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How to Give Medication to a Rabbit. Just like the rest of us, rabbits will take medicine
more easily if it tastes good. But if you’re stuck with the old-fashioned, bad-tasting
kind, here’s how to make the medicine go down. You will need An eyedropper or medicine
syringe A towel A chair, stool, or bench to sit on A tiny bunny treat, like a raisin or
piece of apple and a small quantity of mashed banana or applesauce. Step 1. Have the correct
measured dose of medicine ready in an eyedropper or medicine syringe. Some bunny owners like
to coat the filled eyedropper or syringe with mashed banana or applesauce once it’s filled.
This means a nice taste for the bunny—on the outside of the syringe, at least! Step
2. Stash an after-medication treat, like a raisin or a small piece of apple, in a convenient
spot so you can get to it as soon as you’re done. Many pet medications must be shaken
before they’re used. Check the label on the bottle to be sure. Step 3. Arrange your
chair, bench, or stool in the place you plan to dose Bun-bun. Since you’ll probably need
to give your rabbit her medicine over the course of several days, leave the chair in
place so she won’t get suspicious every time she sees you setting up. Step 4. Pick
up the bunny as calmly as you can, speaking soothingly while you do. Wrap her tightly
in the towel—think “bunny burrito”—so that she can’t get her legs free to kick
or scramble around. Step 5. Take a seat, both of you! Sit down on the chair, stool, or bench
with the bunny held firmly on your lap. Step 6. Tucking the rabbit firmly under one arm,
hold her against your body. If you’re right-handed, use your left arm. If you’re left-handed,
use your right arm. Step 7. With the hand that’s holding the bunny, grip her head.
Use your thumb to pry her lips open. Keep holding her against your body so she won’t
be able to back away from the medicine. Continue speaking soothingly throughout the procedure.
At least it may help calm _you_ down. Step 8. Still, gripping the bunny’s head and
holding open her lips, use your other hand to slide the filled eyedropper or syringe
into her mouth. Always slide it in from the side, where a rabbit’s teeth won’t get
in the way. Step 9. Squirt the medicine as far back into the bunny’s throat as you
can. Hold her mouth closed for a few seconds. Step 10. Show the rabbit her treat before
you place her carefully on the floor and remove the towel. If she’s too mad to stick around,
leave the treat on the floor—she’ll come back for it. Step 11. It would be great if
rabbits knew you were doing this all for their own good, but take heart. The treatments will
soon be over, and after a few days your bunny won’t remember what you put her through.
Did you know A five-pound rabbit drinks as much water as a twenty-pound dog.