Feeding them medicine

[Poppyhani]

Me again! Sorry for so many question posts!

So, we adopted a small mini lop (Sorrel) that was surrendered to a local pet shop, and he’s quite the shy little thing. Fine with me, I’m aware he needs time to open up and he’s slowly accepting my presence. However, he was having quite weird urine as well as some issues with his poop, therefore I took him to the vet the same day like the paranoid person I am. They gave me an antibiotic and painkillers, saying the constant moving has probably stressed him out and he’s contracted a urine problem, so I’ve been giving him them. Administering the medicine is going fine… ish. I asked how to do it, and the vet showed me by burrowing him in a big fluffy blanket and feeding him that way. That’s fine, it works, and he’s no longer freaking out when I put the blanket around him for medicine times. I minimise height by sitting on the floor so I’m not picking him up too much, but I know you shouldn’t pick new buns up at all. Does anyone have any recommendations on giving medicine to new bunnies? I give him a little brocoli or carrot depending on which he feels like that day , very picky at the moment, as a reward and that calms him down, but I don’t want to scare him.

On top of that, Poppy has just recently been spayed, and I really don’t want to pick her up for her medicine, so she’s even tougher. She’s very boisterous and although she loves human contact and cuddles, she’s figured out when mama’s got that scary syringe and runs for it. I really don’t want to freak her out incase it hurts her wound… at the moment, I’m just trying to convince her by laying on the floor with her and wiggling it in her mouth, but that’s not very reliable.

Basically, does anyone have any medicine handling tips? I’m going to get some banana tomorrow because Poppy just isn’t having it, and I know she loves banana with a passion, so I was thinking about putting some on the edge of the syringe. She’ll take her antibiotics with /less/ strife, but hates her Fibreplex. I don’t blame her, that syringe is huge!!

[DanaNM]

Poor little bun!

For both of them, you can try mixing the medicine in with some mashed banana, sometimes they will lick it up off a plate that way. Some medicines also taste sweet and the bun will just lick them up.

But, for those tough ones, my technique is to pick them up and put them on my lap, bum towards me, head facing out. I don’t mess with blankets and towels to burrito them. I use my left hand (I’m right handed) to hold their head steady with the “C” grip: thumb around the back of the head, other fingers under the jaw, and angle their head slightly up. Use your other hand to deliver the meds, entering just under their cheek, aiming for the spot right behind the front teeth.

Don’t worry about picking up your new bun spoiling your bond, sometimes you gotta do the tough love approach! He will forgive you, and the whole thing will probably bring you closer. I also wouldn’t worry too much about picking up your girl. Try to scoop her up quickly from inside her cage, when she can’t get away. It also helps to get everything ready, and then wait a while. Just pet her for a while to make sure she’s calm, then scoop her up before she expects anything.

. . . 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.  

[Wick & Fable]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N12eJ5vdo4w

^ This is how I do it with Wick. It doesn’t require picking up, and similar to Dana, it’s a “C” grip.

And yes, your rabbit will forgive you. I give/apply medication to Wick daily since I’ve had him pretty much and although he growls at me during sometimes, he’s quite loving after the post-treatment treat, haha.

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.

[Poppyhani]

Hi again!

I did some of the things you guys said, and it was a success for Poppy! I couldn’t try the C-grip with Sorrel, because he really doesn’t like being pet so I couldn’t calm him down, but it worked wonders for Poppy! Not a sign of struggle, I was so proud.

I felt Poppy still wouldn’t like the giant Fibreplex syringe in her face either, so made some banana mash for one dose, and hid some in a strawberry for the next. An absolute success! I’m so happy, thank you so much, Wick and Dana! I think I’ll try the banana mix tomorrow for Sorrel too — I was only certain about it today with Poppy because she goes mad for it, whereas he’s still a bit picky due to his new surroundings.

Again, thank you so much! *^^*

(As a side note, your buns are so gorgeous. Snuggling loafs are adorable, and Wick is such a good boy to handle medicine every day!)

[DanaNM]

yay, you’re welcome! Glad we could help and glad it worked!

. . . 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.  

[LBJ10]

I “sit” on mine. I suppose that’s somewhat similar.

[Author]

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