I think you should do what the vet recommends.

Also do you mean pen-g shots?

I don’t think the Pen G shots upsets their tummies- I think that is usually associated with oral antibiotics- but I could be wrong about that.  But I think there would be less chance of tummy upset since the med is not being absorbed thru the GI system.  Are you OK with giving injections? 

I would go with what your vet recommends- but I do see an advantage to starting a new treatment quickly as opposed to waiting too long- and have it build back up again.

Well I know your vet knows to not use Amoxicillin (orally) and I suspect this is pen-g shots since Amoxicillin is only oral or with sub-q fluids as far as I know. I’ve used pen-g many times and you usually use it every 2 to 3 days. There’s always the possibility of side effects. I don’t recall having any severe side effects when using this but I understand there is the possibility of upset stomachs.

Just a reminder to any other forum member reading this – Amoxicillin should never be given to your rabbit by a vet…it can be fatal to your rabbit.

Hi, MM,
I am sneaking on during my lunch hour at work – the joys of a new laptop – and I saw your post.
I think Sarita has good cause for concern. I would suggest asking your vet specifically what is her perscribed med’s name, and if she says it’s amoxicillin, tell her you were told never to give that to bunnies, and is she sure that’s it? (I used to call it by a name I learned from my brother’s cancer cocktail, so I know how similar they all sound.)

Otherwise, I’d agree to go ahead with the next treatment right away, and let the vet dictate dosage and frequency. Poor little Mimzy needs some relief, and he will be better to get through the treatment and start to be well again.

I only had to give Spockie a shot once, and that was when he was too ill not to cooperate. But it turned out to just go into the gathered up part of his neck behind his ears, just above his shoulders, and it didn’t seem difficult or hurt him at all. It’s scary at first, but if you master it you will be more comfortable in the future with all your bunnies. Maybe the vet can let you administer one in her office.
{{{{{{{{{Healing Vibes for Mimzy}}}}}}}}}}}

If the vet is not close to you and the vet is OK with you giving injections at home- take someone along with you to learn how.

It is actually very easy and there are 2 different routes to give injectable meds at home- SQ- under the skin and IM- intramuscular- into the muscle.  SQ is easy and nothing to worry about.  IM is still easy but can be more uncomfortable for the pet- so find out how the injections are given.  You can even practice giving injections with sterile saline at the vet clinic- either on Mimzy or if they have an office pet.

I have to give my cat insulin SQ twice a day- and even my hubby that does not like working on the pets- will give the insulin- it is that easy.  There is nothing really to compare giving a SQ injection to in a human- humans don’t have the space under the skin like pets do.  I thought my cat would hide a have a fit twice a day when he needed to be poked- but he is doing great, does not hide and obviously feels better than he has in awhile (he is being playful, more affectionate and even more naughty).

I would recommend giving a treat or something else (like their daily greens) after you do a “treatment”- so they associate the something unpleasant with something good. 

Oh, MM, I didn’t realize how that sounded. It was years ago – he passed away in 1982. His daughter just got her PhD. We are all very proud of her and I’m sure he is too in his own way.

That’s great about your hubby having experience. I’m sure it will go well.

We have had to give Rucy shots before. It was actually much better for Rucy this way – she barely knew they were going in. So much less stressful for her then oral injections which she hated. The vet tech showed us how to do (scruffing up the fur on the back of the neck so you don’t poke a muscle) and he also told us that the back of a rabbit’s neck has less nerve-endings so it’s not very painful. (must be nature’s kind way for prey animals). We found this to be true for her. She handled the injections (when we did the right) very well. I didn’t handle it well as I am very icktafied by needles. I would help by getting the scruff ready and molded right, but he did the actual injection. (while I closed my eyes)

WIth pen-g shots, she did fine, but the vet did say to watch out for lack of appetite or energy as this can be side-effect.  She said if that happened, don’t panic, as it usually isn’t an emergency, just stop the meds when you notice.

They also gave her the first shot and had me just hang out for 15 minutes because even though it’s not common for  rabbit (or any animal) to have an allergic reaction, it will very shortly after the first injection, so that is why they had me stick around – just to be safe.

The other thing that we had to be careful of was to just make sure the needle was in before injecting the fluids.  Steve, as first would stick  it in, or think he stuck it in and then begin injecting and part of the med would begin to drip down her side.   Well, of course, that has to be thoroughly cleaned up right away so she couldn’t get to it.  

Honestly though, even as icky and scary as it might seem,  I would rather do injections – At least for my bunnies, it has been less stressful for them than the orals. (even though more stressful for their human slaves.)

 Such a needle phob I was… I had still have somewhat a needle phobia… I pass out…. Not lately tho… however I had to have allergy shots and eventually I was told i can now do them at home…So I practiced a few times at the dr office was amazing I got thu it…. I would rather give my own now than have someone else do them…

I know once you do it a few times  practicing at the vets office that you can do it…It gets easier… With your husband to help tho that is great too. He has had experience so that is great should you really not be able to do them yourself. It won’t be forever that Mimzy has to take them hopefully the way he has been staying sick poor fellow…

Will send vibes his way and yours too

always feels easier to have help.. 

tho I dont’ ask my hubby for help. First and only time I did Cotton flipped over and hubby grabbed him by his hind legs and he was still trying to run and me screaming let go let go… Phew.  scared me as much as Cotton.

One thing with the needles too is that you will want to use one needle to draw the pen-g which has to be shaken very very well and refrigerated and one to use for the rabbit – the sharper the better.

Also with pen-g you want to warm the syringe in your hands so it’s not cold to before administering the shot.

Really the maximum amount of pen-g you will probably use is .25cc’s and it’s not much at all so it goes fast.

Gosh MM.  Pincushion ouch.  A lot of people I know have or had cancer.  Even hubby.  He did the chemo.  He has been off it and it has been in remission. He still goes to get a scan about every 6 months.

2 people here have cancer too. 3 did.  Such a scary thing.  All of it.  the cancer, the treatment.  is it in remission.   So much to go thru to worry about.   You needed Lidocaine for them to stick your port? I think that is what it is called.  Gosh

MM,
A dope? That’s ridiculous. I feel so good when I hear about someone who has battled the C and is beating it. You are so courageous to cope with it, the treatments, the fear and just all of it. I’ll never forget once last year when I heard about a young man who had the same rare form my brother had, and had a complete remission and got on with his life for about 10 years – still clear. I had to call my mother to tell her. My brother had felt in the last year as he reached a stage with new protocols that hadn’t been tried yet that he was advancing the research and helping someone else down the road. They really have made amazing progress. So I get to enjoy your company here!

How’s Mimzy today?

I sent you an email.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{Hugs for Mimzy}}}}}}}}}}}

Find that hanky, quick!

Your poor bunny.  That is one hard sneeze.  I really want things to work out for you and your bunny.

That is so nice to light a candle for Fouad and I.  Thank you so much for that. HE has been clear for 2 years now.   He developed lymphoma the non hodgkins kind 2 months after we married.  And his pancrea no not that.  The thing that goes bad and we really don’t use it. There goes my  mind again.  Ahh appendix thats what it was

It was real bad his Dr. fussed at him for not going in sooner. His bro and I kept trying to get him to go. Finally the pain for the appendix was so bad I insisted we go to hospital now like at 2 am.  Then they checked the lump by his throat and was the cancer. They removed one of his adenoids and a tonsil. His voice changed he sounded younger.  I think he liked that part.

Anyways I stayed with him 8 days at the hospital going home only to feed Feda change shower and return. I was so scared. I know he was too. 

Then the chemo.  And the mood swings from the meds the prednisone and all the stress. 6 months of chemo

I am sorry your bro didn’t make it. My bro passed too. Car accident.

Letting the injection warm up a bit is not for medicine to work better- it is so it is not as cold being injected- as that can be more a a distrurbing sensation to some pets than the actual pole itself.

Needles get dull just from poking thru a rubber vial top- so you can use one needle (designated as your needle to draw up the meds)- and use another new needle to inject pet and discard that needle.  I know if human meds they never recap a needle to use it again- but if you are using the needle to draw up the med only- recapping it and setting it aside- it is not contaminated and will save 1 needle a day.  In human meds there is such a worry about blood borne pathogens, disease that recapping a needle is never done- but reusing things that are still “clean” is done for pets commonly.

My cat is so used to his insulin and it has only been 4 weeks- he barely flinches- does not ever hide or run away.  I don’t even let the insulin warm after I have drawn it up- otherwise I would NEVER remember to give it.   He hates the once weekly day of blood draws at home (I measure his blood glucose for 4 times- 4 hours apart)- and while he hates that he still does not even hide or run away.   I always offer his treats and love as soon as we are done.

BT, I’m sorry to hear that about your bro. And the cancer scare – it’s really hard to go through for everyone.

Katnipcrzy, doesn’t it seem like they behave when we do something that’s good for them? Spockie used to take his mouth syringe every morning without any trouble at all, and he stayed still for his baths. I think they know it’s making them better.