antibiotic administration; rattie refusing

I got antibiotics for both my boys on Thursday. They're not at all bad but the vet said it's best to err on the side of caution. Thursday night I started giving it to them with little success. Well, after the first time George has been ok but Seymour is totally refusing it. I tried coconut milk, vanilla pea protein powder (which normally they love), chocolate powder to mix it with... nope. He's having none of it. I have to chase him and beg for about half an hour for him to take even a few licks. Tonight I'll be trialling baby foods. Failing that. I don't know what to do. I don't know how much he's managed to have so far but it's clearly not been the recommended dose. Half of it has spilled all over the place (I was mixing it in my hand). I tried giving him the syringe directly also. He doesn't normally refuse food. It's like he knows what it is damn it So I don't know now what to do. Shall I give it to him beyond the 7 days since he's not getting the correct dose so far? I worry that sub optimal intake will just create more bacterial resistance and he will get more ill in the long run.

I read on here that someone used cool whip. I am administering doxy with a small amount of it and they will practically rip the spoon from my hand to get it.

I’ve never heard of it. I think it’s American. I’m in the U.K. I need to keep trying various foods to mix but in the mean time the problem is I’m wasting the medicine and giving him sub indicated doses and that’s a massive problem

It's a manufactured whipped cream type of thing that I think is gross but my father-in-law always brings for the holidays to eat on pie, which is why I had it on hand. It is not a healthy thing and in other circumstances I wouldn't give it to them. https://g.co/kgs/nmBwnA

I understand your concern on the meds though! Have you tried jelly or jam? That was going to be my other option as I have heard others had luck with it.

I measure out a rat's meds into a tiny dish, add a couple of drops of organic real maple syrup, a couple of drops of water, mix and thicken with a tiny amount of baby cereal. My rats think this is a treat and will gobble down their meds out of the tiny dish or will lick it off my finger

I used to used strawberry quik as the sweetener but switched to real maple syrup as a healthier alternative ...… since it comes from a plant and is not highly processed

Oh, thanks for that tip! I just looked up honey too after you mentioned the maple syrup SQ. Looks like that could work also.

I tried mixing in a dish but the risk is, Seymour won't take it and I will have wasted a whole dose. And then if i have to get all that mixture into a syringe and feed him, that's several times more liquid for him to be forced to have and more stress for him, which I don't want. I am now mixing coconut milk with sugar (I don't normally have junk at home but I use sugar as body scrub LOL) for George and he loves it. Seymour is still having none of it. I try to trick him by offering the mix to drink and then insert single droplets in hope he'll swallow them but nope. He can tell straight away and rejects whatever I'm offering. This morning was the second time I had to force feed him from the syringe. It's horrible thing to do but I can't keep trying things because I'm wasting all the antibiotic each time and he'll grow more resistance to it by having only tiny bits and get more sick. Oh and baby food did nothing. Neither of them wanted it. I was very surprised. A mate who used to work in a zoo said all animals refuse Baytrill so we think it must be particularly horrible.

Maybe your vet can prescribe you another antibiotic if you let them know the issue, maybe there is something else with less notable taste? Worth a call to the vet to ask at least

So it's almost seven days. I have tried so many things including chocolate pudding with whipped cream. Seymour is having none of it. I have had to force feed him a number of times (well, most times), which was incredibly heard breaking and I cried because I feel like I'm causing him suffering. Even with that, I see it dribble everywhere so I don't know how much he's had. There's not been a single day when he's had a full dose. He doesn't look ill but I have in mind the bigger picture of him getting more ill further down the line due to growing antibiotic resistance. I guess I'll have to wait and see if he gets ill in the future.

This is problematic. He really needs his full dose. I used to squirt their meds in their cheek and it seemed to work fine that way. Be sure to give him a yummy treat after his meds so he doesn't feel too bad about it.

I try to do it in small doses as the full 0.5mL in one go would choke him. But he screams, tries to run away, there's me trying to restrain him...it's all truly horrible.... Even the little squirt I'm not sure he swallows as I see him trying not to and it dribbling down his face.

I've had to give one of my boys medicine through a syringe everyday, since he's on steroids for a tumor. He really likes specifically savory baby foods so I mix the medication with that usually. Another thing you can try since you've mentioned that you've tried baby food is something a little more solid like quinoa, or putting it onto a treat, like a yogurt drop or a couple of cheerios.
It can be uncomfortable to force medicine on them, but if it is for their general well being it is necessary. If I have to I grab my boy by the scruff on his neck, he'll hold still this way and it will pull his face back enough for me to squirt the medicine into his mouth. If you feel uncomfortable doing it this way I would ask the vet for a proper demonstration, and make sure to give him treats afterward so he doesn't leave the situation with a bad memory attached to it.

For the whole 7 days, there was not one day when he had a full dose due to my administration problems. he will not have it with anything. the vet gave me another 5 days worth but i decided not to give it to him because he seems absolutely fine. at least i have a reserve should i notice any issues and I can run that course then.

I don't think either of them looks sick https://www.instagram.com/p/BsBgpwBHy2R/

Rats need to stay on antibiotics for respiratory issues at least 4 weeks (I have found that mine need 6 weeks),
or the symptoms will return because they were not completely over the infection

Just like people who regardless of symptoms stopping, are required to finish the prescribed medicine
As for having meds on hand, you can see if your vet will sell you some of

As for getting him to take the meds, if you can not get him to eat it in something,
then you will have to give it to him by syringe into the side of his mouth one drop at a time so that it does not go into his lungs.

Please see https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/video-of-how-i-syringe-meds-into-my-rats.19819/

I know about having to finish the course but I didn't know four weeks. The vet said 7 days

ratguide.com is a vet approved site for rat owners. If your vet does not have a lot of experience it might be a good reference