Giving Medication to Your Pet Rat
October 16, 2009 by RatsRatsRats
Filed under Rat Health
If you’re lucky and your rat’s illness can be treated with medicine, you may find it is easier said than done.
We took Ginger to the vets recently and she was given some antibiotics. The Vet held the tiny syringe to her mouth and tried to squirt the medicine in. She wriggled so much that most of the medicine ended up over my hand. It was also pretty stressful for poor old Ginger.
There is an easier way.
What’s your rat’s favorite food? Ginger loves chocolate soy milk. Your rat may love yogurt or cold tea. Whatever they love as long as it’s runny you can simply put some of the special treat in a spoon (noodle spoons are the best for this) and drop the antibiotics in. Sit your little friend next to the spoon and they will lick it clean, lapping up the antibiotics as well.
If this doesn’t work, ask your vet to put a cut off, blunt needle on the end of the syringe. You can then get it right into the corner of your rat’s mouth. I get my husband to hold the little rat. He can keep the rat still and stop her from using her hands to push the syringe out the way. I can then squirt the medicine into her mouth.
Make sure that you monitor your ratties progress carefully, after going to the vets. If what you’re doing isn’t working go back to the vets for more advice. Your rat’s health is at stake.
Similar Pet Rat Info:
- Finding a Good Vet for Your Pet Rat It can be tricky finding a great vet for your...
- First Aid Kit for Rats It is good to have everything you need at hand...
- Mycoplasma Pulmonis in Pet Rats Sadly our ratty friends are very prone to nasty respiratory...
- Rat Illnesses You should be aware of common pet rat illnesses, so...
- Hand Raising Baby Rats Hand Raising baby rats is a full time job, but...