tips on giving medication

[genkid]

My vet gave me a liquid medication for my "Lizzie". Calcium Gluconate.. to supplement her calcium because she is on a hunger strike. Any tips on how to get her to open her mouth to take it. He gave me an oral syringe.

Thanks,

[MartinsPerson]

I use a popsicle stick right at the front of their mouth. I get the edge in there, and wiggle it up and down gently until they open. Then I quick deposit the meds from the corner of their mouth. Its an art, but you'll get good at it!

[SailleSkinklover]

Hold skink "upright under the arm pits with one hand. ( I have to sometimes brace Chuffie's back legs on the side of the kitchen sink or he'll do the "hula Dance" with his tail and back end).
I have the meds all ready to go in the syringe, and I use the tip of the syringe to pry Chuff's mouth open at the back corner. This usually stimulates him to stick his tingue out, and then I shove the syringe in the back corner of his mouth, aim down his throat and squirt the meds in. The faster you do it, the easier it is. But Chuffie is a big boy, so he can handle it.

Another thing you can do: Make sure he's good and hungry, and just squirt meds on his very fave food. I did that with Benebac( For Diarrhea) on some shredded chicken. It only works when they're hungry though.
You may need two poeple to give meds the first time you do it. One to hold him, the other to pry his mouth and squirt the meds in.
Just be careful if its a large amount of liquids, that he swallows it, and doesn't breathe it in. (this is why I hold mine "upright")
Good luck!
Good luck!

[Fatal_S]

I just went with the simple Open mouth-give meds.

Hold head with one hand, palm over the top of the head, thumb on one side of mouth, index finger on the other side. In other hand have syringe ready resting against mouth. A bit of squeeze will get the skink to open it' mouth enough to squirt the liquid in. It's fast and doesn't seem to stress the skinks at all.

In fact, if you just hold the head still and press the syringe against the lips, the skink should open up slightly, letting you squirt the meds in. Aim towards the back of the mouth.

[Helikaon]

i either just open the mouth with my fingers and get the syringe in there or i use a rubber spatula to pry open the mouth this is my fav method as they can bite down on it without hurting their teeth or gums.

[laurnerox1]

i either just open the mouth with my fingers and get the syringe in there or i use a rubber spatula to pry open the mouth this is my fav method as they can bite down on it without hurting their teeth or gums.

yeah that's what we do in the animal hospital. rubber spatula's work the best. and you can see their little teeth imprints haha i had to give Alfie meds a month or so ago for a parasite problem

[Hijinks]

I gave Panacur and some probiotics by dripping it one drop at a time on the side of the skink's "lip." They'll feel it, and be compelled to lick it off even if it tastes nasty.

[aggiegirl]

Try the rubber spatula but make sure it is a soft one. You can also do the lick method if you don't have to give large quantities. I put a favorite food in front of them and that tongue goes into hyperdrive.

[NomadOfTheHills]

I have Dwight trained to open his mouth, and hold it open, when I touch his labial scales. I started doing this when he was a neonate, and everytime he opened his mouth, I snuck some food in their.

Now, if he ever needs medication (which hopefully he never will), I can simply have him open his mouth "on command."

[rachel]

^^^ woah how did ya do that?

[Fatal_S]

Nuts, I gave Skids a dewormer yesterday without even thinking about taking a video. He gets it again in 2 weeks, so I'll take a video then and post it.