Oral dewormer for wtf

[Crispy42]

So in the latest installment of "sick frog from Petco" Steve has now had a positive fecal test. The vet found nematode eggs in his fecal sample. She prescribed fenbendazole as an oral liquid, but little Stevie isn't being particularly helpful in taking the meds. I have to give him one dose now and another in two weeks, but for that I need to get him to open his mouth!

Since he's still so tiny and my credit cards seemed awfully thick I used a plastic shirt collar stay instead. I was able to get his mouth open once, but without a second person helping I couldn't get the syringe in his mouth before he closed it. Other than cursing my lack of a third hand, what can I do to get these meds in my stubborn little guy who doesn't want to open his mouth?

Steve is about 1.5" long and is already in a quarantine tank. His diet staple is crickets, with occasional dubias (when he will eat them) and waxworms and butterworms the past few days (since his appetite has been a bit low and I needed him to eat so I could get a fecal sample!)

[Crispy42]

I managed to get the meds in him! I talked to my vet and she gave me a soft, thin catheter to attach to the dosing syringe, so the catheter takes the place of the credit card. This way I was able to open his mouth and dispense the fenbendazole with the same instrument. Whew!

I never thought it could be so hard to medicate a 1.5 inch frog! I could give my 1,200 lb horse an oral dewormer without even putting his halter on, and this 7 gram frog almost out-stubborned me!

[irThumper]

Awesome job! I was stopped by Martha, who is considerably bigger than Steve-- I swear her jaw is tighter than Ebeneezer Scrooge's purse strings! Luckily there was the alternative of using her medication (Ivomec) topically, which Lija reminded me of, lol

[Crispy42]

I'm surprised I eventually succeeded - Steve may be tiny but he is stubborn!

I think I may have actually done better with a bigger frog (although I'm willing to admit to that likely being wishful thinking!) because Steve is so tiny I felt like I was going to hurt him. I think he sensed that and took full advantage of it.

[irThumper]

Oh I fully believe that! lol :P

[LilyPad]

I'm glad you got it to work!