Meds help please!

[Miss Lily]

You may have read that my dear Tommy has been diagnosed with Arthritis. I was told by the vet to draw up the dosage of his meds using a syringe and drop it onto his food. Just one problem with that, lol! The food doesn't keep still and the meds just drip off. I went back to the vets today and asked for a needle so that I can inject the meds into Tommy's food.

What I would like to know is this - what is the best place on the feeder in which to inject the meds? I am presuming that the feeder will die off pretty fast after being injected so I am planning on offering one locust or silkworm per day to make sure that he is hungry every morning to take his medicine! The things we do for the wonderful creatures!! I have a feeling that it may get quite costly with wasted feeders and meds if Tommy doesn't co-operate! I really don't want to resort to holding him and forcing his mouth open as he is such a sweet, friendly l'il fella! At times like this a veiled showing a bit of a 'tude' could be an advantage, lol! That way I could sneak the meds in whilst he gapes, but he never gets nasty at all!

 

[dartfrog]

Hi Tiff, Ive always injected a cricket in its abdomen do this slowly thou as the meds will squirt back out. The easiest method Ive found thou is to get a plastic IV catheter from the vet & put this on the end of the syringe you only need them to open their mouths a couple of mm to get the tube in perhaps you could do this whilst his still munching his food. All the best Heatherxxx

 

[Miss Lily]

Thanks Heather - he had pretty much a full dose this morning, but 0.03ml is a bit more than one drop, lol! A single drop would be easy!

 

[Olimpia]

Yes, just inject into their abdomens. It helps if you stick the locusts in the fridge a few minutes, they'll be too cold to move about much. I would try to get my hands on hornworms and stuff like that though, they'd be much easier to inject anything into.

 

[Miss Lily]

Thanks Olimpia - I have more silkworms on order, trouble is I need him to be hungry - those things are so expensive! If I inject one and he won't eat it I can't then offer it to Amy. We can't get hornworms here in the UK - they are illegal.

 

[laurie]

Tiff do you have access to superworms? They are by far the easiest feeder to inject. Hold them across your finger up side down. I keep their nasty mouths away from me. Sort of bend them backwards and inject into the area between the sections. And as with the rest you need to feed it right away. let me know how you do. And how sweet Tommy is doing.

 

[Miss Lily]

Tommy won't eat supers I'm afraid! The only things he WILL eat are silkworms, locusts and waxworms. He won't even look at roaches! He's a naughty boy, lol! When I got home from work today he was patiently waiting on his bottom branch to be let out!

 

[KShook]

why cant you give him the meds orally...I use a business card lightly put it between the lips/teeth..and push on the bottom jaw "still lightly" and whhha la..its open, and you put the meds in..

 

[dartfrog]

Hi Tiff Im not sure if you understood what I meant regarding the IV catheter Its a flexible tube approx an inch long with a diameter of less than 1mm it fixes to the end of the syringe instead of the needle then you just draw up the 0.03ml & squirt into his mouth. If you want me to send a pic for you pm me your email or mobile & I can send one across. Heatherxxx

 

[Miss Lily]

Thanks everyone. I injected the meds into a locust this morning and he ate it, so all's good for now! It didn't die before I offered it to him either. I don't really want to force feed him his meds, so I'm happy injecting the food for now, at least until such time that he decides he's not gonna play ball and eat his food, lol!

 

[laurie]

Tiff I have nervier know anyone who could inject something into a silkie I am glad the locust worked for you & Tommy.

 

[Miss Lily]

If he gets wise to it, I will have to try injecting a silky instead. Don't really want to do that as they are so expensive! Once I have injected it I wouldn't be able to offer it to my dustbin (sorry Amy!) if he refuses it! I'm only feeding him one item a day to ensure that he is hungry and will eat the medicated locusts that I offer him for his brekkie! I also have human kids - you learn to be sneaky with these things!