Open your mouth PLEASE

[GeckoAZ]

When I was at the Vets office he gave me Panacur for my geckos. He showed me how to "tap their nose" and they open up quickly....needless to say it worked like a charm in the Vets office, but can't get it to work at home. One of my just squirms and squirms and makes it hard to hold em. Anyone have any tricks to get these gedkos to open their mouth so I can give them their medicine.:main_huh:

 

[Arconna]

Well if you want to take the easier route you don't have to open their mouths at all. Just put a little on their lips and they will lick it off and just administer more if you need to (I think the does for Panacur is like .01 ml anyway, so that little bit is probably nearly enough...). That's what I do. I've started giving Panacur to my entire animal collection cause of hook worm...

 

[Nastynotch]

just curious.

how do geckos get hookworm?
ive heard of dogs and cats getting it...but not geckos.

 

[Arconna]

I'm sure it's not really hookworm, just something similar, and I assume that they get it much the same way dogs and cats do. It might even be a different species of hookworm, but I'm not exactly sure where the stuff came from, I just know that all 7 of my lizzies are infected...

 

[GeckoAZ]

The usual culprit is pinworm, they seem to be the more common infestation.

 

[Arconna]

The vet said they looked like hookworm, but it's likely they are something else. She wasn't exactly sure what type of worm it was, but Panacur should solve the trick.

But, back to your post, did you try that lip thing like I said?
If that doesn't work, you can also (if it is a small amount of medicine, which it should be with Panacur) try putting it on a mealworm or superworm (supers are better because they are bigger) and feeding it to them. If that then doesn't work, if you have a syringe and needle you can inject it into a mealie. Just a thought. Usually the lip thing works unless you have a really finicky little leo.

 

[GeckoAZ]

I have tried to lip thing but not much success. I will try the other suggestions and see how that goes. Appreciate the help.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Sometimes if you gently run the syringe back and forth on the side of their mouth, they will open it. Also, if you pull down the corner of their mouth just a little, you can squeeze in the medicine.

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

Usually Marcias way works like a charm if not Ive had a few that if you turn them upside down they will open up for me.

 

[Dottie]

With last night's final dosing of my clan, I used a credit card and slid the corner along the side of their mouths. It worked like a charm. It was a suggestion from my vet. It did take 2 of us to dose them, however. When you get the edge of the card in the mouth, tip it a bit to get the mouth open, then you're good to dose. Plus, you can check your bank balance at the same time! (only if the stripe is in the right position)

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

LOL!!! Great idea!

 

[dragonflyreptiles]

Glad you found a trick that worked!