How to Guide: Ornacycline



Supplies Checklist:

Ornacycline Tablets (found in bird isle)
5oz or 10oz Wide Mouth Water Bottle
Water Bottle Cleaning Brush.
1/4 cup Measuring Cup
Water
Permanent Marker
File/Emery Board
Pill Splitter or Sharp Knife
Pill Grinder or Mortar & Pestle
Pill Storage
Eye Dropper
Small Animal Carrier/Spare Cage


Below are step by step photo instructions on how to
treat your small pet.
STEP ONE:
I use the chewproof wide mouth 5oz waterbottles regularly.  To prepare bottle for medicine, take the file and rough up
the clear part of the bottle.  After texturing the bottle, rinse off the fine shavings.  Dry thoroughly and take permanent
marker and blacken the roughed up bottle on the outside.  After blackening the bottle, rinse thoroughly with warm water
to remove extra ink residue.
Ornacycline tablets are light sensitive.  They do expire, so please check to make sure they have not
yet past their expiration date.  The tablets have a fruity smell/taste that usually entices small animals
to accept it.  The tablets are easily cut, ground, and dissolved in water, making them very easy to
administer.  Please keep them in a sealed container out of light to extend the medicine's shelf life.

Take one of the ornacycline tablets and cut it into fourths using either the pill splitter or a sharp knife.  Take the
1/4 of the tablet and put it in the pill grinder (or mortar & pestle) and grind it into a very fine powder.
Put the unused portions into a pill storage container for the next usage.
With the finely ground up 1/4 tablet, put it in the darkened bottle and measure out 1/4 cup of water.  For more
rodents you can double the formula using 1/2 tablet to 1/2 cup of water. Add the 1/4 cup of water to the bottle
with the powder and swirl lightly to mix.  The finer you grind the powder, the easier it will dissolve.
Take some of the medicine from the bottle using the eyedropper and prepare to administer 1-2 drops orally to
each animal in the infected cage (whether or not they are suffering from a respiratory infection, this at least
makes all cage occupants share the same "mediciney" smell). Some people don't agree with treating all cage
occupants, but I certainly do advise it. If used properly the chance of developing a resistance is minor.
Hold the ill animal at an upright angle. You do not want to drown them by forcing it down their throat.  To adminsiter
gently drop it in their mouth behind the incisors and wait for them to swallow.  Keep nose free of liquids and do not
fill the mouth cavity if possible. By holding a gerbil like shown above, medicines can be easily administered. Give 1-2
drops orally per day for at LEAST 10 days. Put animals that have just been given oral drops into the spare
cage/carrier to keep track of who has been treated for that day.
Please do not hesitate to Contact Me with further questions.


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Treating  Respiratory Infections  

Disclaimer, this information is for at home treatment of mild upper respiratory infections in most small animals,
specifically gerbils. Please check with a veterinarian before administering medicines.
If in doubt, see your small animal vet immediately!  This treatment can also be used for injuries that may result in
infection. Midnight Sun Rodentry is NOT held liable for misuse or mis-adminstration of medicines.

After diagnosing the symptoms of a respiratory infection, please do not hesitate to treat as they can become very
serious, very quickly, especially in younger or older animals.

Note: Calcium will bond to ornacycline, so do not give calcium supplements, or in the case of young pups KMR
(milk replacer) at the same time as ornacycline.  Doing so will render it less effective. If calcium supplements are
required, give them at least 3 hours apart.
STEP TWO:
STEP THREE:
STEP FOUR:
STEP FIVE:
STEP SIX:
STEP SEVEN:

The ornacycline needs to be remixed and readministered every 24 hours.  Throw out the old mixture, use
bottle brush and warm water to clean out the bottle and drinking tube, and rinse.  
Repeat steps 5-7 for at LEAST 10 days.

If respiratory infection persists, see your veterinarian for future consult and stronger antibiotics.