Pilling a duck

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Ok, so the pain meds were no biggie, the antibiotics are another story, at first I was able to slice peas , squish out the insides and put 1/4 of the tablet in the husk, she caught on, even got so good as to eat the shell and spit the pill. Then chunks of strawberry were working till she figured me out. Now nothing doing, it seems as if the juicer the treat the more it makes the pill dissolve and then she tastes it, I tried a bit, it’s nasty. I know you should never give them bread according to all information sources, but if a dry little bread ball with a pill in it worked, how bad would it be? I’m reasoning that the bread would adequately disguise the pill without dissolving it the way wetter foods do.
i should also add that we tried raspberries, which would have been ideal, blueberries and dandelion greens, to no avail.
we watched several things and read a bunch and my wife has managed to just stick the pill in avoiding the ”black hole” but it isn’t fun for anyone including me who gets to hold her, in the end we both feel bad, and the duck is mad.

any thoughts on these ponderings?

 

[casportpony]

Did you see my thread?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-give-pills-to-ducks.1246505/

I know you should never give them bread according to all information sources, but if a dry little bread ball with a pill in it worked, how bad would it be?

If that works, do it. A little bit of bread is fine.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Did you see my thread?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-give-pills-to-ducks.1246505/


If that works, do it. A little bit of bread is fine.

Thanks! I’m trying to avoid the whole down the throat wrestling match, but what needs to be done needs to be done, I like the sliding thevpill across the bill thing, helps the large fingered community not drop it into the glottis

 

[Miss Lydia]

If I have to give a pill I use the bread method just give her a few small pieces first then offer the pill in it. I even use this To give my dogs a pill.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

If I have to give a pill I use the bread method just give her a few small pieces first then offer the pill in it. I even use this To give my dogs a pill.

The dog is pretty easy compared to the duck. Only issue I’ve ever had with the dog was a UTI med that made me gag when I opened the bottle. Can’t say as I blame her. I’ll see how the bread goes this morning

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

Ok, so she has no interest in bread. Or maybe she’s just suspicious, either way it seems physically putting it down the hatch is the only way to fly with her...5 more days, oh joy!

 

[DucksOhio]

Giving meds to a duck is so hard...I feel your pain. Only 5 days, good luck!

 

[DucksOhio]

I once had a vet give me pills for a duck, and I said “that is never gonna work.”

she said oh it’s easy, let me show you...then preceded to chase the drake all over the exam room.

she finally got exasperated and yelled at me to help her. I said nope.

i don’t go to that vet anymore.

 

[Eric_W]

It's crazy how they know. My girl is on a 2 week twice a day antibiotic and like yours, she figured it out. I was chopping the pill in 3 pieces and putting it inside peas or corn. Now when I give it to her she drops it on the floor and picks it up and drops it till she gets the pill to fall out. Then she eats the pea. I used to put her liquid medicine in yogurt mixed with peas and that worked. I may try going back to that and grinding up the pill and sprinkle on top.

 

[Miss Lydia]

They also make those pill pusher things I bought one off Amazon