giving medication?

Shavings

Shavings

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 October 2011
Messages
2,082
Location
Middle of some where
Visit site
so Levi was scoped yesterday and has some grade 2/3 ulcers

the vets are getting us the medication he will need for this

but it has to be given orally like a wormer

he hates being wormer and quiet often i end up wearing half of it!

is there any way to improve his behavior towards this?

he often this his head up and has threatened to rear before now

i did have a worming bit at one point but it didn't improve the situation for him

he has been like this since i brought him
 
Can you mix it with some pure molasses, or syrup? A bit messy but he might accept the syringe, especially if you get him used to just the sweet stuff first while waiting for the medication?
 
Practice, unfortunately. Get an empty syringe, put into his mouth briefly, take out again, give treat.

Do it every day but without making a big production of it, act like it's no big deal. Over time (and this does take a bit of time, it's not a couple of days fix) it becomes completely normal for him, just like you picking out his feet or something.

If you can't get it into his mouth at first, try laying it against the side of his mouth (so it's perpendicular to his face, iyswim?) and allowing him to calm down before you move it into his mouth.
 
It should be given without feed, on an empty stomach and as it is a daily medication for at least 1 month it needs to be administered properly in order to work, at the cost of nearly £30 per day wastage is not really an option, the syringes are like worming ones so no way you could mix it unless it is decanted into a bigger syringe which may be the best way forward if rather fiddly to do.

For the OP you really need to try and get him used to it over the next couple of days, take plenty of time to get him accepting the syringe, put something nice in it as a reward or if you have to get someone else in to help, horses sometimes behave better for someone they do not know who does not expect a reaction and can just get on with it.
 
if its gastroguard the syringe is as wide as the tube so at least you will not be trying to push hard as well as hold the horse plus it seems it does not taste as bad as wormer as they dont spit it out and look as horrified at it. try giving apple puree in a wide nozzled syringe (cut off the nozzle and carefully make the hole bigger with a knife so its not sharp) a few times before you give the medicine as that tends to make them happier about it and its worth doing it a few times in between wormings anyway so they are happier about having things by syringe all the time
 
I know how you are feeling! My mare was diagnosed with grade 3/4 ulcers at the end of September and she hated being wormed as well and found it very stressful.
Unfortunately the paste (Peptizole?) can't be mixed with food as they have to be starved for 30 mins before and 30 mins after having the paste. It currently takes me about 1.5 hours in the morning to give her all her medicine so lots of early mornings for me before work!
The thing I found worked best for my mare was to make the end of the syringe damp and then dip it in some garlic granules. The first day it took 15 mins of me hanging on to her for dear life. After just a few days I could walk straight up to her in the stable without a head collar and stick it straight in her mouth.
Word of warning though, don't get the paste on your hands because when it dries it stinks of goose poo (I had to learn the hard way even though I washed my hands straight away!).
Hope your horsey is feeling better soon. The medicine worked almost immediately for my girl and she is back to her usual cheeky self now.
 
crabbymare said:
if its gastroguard the syringe is as wide as the tube so at least you will not be trying to push hard as well as hold the horse plus it seems it does not taste as bad as wormer as they dont spit it out and look as horrified at it. try giving apple puree in a wide nozzled syringe (cut off the nozzle and carefully make the hole bigger with a knife so its not sharp) a few times before you give the medicine as that tends to make them happier about it and its worth doing it a few times in between wormings anyway so they are happier about having things by syringe all the time
Click to expand...

this sounds like what i may be doing over the weekend as the medication is not arriving to the island til Tuesday, can you just get apple puree from supermarkets ??


Llee94 said:
I know how you are feeling! My mare was diagnosed with grade 3/4 ulcers at the end of September and she hated being wormed as well and found it very stressful.
Unfortunately the paste (Peptizole?) can't be mixed with food as they have to be starved for 30 mins before and 30 mins after having the paste. It currently takes me about 1.5 hours in the morning to give her all her medicine so lots of early mornings for me before work!
The thing I found worked best for my mare was to make the end of the syringe damp and then dip it in some garlic granules. The first day it took 15 mins of me hanging on to her for dear life. After just a few days I could walk straight up to her in the stable without a head collar and stick it straight in her mouth.
Word of warning though, don't get the paste on your hands because when it dries it stinks of goose poo (I had to learn the hard way even though I washed my hands straight away!).
Hope your horsey is feeling better soon. The medicine worked almost immediately for my girl and she is back to her usual cheeky self now.
Click to expand...

oh dear as if my work dont moan enough about the smell of horses now goose poo!! thank you for the heads up! i have to say right now i dont go to work in the cloths i go to the yard i change at the yard but it must still follow me in the door :D

thanks every one will let you know how i get on
 
Shavings said:
this sounds like what i may be doing over the weekend as the medication is not arriving to the island til Tuesday, can you just get apple puree from supermarkets ??
Click to expand...
yes apple puree or apple sauce will be in supermarkets as they are a regular thing to use :)
 
Just ask your vet for a couple of really large syringes. Fwiw, I find mine are a lot more receptive to syrup or molasses than apple sauce. But you've got until Tuesday to find out what he likes best ;)
 
Nudibranch said:
Just ask your vet for a couple of really large syringes. Fwiw, I find mine are a lot more receptive to syrup or molasses than apple sauce. But you've got until Tuesday to find out what he likes best ;)
Click to expand...

you mean a few days to wear all the things he doesnt like or chooses to throw over me!! maybe i should just by a plastic mac instead!!
 
Definitely do not let any of the Gastrogard that gets spit out get on your clothes.... I learnt the hard way haha about 5 tops ruined over the course of Darcy's Gastrogard treatment as it stains anything it touches!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top