Force-feeding :(

[melissa79]

I have a very sick little boy who just got home from the vet. He has an ear infection so severe he's rolling and rolling in circles when he tries to walk, thus, he's stopped moving at all. So I am having to wrap him in a towel and feed him baby food. Problem is, he's a baby rat I just recently got so he is not trusting of me, he squirms to no end. Any tips for administering his meds and the baby food? Also, how often to feed the food?? He's had an injection of fluids under the skin so he will be hydrated for at least two days, thankfully I don't have to force water in him too. For the time being anyhow...Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I especially need to know how often to feed him.

[Sugarfoxx]

I am going through that now with my rat Molly.

She is staying at the vets though and she is on steroids and antibiotics and getting sub Q fluids..but I never heard of that working for 48 hours?
She is at the vets so she can get injections of all that stuff.  I have been through so much with my rats being sick that at this point they assumed she is staying till she is stable to come home.


I would feed him every few hours and use a syringe and use liquid supplements such as soy milk (infants)  and also ensure or other liquid nutrients (not gatorade though)
You can also try watermelon.  I have sucked the juice up with a syringe and my rats have sucked them down.
You can mix his meds with ice cream (as long as the meds can be mixed with dairy...if it cant...it will say on the bottle) also strawberry syrup...my rats love that too!
See if he will lick baby food from your fingers while he is in the cage.  If not, use the liquid in the dropper as suggested.

My girl was really freaking out today and walking backwards and just acting so stoned.  She was almost moving around like she was having seizures.
I will send positive thoughts to your baby too!