Rat Notes: Giving Medications II

This is the SECOND ARTICLE in a series: a compilation of my own random notes and bits of information I thought useful in ratkeeping. Please see that first article:

Rat Notes: Giving Medications I

Some of these practices I haven't even tried yet: I just kept the notes because I thought one day I would use them. I hope you can, too.

Please remember: I am not a vet and I'm not a rat expert: I'm just a rat owner with a little experience. Use your head and your own experience to determine if these notes make safe and useful sense to you for your rats. To make utterly sure of safety, practicality and efficacy, ask the expert: your exotics veterinarian.

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Forcing Oral Medications II This technique works for me, for forcing baytril (or other meds). Make up oral syringes ahead of time. Take the rat and put him (or her) on the kitchen counter. Hold the syringe in your right hand (or left if you're left-handed, probably) and kneel on the floor.

Put your left hand around the rat's neck by going under the left arm and over the right arm (so you're not strangling him). Hold the rat up so he's standing on his hind legs. Remember, the ONLY part you are trying to restrain is the head. By holding the rat "standing up" you keep them from kicking with all four feet. (IF you absolutely cannot make this work and the rat is too tough for you to hold, you can also try holding him by the scruff of the neck, with him still standing on hind feet.)

You can put the tip of the syringe into the rat's mouth from the side. They don't have teeth there, so they can't keep you out. If your rats are smart and try to get out of it by simply not swallowing and letting the medicine drip back out, try to jam (gently) the syringe as far back as you can before squirting the meds. This forces them to swallow (it might look like you are choking them while you have the syringe in).

If you can't get it on the first try, don't worry, just pet and snuggle the rat for a few seconds and try over again. Patience is the key. So is speed! Afterwards, always cuddle your rat and tell him he was a very good boy and you're sorry you have to give him ickymedicine. (Baytril tastes AWFUL; an alternative might be raspberry-flavored doxycycline)

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