Giving Medication to my IRN/toweling

[sherylb]

My Ringneck is very afraid of hands. It's taken me over a year to get him to just hang out on me. He steps up and kisses but absolutely NO touching him or he freaks out. He hurt his foot and i took him to the vet. Even the vet had a hard time getting him toweled because he is so fiesty. I tried tonight it did not go well at all!! once the towel was on him he flapped around and when I got a hold of him I didn't have a hold of his head properly, I guess because he bit and didn't let go until I let go of him!! I feel so bad and don't want to traumitize him but I need to give him his medication. I've Youtubed but I only find toweling a tame bird....he's tame until he see hands or towels coming at him!!

 

[Scott]

What form of medicine are you giving, ie liquid, crushed powders, etc?

I've found one of the most reliable methods is mixing with cooked oatmeal cooled to room temperature. Trial and error to find the smallest portion consistent with hiding the texture and flavor, ensuring complete dosage. Check with the vet to be sure there are no conflicts, but have not had meds unapproved thus far.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Oooooooh, I have such empathy for you!
I successfully medicate the Rb by mixing his liquid med in a small amount of no-salt high-quality almond butter, which my vet okayed. As Scott said, it took a bit of experimentation, but...
The butter, after quite a bit of mixing, takes on a very clay-like texture and can be formed into a couple of little balls which the bird gobbles. If I have to be away for a time, I make the little balls up and refrigerate them so that my husband can do the feeding.
Good luck!

 

[noodles123]

If you have a large amount of it and you are able to soak it into something (trial and error) you could try that, but you are looking at trial and error (AKA WASTE)---for my bird who WILL NOT tolerate syringes unless toweled, I have found that oatmeal (no sugar added) cooked with fruit is a decent masking agent, but the trick is making sure they eat it all and not just getting partial doses...It is tricky....You have to know how much is wasted vs. eaten, and that gets tricky.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I really do like the almond butter for those very reasons...

It's very strange how it changes texture after you stir and mash and stir, and with a surprisingly small amount. I use a tablespoon to mix .3 CCs up into a little blob of almond butter that's about the size of a couple of small peas. He then gobbles them right off the spoon, or I can put them in his treat bowl.

Worth a try for you, maybe.

 

[wrench13]

All of this is why its a good idea to give your parrot a syringe of parrot baby food every once in a while, so that if medicine needs to administered, they gladly accept it. And they look so cute hoarking down a tube if it.

 

[sherylb]

It is liquid. Just a big drop is all it amounts to but he needs it twice a day.

 

[RichardParker]

What type of medication would you say you are giving, ie fluid, squashed powders, and so on? I've discovered one of the most solid techniques is blending in with cooked oats cooled to room temperature. Experimentation to locate the littlest part reliable with concealing the surface and flavor, guaranteeing total dose. Check with the vet to make certain there are no contentions, yet have not had medications unapproved so far.

 

[noodles123]

What type of medication would you say you are giving, ie fluid, squashed powders, and so on? I've discovered one of the most solid techniques is blending in with cooked oats cooled to room temperature. Experimentation to locate the littlest part reliable with concealing the surface and flavor, guaranteeing total dose. Check with the vet to make certain there are no contentions, yet have not had medications unapproved so far.

Yes- do call your vet to make sure that whatever you are mixing it with won't harm the medication. Certain meds are sensitive to certain substances.