Metacam tricks welcome please!

[gdopmop]

Hi there, I'm new here and would love a spot of advice please. We have a feeling our little gerb Frankie may need to go on Metacam very soon (following a recent trip to our local animal hospital and monitoring thereafter). The only thing is she is the fussiest eater we've ever had in more than a decade of little gerbs! 

She will simply stop eating a food or treat she gets bored of/doesn't fancy and then may never return to having that again. She's always preferred drier and more savoury foods - so won't fall for the peanut butter or baby food tricks we've used with our other little friends.

When we first adopted her, I was concerned she hadn't been drinking water from her bowl. We thought it must be the case she was doing it when we weren't looking but a couple of days in I handed her a bottle and she drank and drank...and drank! Just to illustrate that she's a real creature of habit and will seriously stick to her guns! 

SO, has anyone got any tips as to how we can sneak some Metacam into her when the bottle always says to give this with food please?

Thanks so much for reading! 

[betty]

I always give metacam on either a raisin or a nut.

Basically with the raisin or sultana, I score it open on the flat side in a cross (like a jacket potato) - bend it open and then drip the drop of medication in the hole. Always goes down a treat.

Similarly with the nut - I score some lines into the surface of a tiny bit of nut (walnut, hazelnut or almond) and then drip the drop in to that.

Both can be hand fed the right way up so no medication is lost.

[gdopmop]

Thank you so much for replying Betty, that's a great idea!

[betty]

Fingers crossed it works for your fussy one too.

They can gain a bit of weight on this version - but when they are ill - that isn't a bad thing. However if they have a kidney or liver problem - I would check with your vet which of those would have the least problems (as the raisins have more sugar and the nuts more fats).

[gdopmop]

Thanks Betty, that's so helpful!