I have given Wick multiple injections to the back (similar to the vet experience you describe), and I’m also a phlebotomist (draw blood from humans).
Although rabbit skin, the surface and first two layers, are different than humans, from my experience the nerve sensation is the same. Once the needle has punctured the skin, there’s not really pain while blood is being collected. It’s the initial entry that’s the -ouch- moment because the needle is piercing through skin, sending those signals as it interacts with the skin nerve endings. A rabbit bolting at an injection is a result of that initial prick, just like a human flinching at a blood draw when the needle enters.
Just like with human sticks, the stick location is important, and the administrators technique is pulling the skin appropriately will affect whether or not it’s a bigger or smaller pain. For humans, you pull the skin very right so the needle does not meet resistance/tugs on skin while you so it. For rabbit back injections, you need to pull skin up sometimes so when you inject, you’re not piercing anything. Because of this, it’s hard to pull the stick site tight, so inevitably the initial entry can be rough for a half second, depending on the angle of entry.
With Wick, as with I’d say any rabbit, there is a small to major jolt they express in reaction to that needle entry; however, once it’s in, they don’t necessarily feel pain (can’t confirm), but I’d say similar to a human, you can feel something is there, but there’s no paon nerve endings to send actual pain signals. A rabbit is not always wrestled and restained down too forcibly to take an injection. Wick just needed a hand on each side of him to keep him steady through the initial needle entry.
All in all, yes there’s pain, but it goes away quickly. Things that can go wrong are like piercing a nerve, or needle movement causing a bruise, which will make that area sore a bit. Those are standard for human draws, so like phlebotomists for humans, as long as the vet is experienced, they’ll know how to do it to minimize that initial stick pain and prevent any after effects.
The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
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