Injection gone wrong.
- Thread starter Offspring2099
- Start date
Help Support Rabbits Online Forum:
Offspring2099
Well-Known Member
Thank you for your help and concern everyone. I think she is back to normal now. *knocks on wood* I'm going to call my vet in the morning to address the issue.
Flashy, I was very close of doing so, but she seems ok now.
Flashy, I was very close of doing so, but she seems ok now.
Pipp
Well-Known Member
:yeahthat: keep her warm, push warm liquids.
Have you been giving her the meds straight or with saline?
Are you feeling any lumps near the spot?
Was it a new needle, and did it goin right, etc?
Could it have hit a vein, artery or a nerve? I think if you hit a blood vessel full on, you would have had a more immediate and serious reaction -- compromised breathing and I think heart palpitations, but also watch for overheating or any trouble hopping, "ischemic manifestations" in the limbs is a sign.
I know a lot of people actually prefer injecting it into a muscle with a short needle, safer and easier. You may want to ask your vet about that.
Good luck! :clover:
sas
Have you been giving her the meds straight or with saline?
Are you feeling any lumps near the spot?
Was it a new needle, and did it goin right, etc?
Could it have hit a vein, artery or a nerve? I think if you hit a blood vessel full on, you would have had a more immediate and serious reaction -- compromised breathing and I think heart palpitations, but also watch for overheating or any trouble hopping, "ischemic manifestations" in the limbs is a sign.
I know a lot of people actually prefer injecting it into a muscle with a short needle, safer and easier. You may want to ask your vet about that.
Good luck! :clover:
sas
Offspring2099
Well-Known Member
Her temp seems normal now. We give her a straight shot with nothing added. I dont feel any lumps. The needle is new everytime. Nothing out of the ordinary happened while giving the shot.
What are "ischemic manifestations"?
Pipp wrote:
What are "ischemic manifestations"?
Pipp wrote:
JadeIcing
Well-Known Member
Oh wish I had seen this earlier. I would advice calling the vet (your vet) ASAP. Just to atleast make them aware of what happened. I would wether she likes it or not move it to lower down her back. Rotate where it is given alot more often.
Power to you for giving the shots it is NOT fun. I know from experience.
Power to you for giving the shots it is NOT fun. I know from experience.
Haley
Well-Known Member
Poor Penny! Is she ok this morning?
When you give the shot, do you pull back a little to be sure theres no blood before injecting?
I do know that Bicillin injections can sting. It may be wise to ask your vet about either adding lactated ringers (a sterile saline solution) to the injection ormaybe phasing the injections out gradually.
It has been at least a year since the abscesses, right? I had Max on the injections for about 6 months, then went to once every three days for 2 months and now he's off them altogether.
(Oh and for those who dont know, Dmytri has been giving Penny these shots for a while now so he's quite the pro. She had severe tooth root/gum abscesses about a year ago).
When you give the shot, do you pull back a little to be sure theres no blood before injecting?
I do know that Bicillin injections can sting. It may be wise to ask your vet about either adding lactated ringers (a sterile saline solution) to the injection ormaybe phasing the injections out gradually.
It has been at least a year since the abscesses, right? I had Max on the injections for about 6 months, then went to once every three days for 2 months and now he's off them altogether.
(Oh and for those who dont know, Dmytri has been giving Penny these shots for a while now so he's quite the pro. She had severe tooth root/gum abscesses about a year ago).
Offspring2099
Well-Known Member
She really doesn't like it when we tried giving it to her lower. What do you guys do, I mean she is just gonna run when I have the needle injected.
JadeIcing wrote:
JadeIcing wrote:
Offspring2099
Well-Known Member
Haley,
Penny is fine right now. I really think we hit a vein, there is a small ball near the side of the injection. Possible hematoma?
What is "lactated ringers (a sterile saline solution)" for?
We stopped with the shots in April, but resumed again last month because we excepted an abscess coming back. She reacted very well to the shots so we decided to keep her on.
Haley wrote:
Penny is fine right now. I really think we hit a vein, there is a small ball near the side of the injection. Possible hematoma?
What is "lactated ringers (a sterile saline solution)" for?
We stopped with the shots in April, but resumed again last month because we excepted an abscess coming back. She reacted very well to the shots so we decided to keep her on.
Haley wrote:
ra7751
Well-Known Member
Hi,
I suspect that either the drug was injected accidentally either between the layers of skin or into the muscle. I have injected accidentally into a vein and got a similar reaction but also got a lot of blood. It also appears that she has had numerous injections. Could have hit some scar tissue. As you know and do....you can sub-q at any point where you can scruff the skin. I normally start out at the shoulders and inject on each side of the spine...then I start moving backwards all the way to the flanks....in fact, in some rabbits it is much easier to inject into the flanks. Then we move back up and start the cycle over again. It would also help with the discomfort of this drug by buffering the injection with lactated ringers. I usually use about 10-15mL to buffer the drug. Something else I do differently is the use of a butterfly (winged) catheter with a luer lock. These catheters have a 12" flexible tube that will allow some "wiggle" room especially if the rabbit jumps. Helps to prevent skin tears from a rigid needle.
Just out of curiosity...do you mind telling me why she is on so much procaine for long term?
Randy
I suspect that either the drug was injected accidentally either between the layers of skin or into the muscle. I have injected accidentally into a vein and got a similar reaction but also got a lot of blood. It also appears that she has had numerous injections. Could have hit some scar tissue. As you know and do....you can sub-q at any point where you can scruff the skin. I normally start out at the shoulders and inject on each side of the spine...then I start moving backwards all the way to the flanks....in fact, in some rabbits it is much easier to inject into the flanks. Then we move back up and start the cycle over again. It would also help with the discomfort of this drug by buffering the injection with lactated ringers. I usually use about 10-15mL to buffer the drug. Something else I do differently is the use of a butterfly (winged) catheter with a luer lock. These catheters have a 12" flexible tube that will allow some "wiggle" room especially if the rabbit jumps. Helps to prevent skin tears from a rigid needle.
Just out of curiosity...do you mind telling me why she is on so much procaine for long term?
Randy
timetowaste
Well-Known Member
holy crap that sounds like a complete nightmare. is penny okay?! yikes!
work it out penny, it's cool it's cool.
tracy
work it out penny, it's cool it's cool.
tracy
Offspring2099
Well-Known Member
Randy,
Thank you for lots of info. These are PinicillinG shots with procaine. Penny had a horrible abscess about 1 1/2years ago (part of the jaw had to be scrapped out and teeth removed). She was on this for about 8 months. We took her off in April 07, but went back on last month, because we suspected the abscess coming back. Plus she came alive and reacted well to it.
There was no blood when she got the shot. Right after we pulled the needle out she froze and her eyes got huge, like she was spooked. I knew something was wrong. Then she laid down and started to breath rapidly.
When you move down to the flanks, how far down do you go down. We move it around the flanks but still say high, about 5in area away from neck, on either side. We tried giving it lower, but she just ran off.
ra7751 wrote:
Thank you for lots of info. These are PinicillinG shots with procaine. Penny had a horrible abscess about 1 1/2years ago (part of the jaw had to be scrapped out and teeth removed). She was on this for about 8 months. We took her off in April 07, but went back on last month, because we suspected the abscess coming back. Plus she came alive and reacted well to it.
There was no blood when she got the shot. Right after we pulled the needle out she froze and her eyes got huge, like she was spooked. I knew something was wrong. Then she laid down and started to breath rapidly.
When you move down to the flanks, how far down do you go down. We move it around the flanks but still say high, about 5in area away from neck, on either side. We tried giving it lower, but she just ran off.
ra7751 wrote:
JadeIcing
Well-Known Member
We used bribery...bannana in front of him.
Offspring2099 wrote:
Offspring2099 wrote:
Offspring2099
Well-Known Member
On the following shot, two days after the incident, everything went well. I talked to the vet and he said that it was most likely a nerve. If it was a vein, there would have been blood, and if it was an allergic reaction it would have taken about 5 minutes to kick-in, not instantly like our case. He says, "once in about every 50 shots, you'll hit a nerve". I guess we've been lucky. Poor Penny.
Haley
Well-Known Member
Im so glad to hear your girl is doing ok. Ive been on vacation but Ive been thinking of her.
To answer a few of your questions, I think you can basically give the shot anywhere where you can get a fold of skin. So if you can do it lower on the back, near the legs, go ahead. It sounds like Penny probably wont allow it though, so just alter it as best you can. I always put Max on my bed and had my bf hold him still while I gave the shot, so maybe it would help to have someone help you hold her while you give it? I dont know that Max would have tolerated it lower than his shoulders though.
As for the lactated ringers Randy and I mentioned, its basically a saline solution used to give fluids to humans and animals. If youre giving .25 ccs of Bicillin, you would first draw the Bicillin into your needle and then draw in maybe like .75 of lactated ringers into the needle as well. It not only helps hydrate the bunny, but takes the edge off the sting of the Bicillin and also makes it easier to push in, since it thins out the Bicillin. I used it with Max for the last few months and I could tell it made the injection less painful for him. You need an Rx from the vet though to get it.
Anyway, keep us posted. Im so glad Penny is doing alright.
To answer a few of your questions, I think you can basically give the shot anywhere where you can get a fold of skin. So if you can do it lower on the back, near the legs, go ahead. It sounds like Penny probably wont allow it though, so just alter it as best you can. I always put Max on my bed and had my bf hold him still while I gave the shot, so maybe it would help to have someone help you hold her while you give it? I dont know that Max would have tolerated it lower than his shoulders though.
As for the lactated ringers Randy and I mentioned, its basically a saline solution used to give fluids to humans and animals. If youre giving .25 ccs of Bicillin, you would first draw the Bicillin into your needle and then draw in maybe like .75 of lactated ringers into the needle as well. It not only helps hydrate the bunny, but takes the edge off the sting of the Bicillin and also makes it easier to push in, since it thins out the Bicillin. I used it with Max for the last few months and I could tell it made the injection less painful for him. You need an Rx from the vet though to get it.
Anyway, keep us posted. Im so glad Penny is doing alright.
Offspring2099
Well-Known Member
We just had another bad injection. Penny got the shot, ran off to the side and started crawling / flopping on the floor, seizure like. Scared the hell out of me. She is better now, but still breathing heavy.
I wonder if we hit the vain this time. Anyone else have experience when a bunny fall to the floor very disoriented and crawls/rolls about?
I wonder if we hit the vain this time. Anyone else have experience when a bunny fall to the floor very disoriented and crawls/rolls about?
juliew19673
Well-Known Member
Oh my gosh I am so sorry you had such a time with this injection and I'm so near you and can not help but give support (not bun experienced).. I dealt with a cat that has kidney disease for 6 months and needed many injections a day - and had to play the "fun" game of where to inject today? Somedays went very badily and we just had to miss that injection; than a couple of hours later for something else he would be just fine..
Sorry your having a bad time though - know how it is and I'm more than happy to come by to to help with injections and/or babysit to give you and the BF a bunny break..
good luck!
Sorry your having a bad time though - know how it is and I'm more than happy to come by to to help with injections and/or babysit to give you and the BF a bunny break..
good luck!
AngelnSnuffy
Well-Known Member
OMG, I have no idea, Randy?!
Marietta
Well-Known Member
Oh, God, this is so scary! My previous bun had pasteurella abscesses and heused to geta shot of Bicillin once per day for 8 months. I never ever had a bad reaction from the injections. I'm sorry I cannot be of assistance. Anybody having experienced something like this? Please share!
Marietta
Marietta
