GliderCENTRAL

Tricks for giving medications

Posted By: Anonymous

Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 04:07 AM

Hi everyone, I got my two gliders back from being neutered, although one is still at the vet because he kept opening his wound, although that is another story.

I have Metacam (an anti-inflamitory) that the vet told me to give to them once a day. The trouble is having Pollux eat it. I tried mixing it with honey, but he doesnt even seem to like honey too much. Can I try other stuff like molasses or maple syrup or maybe even just sugar? Or some kind of juice like apple?

His spot where a wound would be is almost non-existent as the vet took the whole "pom-pom" off, and used a surgical glue and topical anethestic which, for Pollux, seems to be working good.

Although he is acting very calm compared to normal, but from what I can see, everything looks good. He looks a but sleepy, hes being very good and laying in my hat now, and it looks like he is about to sleep, his eyes are about half closed and hes got that sleepy look to him :-P

But about the medicine, anyone have some ideas?

Maybe take a piece of cooked chicken and put some on it so that it kind of soaks in maybe?

Thanks,
Phil
Posted By: FURBYnGIZMO

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 04:37 AM


Here is Suz's page on How to give oral medications

HTH wink

Posted By: BeckiT

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 04:42 AM

Phil, if he eats mealworms, you can try injecting the meds into the mealworm wink
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 05:16 AM

eww I hate mealworms :-P
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 05:18 AM

Thanks for the link to Suz's page, I feel like I'm hurting him doing it that way, but I guess its just uncomfortable.

thanks!
Posted By: sugarglidersuz

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 06:47 AM

You're definitely not hurting him by giving the oral meds that way. It's really the safest way to give them to him thumb

So sorry the one glider is going after himself. Please keep him in an e-collar for a few days after you get him home again. Once the primary intention healing has started, (the edges of the wound start to fuse together) you should be able to remove the e-collar and have no further problems. Luckily, for gliders, the healing starts fairly quickly once the site is left alone by them - usually within 36-48 hours.

hug2
Posted By: Xfilefan

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 08:39 AM

They definitely don't like it, but they get it all, and making sure the ENTIRE dose goes in, and stays in, is the key to recovery with a glider on meds. If it doesn't you could end up treating inefficiently, and get a recurrence of a now resistant bug you then have to treat again, and with greater difficulty/chance of recovery. I've tasted the meds my gliders have taken-they are NASTY for the most part. Even those that are 'flavored' in suspension have a bitter taste/aftertaste-it's no wonder they fight and refuse them.

The syringe method will get the meds in, and the treat is to try and get the nasty taste out (and let them know not only that i'ts over, but you still love them). It also has the advantage of knowing the entire dose got into the glider, and that's important. I've only had one a glider would lick off the spoon-it smelled like a bubblegum flavored suspension, but my vet was never able to duplicate it-rats.
Posted By: myangelbear77

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 03:22 PM

I use a teaspoon and a bit of yogurt for the troublesome ones. Just a dab of yougurt and the meds in the spoon not even mixed and I have never had issues that way they eat it all on their own. Yogurt has such a strog odor and I have yet met a glider that does not go nuts for the stuff! good luck and hope bothare doing better soon!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 04:37 PM

Hmmm I will try yogurt tonight for the both of them.

I checked on Castor every couple hours or so while I was sleeping, and he hardly even touches his spot there. He'll groom or lick his cloaca every once and a while, and it looks like he is scratching sometimes to the side of the spot. But definitely not biting it or chewing.

I just picked up Pollux after an overnight stay at the vet and just got home. They put stitches in him which need to be taken out in 6 days. The vet said he tried putting an E-collar on him, but he just kept taking it off.

I'm going to be watching him as closely as I can. I took his pouch out, because when he goes in there 1) It looks like he is chewing/scratching from the way the bag is vibrating, 2) I can't see what is going on. All I left in his cage are 2 perches and a piece of sheet for bedding.

Hopefully he leave it alone long enough for it to heal. Castor's already looks like it is starting to heal. Although since Pollux chewed himself, the wound is a bit larger. :-/

Thanks,
Phil
Posted By: BeckiT

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 09:10 PM

Phil, was the e collar made for a glider? They have to have the ones specifically made for them or they won't stay on..
Posted By: thefotokat

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 09:25 PM

Phil, I recently went through a similar situation w/one of my boys. I had to leave the ecollar on until the stitches were removed and for about 2 days after. I know it's not easy for either of you, but I saw first hand how quickly they can cause serious damage to themselves. A very wise and kind woman gave me this suggestion for his sleeping arrangements while in the ecollar: use 2-8" embroidery hoops and a surgical towel (from your vet). I did use fleece for mine. You want to construct a tunnel and hang it low to the cage bottom. The hoops form an opening large enough for the ecollar and still cradle the glider and make them feel secure. I also made a version that looked like this which my guy liked:

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o209/thefotokat/DSCN0272.jpg

As for the meds, I wish I could remember who gave me this idea because it works great for me. I dip the end of the syringe in a bit of applesauce or yogurt so the glider smells and tastes that. They're more receptive to taking it and then I follow that w/another treat.

Good luck!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 10:27 PM

BeckiT, I would assume that the vet knows what he is doing (also according to another patient with suggies I talked to) and I would guess he used the right size. I didn't even know an E-collar was a real thing until I saw it on here.

I guess I'll try to make one later just in case, but so far he hasn't really been going down there. Maybe a couple times, but I watched very closely and he was only licking his cloaca, no teeth.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 10:32 PM

Fotokat, I'm not really sure how that contraption there works... I understand its a tunnel, but what would be more accomodating for an ecollar?
Posted By: BeckiT

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/10/07 10:42 PM

Phil, ecollars for gliders need to be specially made by hand, they're not commercially available, and most vet's don't have them on hand. Not saying this is the case, just something to be aware of wink

The pic Kate posted was a kind of modified pouch so that the glider can have a cozy sleeping place that still is accessible while being in an ecollar wink
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/11/07 08:05 PM

well, after having Pollux on me from 11am to 10pm, he did not bite or lick or anything down there.

I'm confident he won't do anything, he was fine overnight without me checking him.

I think they'll both do OK.

And myangelbear77, you can come over and meet a glider that doesn't like yogurt. Because mine don't. lol
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/13/07 03:18 AM

Well, Pollux has another wound. I dont know if he did it to himself or not, or if it wasnt stiched right.

Right below the stitches to above the cloaca is a small hole that looks like it could have been there, but aggravated by him moving around.

Either way, I'm bringing him back AGAIN for him to hopefully be fixed for good until he gets his stitches out.
Posted By: BeckiT

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/13/07 03:37 AM

Phil, you really need to get an ecollar on him before he can do any more damage that could have the potential to be fatal!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/13/07 03:46 AM

I wonder if by offering the medicine in food, he wasn't getting it all, and therefore, feeling the incision?

I did the burrito wrap when my boy got neutered. I just used a big square of fleece. I had the little syringe (no needle, of course), and just popped it in his mouth. You have to make sure you get it back so he swallows it, so I'd just bring the syringe to the corner of one side of his mouth, and plunge it in. He was a little upset the first time, but he quickly learned that sitting still and taking his meds meant mealies right after. I just liked this way because I would at least know he was getting all of his dose.
He was fine with just metacam, once daily for about 5 days..
When he was at the vet, and first coming out of anesthesia, he freaked out a little bit, too. They ended up giving him an additional injection of torb.
Hope everything works out for your boys.
Posted By: thefotokat

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/13/07 04:03 AM

Like Becki said, an ecollar really should be used. He can hurt himself very quickly and even though he didn't do it while he was on you, doesn't mean he won't when he's alone and has nothing to distract him. Let us know how it goes.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/13/07 03:25 PM

OK first off, I have been force feeding the medicine to both gliders, so they're definitely getting it.

I just got back from the vet with Pollux and the vet said that it wasn't bad and that it should heal in a few days.

I'll try to see if I can make an E-collar, and hopefully he'll be able to wear it.


The other concern I have with him is that he isnt eating as much as normal.

Normally I give them both 5 grapes, and they eat them all, but lately Pollux has only been eating 1 or 1 and a half grapes.
Should I try something different? I think its because hes stressed out, so I'm going to have him just chill with me so he'll hopefully calm down.
Posted By: thefotokat

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/13/07 03:45 PM

Stress can definitely cause a change in appetite. So can the meds. Are you offering other fruits and veggies besides the grapes? How about mealies?
Posted By: BeckiT

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/13/07 04:01 PM

I'm glad that you had the vet check it out. If you don't get the ecollar on eye, keep a close eye on him at all times until it is healed!

Also, 5 grapes is an awful lot, I usually don't offer more than 1 at a time as their bellies are so small..
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/13/07 04:59 PM

Well, I tried for about an hour to get an e-collar on him and no matter how tight I could make it without choking him, he would take it off.

So I guess I just have to watch him.

He hasn't been real bad, but he occaisonally is down there...
Posted By: BeckiT

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/13/07 05:12 PM

as long as he isn't paying a lot of attention to the area, it's ok for him to groom there wink Just keep a real close eye on him for the next couple days!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Tricks for giving medications - 01/14/07 05:00 AM

OK, I had even discouraged grooming in that specific area. As far as I can tell they are not biting.

I can see they occaisionally lick they're cloacas, but not biting anywhere. They also once in a while scratch with there feet like a dog does.
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