Antibiotic Eyedrops *update*

[Sonn]

Enki went to the vet today for some sneezing. No wheezing or anything but he sounded stuffy when he would breathe. 

The vet put him on 2 antibiotics Baytril and an eye drop Ciprofloxacin. She said it was a pretty bad URI and suctioned out his nose with a bulb syringe. 

But I am have a HARD time getting the drops in his eyes. I tried the burrito and he flipped out. 

Any suggestions on how to get them in his eyes instead of the floor or my shirt? 

[RabbitPam]

You could try sitting on a towel on the floor, placing him firmly between your thighs either facing you or facing away. Press one hand on his shoulders – not too hard but that indicates dominance to him, and then drop into each eye while you hold him kind of still that way. The towel is to catch the drops that miss. Give him a raisin immediate after both eyes are done successfully. He may feel more secure with both feet on the floor, and will learn that when he assumes the position, a treat is coming if he holds still and lets it happen quickly.

[jerseygirl]

This is what I try if I find giving a med difficult. I sit in chair with bun up against my chest. So it’s feet are resting on my chest, hind feet in lap. Then I bring my knees up to brace the buns back.

It’s all very awkward but you can sort of then use your forearms to brace each side, one hand to secure head and one hand to give the med. lol

Something else to try is place him up high but on a small surface area so there’s less space for him to move away. I find this safest to do in area where most sides are blocked off (like corner of room) and I can block other side with my body. Usually I use my washing machine as its tucked in a corner with a trough abutting the 3rd side.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Poor little Enki. I’ve never had much trouble giving eyedrops. My method is to just sit them on the table on a towel.

(((((Feel Better Soon Enki))))))

[FlemishMom]

I’ve never used a towel or anything else for giving eye drops. I guess all my rabbits have always been comfortable with me touching their faces. I just quickly spread both lids and plop with the drop. My problem is that those rabbits that really don’t like them can have incredibly fast and strong BLINK reactions so it seems like they get next to none of the eyedrop. I know a lot of vets prefer eyedrops because they worry about the fragility of rabbit GI tracts, but I always feel more confident with oral medication that the appropriate amount has been taken.

[Sonn]

Enki is really fast especially if he doesn’t like what you are doing. I did manage to get them in his eyes this morning by putting him in the kitchen sink. Lol. I tried the other suggestions last night and it did not end well. He likes to bite when he can’t scratch. But when I put him in the sink I think he thought he was trapped.

He is on an oral antibiotic (Baytril) but he is also on the Cipro that I drop in his eyes.

[LBJ10]

I had to put drops in Wooly’s eye. I found that trying to burrito him or hold him down was more trouble than it was worth. He would struggle and I would get eye drops everywhere but in his eye. Then I found that I could kind of sneak them in there. I would set him in my lap and pet him. He would settle in after a bit. Then I would start rubbing his forehead, which he likes. While rubbing, I would gently move the skin upward so his eye would open a little. Of course I would have the drop ready in the other hand and the drop would just plop right in his eye. He never saw it coming. If you can do it so the lower eyelid sort of catches the eye drop, when they go to blink the drop will get pulled into the eye.

[FlemishMom]

Do you have a second person who can help you? They could simply hold his ears firmly at the base with him on a table or in their lap. That would leave both your hands free-one to spread the lid, the other to do the drop. I just saw LBJ10’s post–sounds like good technique too.

[Sonn]

Well Mr. Enki is not any better and actually seems worse. I am having difficulties with this new vet since he is not willing to do a culture for a sensitivity test and says antibiotics other than cipro and baytril are not safe. It really sucks that the good rabbit vets do not stay in this town very long. He tried to get me to stop giving him hay! And even though he and Banji are firmly bonded tried to make me separate them. Then when I asked about neutering Banji he told me that it was dangerous and cruel to neuter rabbits!

I very much suspect Pasteurella at this point because he now has thick gross white discharge. But it looks like I am going to have to take him 2 1/2 hours away just to get tests done. That is the closest rabbit savvy vet near me now.

[FlemishMom]

I am sorry to hear you have to drive so far to get a vet to do a test on a culture. I don’t know if this is any help but if you are a member of Flickr you can find a very good vet reference list on http://www.bunnyloversunite.co.uk. That links up to a Flickr site which is why I say you need to be a member of Flickr.

I really hope it’s NOT pasteurella! Sending healing thoughts your way!

[Monkeybun]

Wow, that vet needs to get a clue.

[jerseygirl]

Is it his eyes or nose that seem worse? Or both?
{{{Enki}}}

Something you could try is nebulise with saline to see if it helps loosen things up. You might ask the new vet if worth using the cipro (or something else) in nebuliser.
Here’s a good instructional video I watched recently.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V29dG5fU5J4&sns=em

Sonn, it’s going to be interesting for you when you cover exotics in your studies!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time. Hopefully, the long drive will be worth it and you can get Enki better soon.

((((Enki)))))

When is your appointment?

[Sonn]

He didn’t have any problems with his eyes. His nose is worse with the white discharge. But his lungs do sound clear thankfully. I don’t think this new vet knows anything about rabbits. He referred to “checking the book” when he prescribed the Cipro.

I am going to give the vet I am taking him to a call about the nebulizer.

His appointment isn’t until Monday.

[Author]

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