Has anyone had similar experiences with their horse? I have tried masking it on his grain. I swear he was a bloodhound in a previous life. Won’t allow me to dose syringe either. I could easily inject him, he is very good about shots, has anyone used an injectable Doxyclyine?
The injectable form is oxytetracycline. It does have to be given IV.
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On Facebook there is a group called Horse Vet Corner. They have pretty strict rules about how to post and ONLY vets are allowed to comment on the posts. You may want to post there. I have seen them mention the injectable Doxyclyine but don’t remember specifically.
Have you talked to your vet about doing IV Oxytetracycline instead?
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We did IV on my horse about 10 years ago. It’s a very large syringe (or two, I can’t remember) daily for two weeks.You also need a horse willing to stand still for that long while being injected. His/her neck will get sore.
I would only do it if the vet administered (it’s not cheap).
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You’ve got a tough customer there! BTDT. What worked for me was to fool the confirmed “you’re not getting that syringe of awful stuff in my mouth” by mixing up some yummy paste and slowly getting him to accept (no ,medicine added yet). I used peppermint hard candy (very strong smelling and also my guy’s favorite) which I pulverized with the mortal and pestle, then added just enough water to make a paste. I then smeared it all over the outside of the syringe and let him smell it as I put a little on his lips. Patience paid off and he started to let me put the syringe in his mouth. He loved his candy so much that the dreaded syringe was no longer the enemy. Once we reached that point I was able to add the medication to the peppermint paste and he took it without a problem (he never realized that I’d put the medicine in there). You may have to refill the syringe more than once so that you can give less medicine per syringe full to make sure that there is more peppermint than medicine in each mouthful.
The things we will do for our animals! Good luck!
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DO NOT use IV doxycycline in horses. It can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias.
IV TETRACYCLINE may be used.
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They have also been known to give some really horrendous suggestions, and that’s if you’re lucky enough to get your post responded too. IMHO that group is worse than COTH for medical advice LOL At least here, most people know most of us aren’t vets so take that into account. There, many tend to blindly follow advice just because they’re DVMs.
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@JB I agree! I’ve seen some of the worst advice ever on that site. I don’t even bother reading anymore.
If you aren’t comfortable doing the IV’s daily, talk to your vet about putting in a catheter. They require some care/maintenance which your vet can explain, but I’ve had good success with that route.
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OMG yeezzzzzzzz this!!! I swear they spend more time asking for “vets only please” edits, no angry faces and alerts they will remove members for breaking those rules…I stay in the group for the entertainment factor!!!
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Thank you all - Apparently anything IV would be need done in a hospital setting with Andy (the not so patient patient) stalled for several weeks as they leave the IV in. Otherwise there is no equine Doxy. The suggestions about Tetracycline are interesting as an IV option. I could do that here if it is a daily injection as opposed to a more significant IV set up as with the Doxy. I will ask my Vet about this. She is on the road today and hasn’t returned my call as yet…
There is no IV doxy option period. That mode of administration to horses causes problems in the horse which can be fatal.
There is the option of IV tetracycline (usually oxytet), which, while it can be done without a catheter, is far more easily done with a catheter, due to the volume of medication and the advisability of a relatively slow infusion (vs. bolusing it in rapidly), as well as its tendency to cause significant perivascular inflammation if extravasated (i.e., horse jumps and it gets outside the vein.)
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If the horse likes molasses put molasses water in a bucket and let him drink. Next day approach with the molasses water bucket and put some in an old wormer syringe. With my boy I had to put a halter on him, get him close to metal rails and wind the lead rope all around the pipes and pull so as he could not get away. I put the syringe in his mouth and let the molasses water spray all over his mouth.
The look on his face when he realised it was molasses water was absolutely priceless.
I filled the syringe again from the bucket and this time I did not hold the rope. Next I unwound the rope and did him again. Next I took the halter off and did him again. I repeat every so often as in once a month or so.
I had no problems with worming him or any horse after this for 40 years or giving them medication with a syringe.
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My previous horse had to be treated for lyme three times, and while she wasn’t terrible about eating the medication, it did have to be masked.
What have you tried? Applesauce was ultimately the addition that worked the best for my horse. I just bought the little individual cups of applesauce they make for kids’ lunches; they could be kept in the feed room and they were available then for the BO to add to the feed when she added the doxy.
Good luck.
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Also curious what you have already tried to mask? It would be a pita with the volume of pills, but slicing open a fig Newton and hiding a couple of pills inside before putting it back together (learned it here!) is my ninja move. My pissy/picky mare loves them. I’m glad I tried it because my next move was going to be a twitch and a bolus gun.
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Cattle pill gun may help.
Or those dewormer “bits”. First with treats injected, then drug, end with treat. Repeat each time.
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Are you putting the pills in the grain or are you grinding them? When I did it I just dropped the whole pills in the grain and he didn’t bat an eye. The pills are small enough that this works.
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I second the suggestions to teach him how to dose. It will be MUCH easier, cheaper, and safer. Like others have said, find a treat he likes and dose that to him several times. Crushed mints, applesauce, carrot juice, molasses, papaya juice, etc. Or hide them in a treat. I’ve cored little holes out of carrots and apples to give pills, never had them spit back out.
I’m surprised you’d have to go a hospital for IV treatment. Several times, I’ve had horses in barns with catheters getting IV oxytet. Takes some special care, but they were able to stay at home during treatment. Either way, I highly recommend trying to get him to dose or eat it. How do you deworm him?
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Been there, had that problem. I used clicker training to get both mares to accept having things done to them, then flavored the crushed pills with cinnamon sugar and mixed all into a slurry using water. I also got a drenching gun … different from a dosing syringe. I use a 40 cc model but have 20 and 60 cc units on hand. The longer nozzle allows me to get the meds farther back in the mouth. I usually put the nozzle between the cheek and the teeth to prevent the meds being spit out. I then hold the head up, forcing the lower jaw to stay closed, just like you would a dog. Tight crossties and a mounting block for doing the big mare complete the picture. While dosing, I click to indicate tolerating this is the behavior I want, then I give multiple treats and praise when done. Sometimes the mares won’t immediately take the treats, but the offer is there and they remember that.
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The medication is in powder form. I have tried masking with corn syrup, sugar, and molasses. he just walks away from the feed tub…I have tried apple sauce in the past for his Cimeditine which he would not eat. I use sugar for that and thankfully he is ok with it…
No IV option as it would need to be in a hospital setting as they leave the IV in.
Turns out my Vet found that Wedgewood makes a medi-mint which we have ordered! I am praying this works.
Today I sedated him to dose the medication…
Thank you again for all your suggestions…
The little pills are so easy to feed! If the medi-mint doesn’t work try the pill form. They get a lot, I think 25 or 50, but the horses don’t even know the pills are in there. Good Luck!
