Coccidia :(

[CooperDragon]

I don't have the nerve to pull the beard.

I don't either, but have seen two vets do it without any issues so I know it can be done but think of it as a last resort.

 

[Pushkin]

I feel so bad! He got all of his medicine today, though. I was hand feeding him greens and realized that he was opening his mouth wide open - so I took advantage of the situation and squirt his meds in his mouth when he grabbed a green from me. He was not happy! Now he won't take any more greens from me… I think I broke his trust! At least he got his meds, though.

 

[CooperDragon]

You may have one or two more shots with that trick before he remembers it long term.

 

[Pushkin]

You may have one or two more shots with that trick before he remembers it long term.

Yeahhhh I'm thinking the same. I did get him to eat some blueberries from my hand, but he wouldn't take any more greens from me - he's pretty smart! I don't want him to be afraid to eat from me, so I might try something else tomorrow. Can't wait for this to be done.

 

[CooperDragon]

You could try mixing it with a little bit of baby food veggie or puree of some sort to mask the flavor if that's what he is protesting. Kind of like hiding a pill in peanut butter for a dog.

 

[Brezzy99]

Lol. I bet he was quite ticked to get a shot of meds when he thought he was getting greens. How long does he have to take the meds?

 

[Pushkin]

Cooper - I thought of doing that, but I'm just afraid that he won't eat whatever I squirt it on… the only thing that I can be 100% confident about him eating is bugs, so maybe I could squirt it on a few supers and see if he eats them? I might try that!

Brezzy - He has two more daily treatments, then 5 more on alternating days. 7 more total. I think I'm going to need to get creative!

 

[CooperDragon]

I've heard of putting the medication on a bug and feeding it, but haven't done it myself. May be worth a try if you can't wait him out with the syringe.

 

[BabySkales]

Maybe inject it into a super? Or a hornworm... I'm sure he will be so excited with the bug he will just scarf it down..

 

[Brezzy99]

I don't see why injecting his feeders with the meds wouldn't work. How is he doing otherwise? It's good he has an appetite.

 

[Pushkin]

I'm not really sure how to go about injecting his feeders - the syringe has a fairly wide plastic opening, not a needle - so I'd basically have to figure out how to get it into the feeders mouth… ahhhh so frustrating!

 

[BabySkales]

you can get a blunt tip syringe from a pharmacy.. or if you know someone that uses insulin..

 

[Pushkin]

Well, I tried putting the meds on the back of a superworm, but it didn't stick (should have thought of that), and all the medicine soaked into his paper towels. So I used another dose and stuck it in his mouth when he went to eat the worm - he hated it again, but he ate a few more worms afterwards and is still eating from my hand, so I guess that's what I'll have to do!
Need to go back to the vet for another dose of medicine, now!

 

[Pushkin]

I tried slipping it into his mouth while he chomped on a worm again today, and it worked perfectly! And he kept chasing more worms, and then at tons of greens, so I guess that's what I'll keep doing! Hopefully he'll be cured after this round of meds!

 

[Brezzy99]

He sure does have a good appetite! I love how you are finding creative ways for him to take the medicine.