Administering medication

[gerrygiraffe]

My horse is having 2x bute twice a day and 1x antibiotic twice a day and he being a really pain. He is not into food so can't be tempted to eat his feed so I have been syringing everything. Trouble is a sachet of anitbiotic is about 3 syringes full and by the time I get to the second he is canny and being enormous just sticks his head in the air and spits it out.
I have tried apple juice, apple sauce, apples, bran mash, honey, soaked nuts and molasses none work. Any other ideas greatfully received!

 

[catembi]

No help at all - just some sympathy! When Cat was ill, he was on 100s of pills & it felt as if all we were doing was crushing & syringing pills! He wouldn't eat at all cos he'd lost his appetite, so I know what a nuisance the whole thing is!

 

[lauraanddolly]

Have you tried putting the powders into a sandwich for him ? Someone i knew used to make jam sandwiches to put her mares meds in.

 

[gerrygiraffe]

Someone suggested jam/honey sandwiches, so I offered that to him and he stuck his nose up! He won't even take arnica pills without me forcing them, I hid 4 in a carrot today and filled the holes up with honey and he still wouldn't touch it! On with the syringe me thinks tonight I amanaged to get it all down his throat rather than me

 

[lauraanddolly]

Oh dear, i'm quite lucky mine will pretty much eat any powders etc i have put in her feed, will see if my friend tried anything else before trying the sandwiches! Good luck with the syringe!

 

[gerrygiraffe]

Maybe I should starve him!!

 

[Eaglestone]

How big are your syringes? The one I use is at least 8" long, and this would most probably be without taking into account the nozzle? Sorry it is not with me here at home

Mind you 1 Danilon can take up one syringe, but Bute is finer, so I would not stuggle with that ... not sure how much room an Antibiotic would take though

 

[gerrygiraffe]

That is about the same as the one I have- I can easily get 2 bute disolved in it but a sachet of antiB is about 1 1/2 syringes and then I also have to stop him spitting it out- He is 17.1hh!

 

[Orangehorse]

Have you tried one of those wormer bit things? It is like a bit,w ith a strap round their ears and there is a hole in the middle, so you put the medicine in the side and squeeze and it comes out on their tongue.

I used it, and it was a bit of a fiddle and you have to practice a bit to get the application rate correct, and the size of the syringe to go in the side. But is sounds as though you are having real trouble, so getting one of these might help.

 

[Eaglestone]

This may sound silly .... but could you tape them together with duck tape?????? Have you got a good strong hand? I have taped two Strongid P together in the past, but I suppose that's not so bulky

I am possibly not much use

 

[zigzag]

Go back to the vet and ask for the syringe antibiotics and bute

 

[Bananarama]

Yeh Could you get the antibiotics to inject? Not sure if you can inject bute. Its into the musce so you can do it your self if your comfortable doing that

Good luck

 

[zigzag]

You can get antibiotics and bute in a syringe like a wormer.. thats what i meant not an IM injection

 

[gerrygiraffe]

Yeah I will next time but I have bought the damn things now- will persever this time and next time the needles are coming out!
You can get bute paste form but I have a whole box to get through first!
Thanks!

 

[Eaglestone]

Do you mind me asking what is the matter with your chap, as it sounds like he is going to be on medication for a while?

 

[gerrygiraffe]

I hope not! He was kicked in the field last week so is badly bruised with a nice open wound on the knee so Bute to reduce inflammation and AntiB for the wound. He is sound as a pound if a little stiff but his leg is balloon sized! He had a problem as a 3 year old which meant operating and has never forgotten he was a pain then too!

 

[Eaglestone]

Thanks for letting me know, I really should stop being nosey

I hope the swelling goes down soon and I am so glad for you that he is sound

They are a worry aren't they

 

[gerrygiraffe]

Yes they are and I am away next weeks so have to leave the yard owner to do the syringing he he!

 

[wonkey_donkey]

As per ZZ - get the vet to prescribe antibiotics in syringe form and carry on using your syringe for the bute if it works out too expensive for both - or inter -muscular injections if your up to it!

 

[debradley]

Could your chap not be tempted with a black treacle and sugar sandwich for at least the bute? It would at least reduce the amount you are having to syringe. I used to give Honey hers on her way too and from the stable so she thought it was a bit of a treat!