Ralphy Will Not Take Baytril! Help?! Alternatives???

[KelseyCupcakes]

 My hubby has to force the syringe in his mouth to get him to swallow it. I’ve tried to put it in before but whenever I get nervous my hands shake violently so that’s a no go. We have to give him .2g every 12 hours. Today, my hubby was in the shower and it was past the time I was supposed to give it so I mashed up a little banana and put the liquid in there but he still wouldn’t eat it, so, then I mixed it together with his pellets and he IS eating that but he’s taking his time. He eats a little bit, takes an hour nap, comes back to it. I don’t know if I should let my hubby put the syringe in his mouth at 11 pm tonight or should we do it later since he is eating the Baytril but real slow?

[bunnyfriend]

Have you tried wrapping him up in a towel? When I had to give Wilbur Meloxicam and force feed her Critical Care I wrapped her up, had my mom hold her, gently held her head and with that same hand (again gently) used my fingers to oped her mout and put the syringe in the side of her mouth towards the back. I think you should try using the syringe again because it is important he gets all his medicine and at one time.

[KelseyCupcakes]

How do you wrap him up? While he’s sitting or do you pick him up? How tightly?

[Stickerbunny]

Stickers won’t take it in food either. I just have boyfriend hold her against his chest and I gently hold her head still and put the syringe into her cheek … she refuses to swallow so I have to rub her throat to get her to swallow about four times to get 1ml into her mouth. Afterwards, she gets a craisin for being good and to wash the taste out of her mouth. You can bunny burrito them as well if that is easier, but I find it easiest to just hold them against me, one arm around the shoulderblades and the other supporting them back legs / back so they can’t twist and injure themselves. For an example of the bunny burrito, you can look at the grooming FAQ on binkybunny, there is a picture.

[bunnyfriend]

I just bring Wilbur on a bed or couch, lay a towel down and set her on it. Then I take one side and put it over her and then the other. Snug but not too tight.

[LittlePuffyTail]

None of my buns will willingly take Baytril. Even if it’s banana or tutti fruitt flavoured. I can understand why. That stuff has a super strong smell and it must taste very bitter. I get my hubby to hold bunny in a burrito and syringe it in the side of the mouth, followed immediately by a nice treat like a small piece of banana or a craisin.

[equalsign]

When my bunnies have to take antibiotics, I usually give them a little treat via syrine afterwards. Just a little one. Baby food works well. If your rabbit is not used to syringes it will take a few times before hes’ willing. Seriously, with both of mine it was maybe 2 days. Don’t give up! If your vet gave you antibiotics it’s important that he gets them.

 

Practicing with other foods (or bene-bac ) when he’s not sick may help both of you become pro.

[littlemissflip]

You might also try mixing the Baytril with a little fruit juice to make it more palatable. Obviously all that sugar wouldn’t be good as a regular part of the diet, but for stubborn buns, it makes giving medicine more effective and less stressful for the whole family.

I use an all-natural 100% fruit strawberry-banana juice when I need to administer meds that aren’t tasty on their own. I syringe out the prescribed amount of med into a small dish, then mix with an equal amount of the juice, then re-syringe up the whole mixture and give to my bun… who thinks it’s candy

[KatnipCrzy]

I agree that you should give the dose thru the syringe. By mixing it into banana and then pellets your bunny is not getting all of the proper dose at the proper time. i would try flavoring the Baytril as suggested by some of the other members. What is the Baytil like that you have- flavored, unflacored, colored liquid or clear?

[KelseyCupcakes]

 KatNipCrzy: The Baytril I have is a pink color. He absolutely hates the taste of it so what I did (thanks to your answers) is I got a little watermelon juice and squeezed some grape (he LOVES grapes) and then put the dosage in that. He loved it! Thought it was a treat!

[littlemissflip]

Yay! So glad the fruit juice worked!

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