Tips on getting mouth open for meds?

[thertz]

My poor girl has gone through so many rounds of meds and has learned to recognize a syringe and keeps her mouth closed. She is on Baytril for 10 days right now and we're on day 3. Up til now I have used the "method" of coming at her a little quickly which usually has a response of puffing up and opening her mouth, but now, with a combo of her being so weak and knowing my tricks, she's keeping it shut tight.

Any tips? Thank you.

 

[Fireborn]

I would convince my gentleman to open his mouth by kinda grabbing him my the back of the head/ neck area. I didn't grab him hard he just didn't like being touched around the head so he opened his mouth.

 

[JapSolum]

my vet said you can pull on his dulap and he'll open up, but he doesnt and I dont want to hurt him, so I've resorted to using the side of a toothpick (not the pokey part) and gently pulling down his bottom lip and he usually opens up pretty quick for that

 

[Bmjo]

my vet said you can pull on his dulap and he'll open up, but he doesnt and I dont want to hurt him, so I've resorted to using the side of a toothpick (not the pokey part) and gently pulling down his bottom lip and he usually opens up pretty quick for that

I use to use a piece of shredded carrot and put it between his lips and he would open up to eat it

 

[Darthroastcoffee]

I try to give a treat and slip it in. or some water and catch them when they open there mouth just shoot the meds to the back of there throat.

 

[chameleonneeds]

I do what Fireborn said. But to make it easy and have 2 hands free I would put the chameleon on my shirt facing up. Then gently grab them behind the head or on the cheeks to get a response of mouth opening then quickly get the syringe in. That worked for my veileds and not my tiny Panthers.

For my smaller Panthers I'd place a toothpick on their lips (not the sharp point but the shaft) and roll the tooth pick somewhat with a little pressure towards the mouth. That generally got them to open up and I could then push the toothpick in the mouth a bit to keep the mouth open.

 

[Chameleon Mike]

This is how I did meds on mine.

 

[VerucaSalt]

We were using a very tiny buss card for our teeny Jackson Gus, but it's such a small drop of liquid and was upsetting him, so I've resorted to putting on the bottom of a superworm as he gobbles that straight off my hand right away and that way he doesn't build distrust. It's nearly traumatic giving them meds!!! You'll get there, it feels slower for us than them probably!

 

[nightanole]

Would it be a dumb idea to inject it into a feeder using a cheap diabetic needle from the drug store?

 

[thertz]

my vet said you can pull on his dulap and he'll open up, but he doesnt and I dont want to hurt him, so I've resorted to using the side of a toothpick (not the pokey part) and gently pulling down his bottom lip and he usually opens up pretty quick for that

Thank you! I used both those methods along with someone to help hold her and that worked. I'm so relieved.