Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Recently I've had to give a round to Albon to several of my beardies for coccidia treatments. I realized just how difficult it is to pry open beardies mouths and force the meds in. And not to mention how stressful it is on them as well. Then I remembered that Hollywood eagerly drinks just about anything that is in a syringe (without the needle).

It all started out a few weeks back when Hollywood stopped eating for a few days. I got worried and tried the baths and tried dripping water on his nose. I just couldn't get water into him without having to force his mouth open. One day I was drinking a glass of apple juice and it donned on me to add a little of this sweet juice to the water that I drip on his nose. It worked like a charm! Now he will drink just about anything that is put in a syringe and dripped on his nose.

Since this approach worked with one of my beardies, I started to " syringe train" my other beardies as well. About twice a week I give my beardies a little apple juice (grape works well too) diluted down. I use the frozen kind and make it per the instruction on the can. Then I dilute it down further (about 50% prepared juice to 50% water). This gives the water just enough of a sweet taste to make the beardies lap it up. And once the beardies know what is coming, you can dilute the juice down even further (30% juice to 70% water). Most of my adults will eagerly drink several cc's before stopping. And if I stop before they are done, they let me know! Lizzy will head bob at me if I don't give him at least 2 cc's. If I stop at 1 cc I'll have a very upset beardie on my hands. LOL YIKES!

I don't know if I can add a little apple juice to the Albon, but I'm going to ask the vet the next time I'm in his office. I know for a fact that some liquid can be added to Baytril. That stuff smells and tastes nasty! But if I can add a little juice to the Albon it would make things a whole lot easier now that my dragons are "syringe trained."

I've struggled with getting meds and fluids into my beardies for years. I'm surprised that I didn't think of this before. Also, frozen apple juice and grape juice have a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1:1 for all of you that are interested in that little tid bit of info.

Veronica
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Beautiful Dragons

I never had thought of prying thier mouths open causeing them stress untill today. I've seen two posts sying that now.

Robert

When Merlin had to be treated for coccidia, he took the Albon from the syringe (on his nose) with no problem. I think he liked the taste. My point is you may not have to use the apple juice.

>>Recently I've had to give a round to Albon to several of my beardies for coccidia treatments. I realized just how difficult it is to pry open beardies mouths and force the meds in. And not to mention how stressful it is on them as well. Then I remembered that Hollywood eagerly drinks just about anything that is in a syringe (without the needle).
>>
>>It all started out a few weeks back when Hollywood stopped eating for a few days. I got worried and tried the baths and tried dripping water on his nose. I just couldn't get water into him without having to force his mouth open. One day I was drinking a glass of apple juice and it donned on me to add a little of this sweet juice to the water that I drip on his nose. It worked like a charm! Now he will drink just about anything that is put in a syringe and dripped on his nose.
>>
>>
>>
>>Since this approach worked with one of my beardies, I started to " syringe train" my other beardies as well. About twice a week I give my beardies a little apple juice (grape works well too) diluted down. I use the frozen kind and make it per the instruction on the can. Then I dilute it down further (about 50% prepared juice to 50% water). This gives the water just enough of a sweet taste to make the beardies lap it up. And once the beardies know what is coming, you can dilute the juice down even further (30% juice to 70% water). Most of my adults will eagerly drink several cc's before stopping. And if I stop before they are done, they let me know! Lizzy will head bob at me if I don't give him at least 2 cc's. If I stop at 1 cc I'll have a very upset beardie on my hands. LOL YIKES!
>>
>>I don't know if I can add a little apple juice to the Albon, but I'm going to ask the vet the next time I'm in his office. I know for a fact that some liquid can be added to Baytril. That stuff smells and tastes nasty! But if I can add a little juice to the Albon it would make things a whole lot easier now that my dragons are "syringe trained."
>>
>>I've struggled with getting meds and fluids into my beardies for years. I'm surprised that I didn't think of this before. Also, frozen apple juice and grape juice have a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1:1 for all of you that are interested in that little tid bit of info.
>>
>>Veronica
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>>Beautiful Dragons

I'm not positive but I think I read Derek does that. If not, sorry.
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Rob

I mix pedialyte, some acidophiliz, and the albon. Store the pedialyte in the freezer make ice cubes. Just my preference, gives them the med, good bacteria and fluids that is neccesary for the dragon to make it trhough the treatment.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com

Derek:

How much acidophilus and pedialyte are you mixing in with the albon? I am treating my beardie for coccidia and his daily dosage of albon is .1 ml. Also, I picked up some acidophius at the pet store. It looks like it is meant for birds as there are parrots on the label. It is called Acidophilus . Would you know if this is OK for my beardie? I am assuming that it would be. Thanks for your help. I find most of your postings to be quite informative and helpful.

Thanks for the kind words. What exactly I do is I defrost 1 ice cube (about 1 oz I believe) I add 10 drops of acidophiliz (it is a specific stuff that contains acidophilis and other bacteria the only place I know that sells it is Petsmart in the reptile section the other stuff will work but the stuff I mention has vitamins also) to the pedialyte ice cube that is now defrosted. I draw up the desired dose (0.1 ml in your case) then fill the syringe with the pedialyte mixture. since 0.1 ml is a small does I take it that your dragon is small so I would say just 1 ml or maybe just 0.5 ml. I actually give them the acidophiliz and pedialyte for a few days after the albon treatment is finished. Hope this helps you out.
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Derek Affonce
DeKeAff Exotics
dekeaffexotics.com