How to give Oral Medications
Oral Dosing by @new 2 pfowl
• How do I know if I should be administering medication orally?
This depends upon various factors, such as what the medication is and how ill your bird is. In general, keep in mind that oral dosing is often the best way to control dosage and to ensure that your bird actually receives this dosage.
• What tools do I need to dose orally? Where do I get them?
You will need a small oral medication (needleless) syringe, suggested size 1 ml/cc, depending upon the dose being administered. They can be easily obtained online (for example, search for “oral medication syringe” on Amazon).
Please see details elsewhere in this thread about where to obtain medication.
• How do I determine the dosage?
Please see helpful dosing information elsewhere in this thread.
• How do I do it, anyways?
You will need a helper to ensure the safety and proper medication of your bird.
1. Have your medication measures and the syringe prepared before taking any action.
2. Catch and restrain the bird.
3. Have your helper gently pry the bird’s beak open.
4. Be sure that you understand where the medication-filled syringe should be inserted.
The opening in the center at the back of the tongue is the trachea – nothing should ever go in there!
5. Gently insert the syringe alongside the tongue, and inject the medication slowly to ensure that it does not spill over into the trachea.
* Please note that images are courtesy of Craig Hopkins, http://www.hopkinslivestock.com/peafowl.htm
Oral Dosing by @new 2 pfowl
• How do I know if I should be administering medication orally?
This depends upon various factors, such as what the medication is and how ill your bird is. In general, keep in mind that oral dosing is often the best way to control dosage and to ensure that your bird actually receives this dosage.
• What tools do I need to dose orally? Where do I get them?
You will need a small oral medication (needleless) syringe, suggested size 1 ml/cc, depending upon the dose being administered. They can be easily obtained online (for example, search for “oral medication syringe” on Amazon).
Please see details elsewhere in this thread about where to obtain medication.
• How do I determine the dosage?
Please see helpful dosing information elsewhere in this thread.
• How do I do it, anyways?
You will need a helper to ensure the safety and proper medication of your bird.
1. Have your medication measures and the syringe prepared before taking any action.
2. Catch and restrain the bird.
3. Have your helper gently pry the bird’s beak open.
4. Be sure that you understand where the medication-filled syringe should be inserted.
The opening in the center at the back of the tongue is the trachea – nothing should ever go in there!
5. Gently insert the syringe alongside the tongue, and inject the medication slowly to ensure that it does not spill over into the trachea.
* Please note that images are courtesy of Craig Hopkins, http://www.hopkinslivestock.com/peafowl.htm
