How to administer meds by mouth. Help!!

[Allie2620]

Hey – Daphne got neutered yesterday (yes, he’s a boy) and has been recovering all right since then, but I’m supposed to give him meds this morning and he’s not a huge fan.  I started with the probiotic that is pineapple flavored and he had some of it, but then refused the rest so I ended up spreading it on a piece of lettuce (that, of course, he’s now not eating).

Then came the metacam (antibiotic/pain thing) where I even had my roomie hold him down and he made such a fuss (and scratched her in the process) and absolutely would NOT take the meds.  I did manage to get some on his nose, so I’m hoping he’ll groom it into his system.

But now I have a good 0.3mL left (started with 0.5mL) and he will not take it by mouth.  Please tell me some of you have had similar experiences and found some magical way to make the bunny take the meds!  Ugh, and I’m supposed to do this for the next 10 days!?!?

Help!

[SugarbearNPepper]

Does your bunny like bananas? For my girl, I was able to put the pain med on a banana and she would take it that way. My boy bun Sugar doesn’t like banana’s or likes to be held, so my doctor suggested that I put a towel over him and pick him up that way. Put him on a counter with his bum close to your chest and give the medicine that way. Have everything ready next to you so you can do it quickly. Hope this helps a little! Good luck!

[mint]

When I have a real fighter I do a bunny burrito. I put the bunny on a towel then wrap one end over and tuck it under, making sure to get the feet tucked in and only the head sticking out. Then I wrap the other end around and over and tuck that end under the bunny so there is no slippage. Then I put the bunny under my right armpit and with my left hand I lift the bunny’s head and syringe feed with my right hand. I kind of look underneath my left hand so I can see its mouth. I go in through the side, right behind the teeth. Usually that solves the kicking problem but sometimes they get clever and won’t swallow.

[Monkeybun]

I always sat on the floor, towel on legs, plopped Monkey on lap, brought my knees up as far as I could, trapping her in between my chest and legs. Grab head, open bunny lips, syringe in the SIDE of hte mouth. Best way, then it won’t dribble out.

Worked with miss Cranky Bun

[BinkyBunny]

I do very similar to what Monkeybun does. I then put my left hand over my bunny’s face (fingers toward nose — palm securely over ears and forehead) with the bunny nose between my middle and pointer finger. This helps secure my bunny.  Then with my right hand I syringe into the side of mouth.  Once I got the hang of this, I could do this very quickly and it was so much less stress for  everyone.  (especially my bunny!). 

However, if your bunny will gladly take meds hidden in a banana — that is no stress.  

[TaraMichele]

 wow I feel kind of lucky after reading this thread,  my little piggy sophie thought the medication was a treat, she even stole the syringe out of my hand.  just want to say good luck and I wish I had some suggestions but seems like there are already some great ones above  

[RabbitPam]

The syringe via the side of the mouth makes all the difference.

In addition to banana, I used to take an apple slice, cut a triangular wedge out of the soft part, like a hat shape, drop med into the hole, put the little hat wedge back on it, and let Spockie eat the apple slice. It woud stand still the way I cut it, and he always chewed the soft part first, so he got it in while eating up the apple. This was better for drops I needed to give him than a cc dose of syringe meds. Those went in his side mouth while firmly holding his shoulders. He knew a treat was coming (the apple) if he let me do the syringe first.

“stole the syringe” I just love bunnies!

[rexanater]

 When Houdini got neutered, I just rubbed the syringe tip on a slice of apple. So he took it perfectly fine, without force. Good Luck

[Stickerbunny]

When my girl got spayed I held her against my chest, so her side pressed against me so I wouldn’t hurt her tummy, with her head over my arm and my boyfriend got the syringe and placed it on the side of her mouth and slowly pushed the meds out so she had to lick them up. My girl wasn’t interested in food AT ALL first day after so the placing it on food didn’t work for her. Holding her that way kept her from freaking out without me having to put pressure on her stitches to hold her.

Good luck. Animals are as bad as kids about not wanting to take their medicines!

[Elrohwen]

I like to hold the bunny between my knees (while kneeling on the floor) and put one hand on the shoulder to keep them from running forward (doing this in front of a wall is helpful since they don’t have anywhere to go). It helps to sort of close your feet behind you so they can’t back up. Use the other hand to insert the syringe and all done.

Hannah is almost impossible to pick up, so I’ve used this method very successfully on her. It can be harder for a very small rabbit though as they have more room to wiggle out from between your knees.

[Allie2620]

Thanks for all the responses – I’m back to school again, hence the delay – after I went to the vet a few days ago for a “check the sutures” stop, she showed me proper bunny burrito technique along with inserting the syringe in the side of the mouth, and it’s worked out great the past 3 days. (so, pretty much, you all gave me great advice, yet again!!) I’ve cajoled my roommate into holding Daphne in the burrito while I put one hand on Daphne’s head and “cheeks” while I handle the syringe in the other hand. I save the probiotic for last as its pineapple flavored and he seems to like that one Sadly, the bun will be grumpy until sutures come out on Saturday and he can finally run around outside the X-pen (I can tell he’s getting annoyed at being cooped up).

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