Almost all rats will take medication at some point in their lives, even if it's just a few doses of metacam. Some rats are very cooperative, while others make you use all the tricks in the book! Sometimes a rat who is difficult at the start learns to become more cooperative too.

​

Rats usually require a dose of their medication every 12 hours as their metabolism is quite fast. This helps as it means you tend to give less in one go! If your vet has prescribed a single dose a day, check why this is, especially with metacam.

​

It's worth noting that your rapport, or close relationship, with the rat can influence the ease with which the medication is given. At the same time, administering medication can damage that rapport. So it is well worth taking the time to spend more quality time with them and giving them extra treats to give your relationship a boost and to act as a buffer against any discomfort they experience around you when medication is given.

​

With any treatment, you should also factor in the stress involved for the rat (ie. do they take medication easily or is it an ordeal for them each time) and the prognosis. Some examples could be:

Scenario 1: The rat is bothered by medication, but the prognosis is good. You go ahead with treatment.

Scenario 2: The rat takes medication freely, but the prognosis isn't very good long-term. You go ahead with treatment, monitoring for other signs of decline in quality of life before euthanasia.

Scenario 3: The rat is very stressed when taking medication, and the prognosis is unclear/not very good. You decide that euthanasia is kinder than putting the rat through treatment.

​

Idea 1: In a Small Tupperware/Tupperware Lid

You can give their medication mixed with malt paste, Weight Up Baby, oatmeal, liver paste, or similar. I use the minimum amount needed to mix so that there is less to get into them. Mix together in a small tupperware or tupperware lid and provide it. If it is not eaten, pop them in a carrier and leave them to it to see if they eat it.

Pros: hands-off, useful if you're medicating several rats

Cons: not always eaten

​

Idea 2: From Your Fingers Or A Spoon

Most of my rats will have their medication off my fingers or a spoon. I put a blob of malt paste on my finger and syringe the medication on top of it while they eat if they are easy to work with. You may need to premix it.

Pros: quick and easy

Cons: not always eaten

​

Idea 3: If You Don't Have It, Your Friend Will!

If a rat is not eating their medication, you can play on their greed. Sometimes, if they think the medication is wanted by their companions, they suddenly want to grab it for themselves! You will need to hold the other rats back to ensure they don't reach the medication.

Pros: sudden motivation to eat the medication

Cons: caution must be taken so the other rats don't eat the medication instead

​

Idea 4: I'm Not Wasting A Dose!

If the rat is refusing to eat the medication and they are able to groom themselves, wipe it around their head and pop them in the carrier to give them time to groom it off.

Pros: avoids waste

Cons: can take time for them to groom it off fully, especially if too much food was used to mix

​

Idea 5: Small Dose, Through the Bars, Easy Peasy

If their dose is only small (as in, a few drops, like doxycycline), you can hold the syringe securely and pop it through the bars. Once they grab it, squirt it in. The rat will NOT be pleased with being cheated, so apologise with a treat afterwards. Some rats will steadily take metacam straight off the syringe this way too.
Pros: quick and easy when you're in a rush
Cons: won't work for many rats and if it does, it won't work every time, and you need to be careful that any other rats don't ingest any of it

​

Idea 6: Syringe It In

If a rat is being difficult to medicate, you may need to syringe the medication into their mouth. There are also some medications, like buprenorphine, that should be given buccally (onto their cheek). Syringe it in behind their teeth, and take care that they don't aspirate. If you are struggling to syringe in their medication, wrapping them in a blanket like a burrito with just their head sticking out can help. Give them a treat afterwards and maintain good rapport with them.

Pros: Quick, best method for a rat who is very unwell

Cons: Some rats may be tricky to work with. Care must be taken to maintain a good relationship with the rat if they find it stressful

​

Idea 7: Swipe It In

Many people struggle to syringe medication in. An alternative is to pop a smaller amount of the medication onto your finger and swipe it into their mouth. Repeat until all of the medication has been given. It takes more time than syringing, but requires less dexterity.

Pros: easier than syringing

Cons: takes more time