How do you give your bunny medication?

[Kricket]

When the unfortunate time comes to give yourbunny(s) medications, how do you do it? Are you a lucky bunnyowner whos buns actually like medicine?

I had to swaddle Shorty to give him his cephalexen (sp?). Inthe fourth day (of seven day meds) he finally realized that if he lapsit up, it won't take so long. Still have to swaddle him tomake the bunny burrito, though.

Stories? Tips?

Hugs!

Stubborn Shorty & Shy Star

 

[CorkysMom]

Via syringe in the side of his mouth...he wastaking it well before he was feeling better..now its a constantfight...but gotta keep at it or we may end up with reinfection...notfun.....but worth it... I'd be thankful for 7 daysworth..we've already been at it 3 weeks, and just got 20 more daysworth..**Sigh** For the first 1.5 weeks it was 2 kinds!!!!:shock::shock:

 

[Kricket]

Do you have to hold him? Or does he lap it up out of the syringe?

 

[Carolyn]

Hi Kricket and PGG, :wave:

Each rabbit, in giving their medication, is different. Some will takeNutriCal if I just ice it on the outside of a baby carrot. Tucker,because NutriCal is thick and comes in a tube like toothpaste, I haveto mush it into his forepaws so that when he flicks his paw, it won'tgo flying. He has no other choice than to clean it off by licking it.

As to the Syringe feedings, that's the same way for me each time. Iflip the rabbit on their back and cradle the little one like a baby. Ipress the rabbit into me so that it's secure and it can't fight its wayout. You have to have the mindset that you're in charge and the rabbitneeds the syringe feeding for its own health and longevity. If they canfight you, especially when you put the syringe in their mouths, theywill and they'll kick to get away.

Once I'm sitting down and I have them cradled, the syringe and everything is ready for them on the table in front of me.

Holding the securely, put the syringe just behind the top front teeth.There's an opening you can get into, make sure the syringe is in theirmouth and slowly release the liquid. When you take the syringe out,make sure they're swallowing. If they're not swallowing, they'll bespitting it out. Have a cloth handy to wipe it up if they do spit itback up. Don't be afraid to put the syringe in the little one's mouthdown a bit so that she/he can't spit it up.

As to pills, many I cut in half . . . like the papaya pills. I can putit in Tucker's mouth, again entering behind the top front two teeth,and I can hear him start chewing. Fauna needs a cat pill popper becauseshe'll bite me if I try to push it down into her mouth the way I dowith Tucker.

-Carolyn