International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

should then be allowed to lick the formula drop by drop from the dropper/syringe tip. Caution:
inappropriate feeding apparatuses (as well as techniques) can cause failure to nurse
successfully or/and health hazards (see Section 9).
Critical: cubs must be fed slowly and in small amounts and handrearer’s should never
overfill the cub’s mouth. If formula comes out of the mouth or nose, or gagging is heard
or seen, feeding must be stopped immediately, and emergency care techniques may need to
be used (See Section 9 to help prevent serious health problems.) The problem causing
overfilling of the mouth must be corrected before resuming feeding. See Section 8 on not over
feeding (i.e. round but not taught bellies). When bottles / feeding apparatuses become empty,
cubs should not be allowed to nurse. Discomfort and hiccoughs can occur when cubs suck air
into their stomachs. Clean towels should be placed underneath and even around the cub during
feeding to help keep cubs warm and secure feeling, as well as clean. When young or sick cubs
are removed from their incubator or holding container they should be placed on a hotwater
bottle wrapped in a towel to keep them warm during feeding. Place towels lightly over the
cub’s body to also help keep them warm. Formula must be cleaned off cubs (with a warm damp
cloth) and cubs must also be dried after feeding. Because cubs usually want to sleep or maybe
even play just after feeding, cleaning cub housing before feeding is helpful.
Section 11
Techniques to Administer Oral Medications / Nutritional Supplements
Some liquids, tablets (that are crushed), or capsules (that are opened) for medication or
nutritional supplement can be diluted with milk formulas for administration. (Veterinarian
approval must first be given, as some medications may not be effective if they are administered
this way.) If milk formulas are used the medication should be placed in a small amount of
formula that can be fed first and before the remaining formula is fed. This is to ensure that the
medications will be consumed. When dispensing apparatuses (i.e. plastic syringes, plastic eyedroppers,
etc.) are used to administer medications that cubs most likely will refuse (i.e. it tastes
bad), the cub’s mouth should be very gently opened and a small (i.e. drop or drops) amount of
fluid/paste should be squeezed onto the top of the cub’ tongue. The feeding apparatus should
then be immediately removed from the cub’s mouth and the cub’s mouth should be gently
closed and held closed until the cub swallows. Stroking the cub under its throat or around its
face or lips may help stimulate swallowing. With older bigger cubs, if tablets and capsules are
small enough, they might be able to be administered as follows. After the cub’s mouth is gently
opened, the caretakers fingers can be used to place the medication at the back of the cub’s
mouth and on top of its tongue. The cub’s mouth should then be gently closed and held closed
until the cub swallows. Medications, vitamin and mineral supplements (e.g. crushed / whole
tablets, liquids, paste) can also be hidden in / mixed with foods (e.g. formulas, yogurt, fish, etc.)
to disguise their taste and presence for easier administration. Great caution must be taken to
prevent choking and aspiration when giving medications orally (i.e. the same cautions used
when feeding).
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