Trying to give meds

[Pgw]

Need some suggestions on best way to give my 10 month old Buff girl meds . She sprained her leg and vet prescribed anti inflammatory and antibiotic. Was successful in hiding them in romaine lettuce 1st 2 doses. Now she has wised up and refuses. I tried small pieces of watermelon and she refused. That is her favorite. I hate to crush and put in syringe. Any ideas???

 

[casportpony]

Pills?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-give-pills-to-ducks.1246505/post-19998436

 

[Pumperkinz]

Need some suggestions on best way to give my 10 month old Buff girl meds . She sprained her leg and vet prescribed anti inflammatory and antibiotic. Was successful in hiding them in romaine lettuce 1st 2 doses. Now she has wised up and refuses. I tried small pieces of watermelon and she refused. That is her favorite. I hate to crush and put in syringe. Any ideas???

Um for pills, I typically will put my finger in for them to bite on (yes it hurts), but then I'll put it in for them to chew and make sure they have water on hand. typically they don't like the pill taste as its chalky for melox/amox. I'm not sure if others have had much success, but I do this on any who need the pills and it's much better then trying to get them to take treats and more consistent. That way you know she didn't spit it out or another goose didn't grab it.

So I just put them in cause I don't have time to sit and try and get them to eat it sadly. Usually it's done in about 5 seconds as long as they don't spit it back out.

 

[Goosebaby]

You apply pressure to the corners of their mouth until they start to open, then open their mouth, wrap one hand around the top of the bill “this makes it harder for them to bite,” and with your other hand you push the pill as far down their throat as your fingers can reach, then close their bill and hold it closed for a few seconds to ensure they swallow of follow it up immediately with a treat they absolutely love, grapes, romaine, whatever.

If you have a goose that doesn’t like being handled you can corner them, squat over them just enough that your body has them pinned but without sitting on them, then follow up with what I described previously.

The faster you give them the pill the easier it actually is and it’s far less stressful for them, and it gets easier after three or four times. The longer you let them think about what’s going on the more they’re going to fight you and associate you in a negative way.

Treats afterwards always help to make it positive also.