To give the fluids, expose the skin over the rabbit’s shoulders. Pinch the skin together with your forefingers so that there is a small “tent” of skin elevated above the shoulders. The needle should be inserted from the back to the front into the upside-down “V” below the skin tent.
How do you give a rabbit fluid treatment?
If fluid is given in a bolus it could be administered every 15 minutes e.g. 2 kg rabbit = 20ml/hour, or 5ml/15 minutes → Colloids; where required e.g. sufficient blood loss or drop in blood pressure, colloids can be administered at the same rate however it may be beneficial having labelled syringes made up with 50:50
Can I give saline to my rabbit?
If you didnt already know, the daily fluid requirement of a rabbit is 100-120 mL/kg/day. Fluid therapy in rabbits is very similar to dogs and cats, however ideally fluids should be warmed, and most commonly you should be using hartmanns or normal saline.
How do I rehydrate my rabbit?
In those cases a water bottle is a good option.
- Give your rabbit a bowl and a bottle.
- Leave water on their daily greens.
- Add a few drops of unsweetened fruit juice.
- Give your rabbit fresh water multiple times a day.
- Add fragrant herbs to the water bowl.
- Avoid warm water.
- Try purified or bottled water.
How much IV fluids do rabbits need?
The recommended maintenance fluid rate for rabbits is 4 mL/kg/hr, which can be approximated to 100 mL/kg/day (Varga, 2014; Grint, 2013).
How do you give an IV injection?
How it works
- Inject a needle into the person’s vein.
- Push a small plastic catheter over the needle and into the vein.
- Remove the needle, leaving the catheter in place.
- Place an access cap over the catheter, which allows them to administer medications without having to re-inject a needle.
What size needle do you use for rabbits?
25 gauge needle
Rabbits rarely object to placement of fluids in this area. Give injections to rabbits just as is done in dogs and cats. Administer most intravenous injections in the cephalic or lateral saphenous veins. Typically, use a 25 gauge needle although insulin syringes with needles as small as 28 gauge are acceptable.
How do you restrain a rabbit for subcutaneous injection?
Rabbits may also be restrained for injection by wrapping the animal in a drape or towel. If the rabbit is securely wrapped, it will not struggle. Intravenous injections into the rabbit’s marginal ear vein can be readily made if the rabbit is restrained with a drape.
How much water should I syringe my rabbit?
You should only feed small amounts, 2-4 ml at a time and then allow your rabbit to rest (remove the syringe). Your rabbit should show signs of chewing and swallowing. This process can then be repeated until you have fed 5-10 ml. Syringe feeding needs to be done slowly to avoid aspiration.
How do I give my rabbit electrolytes?
Mix 1/2 to 1 cup of precooked baby rice cereal or 1 1/2 tbsp. of sugar with 2 cups of water and 1/2 tsp. of salt. Mix well.
How long can rabbits go without water?
24 hours
A rabbit cannot go longer than 24 hours without drinking. If the weather is particularly hot, this period is even shorter. It cannot be stressed enough how important water is for your pet. Your pet will die without it.
Can you give a rabbit Pedialyte?
1) Bunny should drink ONLY Pedialyte (instead of water) – put it in a small bowl (it provides necessary electrolytes). You could dilute it with water, but if the bunny is in a bad condition give them ONLY pedialyte.
How long can a rabbit go without food and water?
If they go even 12 hours without food, then they have a high chance of developing a potentially deadly condition called GI Statis. At most, a rabbit will typically live for around 3-4 days without eating. What is this?
Why is my rabbit drinking water but not eating?
It’s extremely important to contact your vet straight away if you notice your rabbit is eating less than normal. There are many different problems that could have caused your rabbit to stop eating, but some of the most common include dental disease, stress, and gut problems.
Why is my rabbit floppy?
Various theories have been suggested including low blood calcium, low blood potassium, vitamin E and selenium deficiency, infection with the parasite Enecephalitozoon cuniculi and ingestion of plant or fungal toxins.
What is gut stasis?
Gut stasis is a slowing or stopping of movement of material through the digestive tract. The two main places where the ingesta tends to be delayed are the stomach and the caecum. While the passage of ingesta is slow, the normal extraction of liquid from it continues, which causes the ingesta to become thick and dry.
How do I know if my rabbit is drinking enough water?
Dark urine.
This can be a giveaway. Although a dehydrated rabbit will urinate less, when they do, the urine will be darker and have a stronger smell. Having enough fluid is vital for your rabbit to get rid of waste, and dark urine is a clear sign this is not happening.
How do I nurse my rabbit back to health?
Gather the wild baby rabbit in his blanket and feed him on his back, just as you would a human baby. Put the dropper to the baby rabbit’s mouth and allow him to suck the KMR at his own pace. Most baby rabbits will appreciate feedings twice a day. Once in the early morning and again late at night, just like in the wild.
How long can a rabbit be syringe fed?
It’s usually recommended that you feed it as the sole source of nutrition for no longer than 5-7 days. Excel DualCare – produced by Burgess Pet Care. A specially formulated diet which when mixed with water, can be easily syringe fed to both rabbits and guinea pigs at times of stress and recovery.
What happens if IV is not in vein?
When an IV is not inserted properly or is otherwise misused, fluids or medicine can leak into the surrounding tissue. This is called IV infiltration, and it can cause harm ranging from irritation to fluid overload, infections, nerve damage, stroke, brain injury, or even death.
What are the IV sites?
The preferred sites for IV cannulation
- Hand. Dorsal arch veins.
- Wrist. Volar aspect.
- Cubital fossa. Median antecubital, cephalic and basilic veins.
- Foot. Dorsal arch.
- Leg. Saphenous vein at the knee.