Ok, called the pharmacy, and they're going to send me the flavoring.  They said I can just pour it in and shake it up, and that it shouldn't be enough to change the dosage.  Ok, then.  Hope that takes care of it!

I hope the flavoring helps.  I have some rats that will take their meds as long as they are in strawberry syrup or something and then I have Dante who just refuses and get's all jumpy.  *Sigh I wish all ratties could understand how important these meds are!  Best of luck to you and to your ratties!

Ok, so the honey flavoring arrived, and I mixed it with the Doxy.  I had a theory that mixing several different flavors together with the medicine would help disguise the flavor better, so I mixed baby food peas and chicken together.  That worked once.  Mudge seems to mostly take it, but Oni wants nothing to do with it.  Even with the flavoring added, and mixed with everything yummy...tried chocolate syrup, whipped "cream", maple syrup, chicken, peas, sweet potatoes, apples, banana...and perhaps a few things I've forgotten.  He can smell the medicine, and won't even take a lick.  I've also tried just shooting it into his mouth, but I don't have help usually, and it just gets everywhere (except in his mouth!).  I know Ratlets can sympathize here.  So, my question is, seeing as he's only getting a partial dose of the Doxy, if that, but he's also still on Baytril, is it better for him to get a little Doxy, or no Doxy at all?  He still needs meds, as he is still grunting and having respiratory issues (although he's getting better).  So frustrating!!!

BTW, has anybody tasted this medicine?  I got some on my finger and licked it off....   I have not tasted anything that nasty in a long time.  I would fight taking it, too!  And that was after I added the honey flavor. 

You know, I can't even remember how much it is.  I just gave them my credit card number and they shipped it.  I gave Oni a little chocolate syrup by itself, to get him ready (loved it!), and then mixed in the Doxy, and he wouldn't even lick it...he could smell it!  I'm wondering if I should just give up the Doxy for him, and stick with the Baytril, which he'll take for sure.  I keep wasting the Doxy mixing it with all this stuff, and then he won't eat it! 

I don't know about that.  I tasted this stuff.  I'd need to be pretty darn hungry before I'd eat it voluntarily. 

Mmm...thanks, but I'll pass on the chlorowhatsis.

I have not actually tried sticking it through the bars.  How funny!  I'll try that right now.  I do notice they're much more likely to grab stuff through the bars than when the door is wide open.  I'll let you know!

Aww.. I'm clueless then

I think you should get him out and cuddle him... 

I feel your pain. My boys will not take their meds in anything. My one boy Vroo was horrible. It got to the point I wanted to cry whenever it was time to give meds. Another boy would stress so bad and scream...it sucks. I just pray for healthy days and no reason to put them on meds. Mind you thats not always goign to work, but it never hurts to try

Ee gad, I never thought about injectable!  Hmmm.  I might call the vet and ask about that.  Do you think he'll hate me more for making him eat nasty stuff, or sticking a needle in him? 

I believe it is typical.

From rat guide article on Doxycycline:  Long acting injectable Vibaravenos: 70 mg/kg SQ, IM ; once every 7 days 

SQ means subcutaneous, ie injection just under the skin.  That would be the same as the injections as Robin had to do.  Fairly easy and not very traumatic to the animal.  IM is intramuscular and that one can be painful (but the medicine achieves high active levels in the body much faster).

If you are really having trouble getting the oral meds into him, you could definitely ask your vet about a long lasting SQ doxy injection. 

Oh I feel you  on this one...i'm about to cry right now...my front pj shirt's literally covered with doxy...this red, sticky thing coz it's supposed to be sweet, raspberry flavored. 3 of my kids are on doxy, 2 need 0.35 cc/day, and 1 needs a whooping .5 cc...

I have to force feed them since I've wasted enough of the med trying to hide it in food that they didn't touch. And when they squeal when I pin them down so I can stick the syringe into their mouth...it just breaks my heart 

*sniffles*

Twice a day...brutal, I'm telling you...

On top of that...there's Baytrill pill to crush, each rat gets half a pill...and I can't mix it in with the doxy because there's not enough doxy to dilute the pill. So it's completely different hell... I just spent two hours this morning alone making all sorts of concoctions (crushing the pills, peeling off the purple layer, mix it in with diff baby foods)...the kitchen is a mess. It looks like a drug dealer den, lol.

I hope giving it a little bit throughout the day helps in your case. Since I'm a full time student, I don't have that luxury  .

Woo! I'm glad you have something that works!

My ratties would take their .5 raspberry-flavored in meat baby food.  I've often wondered what that would taste like... hehe!