Sub-Q injections flying solo…any tips?

[T-Bun]

 My little Vincenzo DiBunna needs weekly penicilin shots (sub-q)…anybody have any experience doing this on your own?  The vet is willing to teach me, but I’m wondering if this is even feasible since I’ll be doing it on my own…no second person to hold him.   Thanks.

[Sarita]

Injections are easy especially in a larger rabbit – not sure what size your bun is.

I always do injections or sub-q fluids on the floor in a bathroom and put the rabbit in between my legs with the rabbit facing away from me and inject from there.

[sleepy538]

i did the same as sarita, but i faced my bunny inward so she couldn’t bolt.

[T-Bun]

 Thanks for the info.  He’s going to be getting them once a week indefinitely.  He does ok in the car, but it’s sill a bit of a trip to get there and back.  and I know it’s not his favorite thing.   Home shots is their standard plan, but I worry about handling it on my own.  I’ll ask the vet tech if I can do a few practice runs during his next few weekly visits so they can step in if it all goes wrong.  I don’t want to put the lil’ guy through more than he’s already been through.  Took a L-O-N-G time to get his dental issues straightened out (that’s why he’s getting the penicilin).

[Sarita]

Make sure with the pen-g shots that they do not put the pen-g in the injections since you have to refrigerate these – they will condensate and it will be impossible to use the injection.

My vet usually puts the pen-g in a bottle (it has to be a dark bottle) where I can load my own shots (you have to keep pen-g refrigerated and shake it really well before use) – maybe ask them if they have syringes that the needles come off so you can load the syringe with the pen-g then take the needle off and replace it with a fresh needle to do the injections…usually (at least in my experience) the needle “blunts” a bit when drawing up the pen-g – you also want to make sure that the needle diameter is large enough to allow the pen-g to go through the syringe (it’s pretty thick) – I hope all this makes sense….

Most of this they will probably explain to you when you get your lesson – you will do fine!!!! The first time is the most difficult but the more you do, the more confident you will become.

[T-Bun]

 Hi again, just thought i’d give an update.   I….punted!  Reached a compromise and arranged for the vet just up the road to do the injections every week.  5 minute ride instead of 30.  These will be lifetime for him, so maybe someday I’ll take over.  He’ll go back to his primary care vet at the end of the year for another check of his teeth. 

[Sarita]

LOL – glad you found some local help with that. Maybe you can do the injections with the vet or vet tech’s helping you until you eventually feel more comfortable doing it on your own.

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