is common? What are other peoples experiences with this? I have NEVER had an animal who LIKED their meds this much EVER! Im not thinking that there is anything wrong with them, I'm just curious about what other's have experienced.


PS: They have a "mild upper respiratory infection" -- their lungs are clear and the only symptom that they had was squeeky breathing. So they are happy rats with their "strawberry" medicine

 

[lilratsy43]

Definately depends on the rat. Guess you just got lucky!!!

 

[DarkBlade]

My Yuki steals the meds from me and don't want me to touch it. XD

Zumi didin't like cheese flavored meds but loved peanut butter flavor. Yuki loved both.

 

[SQ]

Many rats like their meds ... as long as the meds are mixed up so the ratties like the taste and they think it is a treat.

 

[jorats]

Our Baytril is the tasty flavored stuff... all my rats love it and take it right out of the syringe. Makes medicating easier.

 

[Moon]

My rats usually hate their baytril, but sometimes the "competition" makes them really grab at it. LOL

Be careful as this obsession with their meds may not last! I've had girls go nuts over their meds for almost a week and then turn their nose up at it the rest of the time. Buggers.

 

[crumbilina]

My rats usually hate their baytril, but sometimes the "competition" makes them really grab at it. LOL

Be careful as this obsession with their meds may not last! I've had girls go nuts over their meds for almost a week and then turn their nose up at it the rest of the time. Buggers.

Hahaha I could definately see this happening! They are SUCH little buggers. Altho my brown rat (Cocoa) is alittle glutten so Im sure she will love it forever

 

[LA]

I just get plain bitter ol baytril and mix up something myself. I've had to tweek what I do but now I have found a hit. Meds with cool whip and baby food. They love it.

 

[Debbie]

We have a wonderful compounding pharmacy that mixes our meds in lots of yummy flavors. Though I still have premadonnas that can detect the meds.

Cool Whip has ALWAYS worked for us. That stuff is the bomb! A little dab on a spoon, mix the meds in and it's always a hit! The only problem is keeping the others away from it. We usually dole out treats to the others first to divert them, or in some cases, we pass out "decoy" spoons of cool whip so no one feels left out. :wink2:

Med time a our house:

 

[ryelle]

gah i have one rat that will eat the actual syringe to get the meds, and one that will only take meds off a dish, even if the meds are mixed in the syringe