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My turtle has metabolic bone disease. The vet gave me an oral antibiotic to feed him using a syringe but he wouldn't take it. I followed the vet's instructions and made him grumpy so that he would open his mouth and I can squeeze the medicine inside. This was done successfully once but most of the time I just squeeze the medicine at the side of his mouth. I've tried to poke him but he hardly budges. Can anyone give me some advice? Thanks a lot!

This was recently posted by Jeremiah in another thread

Jeremiah wrote:Keep poking him in the face with the syringe. If that doesn't work, start tapping his front legs near his head! Once he gets mad enough, he'll lunge forward--then give the medicine. You have to act quickly, though. Don't just put him back in the water, either. They like to spit medicine out, so after dosing hold him vertically (head upwards) to force swallowing.

I'd like to add that squirting it through the side isn't as helpful. That makes it easier to spit out, and whatever the turtle does swallow may go down "the wrong tube"! Patience is the key here. When I first got my turtles, they needed oral antibiotics too--and one day it took me nearly 20 minutes to get them to open up. It will happen, eventually!

When his mouth opens, stick the syringe in the front of his mouth and squeeze a little into his mouth. Not from the side.