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Syringe Feeding Help

M

mnemonic50

Young Bun
To cut a long story short, my Bunny Bailey was found to be underweight on a visit to the Vet for an ear problem. Vet today has said i need to do 3-4 hourly syringe feeding and go back wed morning. Possibility of admission wednesday for a full look at teeth under anaesthetic as looking down the scope she could see once side was overgrown and other side is too small.

BUT - Im struggling to syringe feed him. Hes not interested, ive tried putting it on veg as he munches away on veg but ignores it once i put it on. He gets sick of me trying to put some in his mouth and eventually gets sick and nips me (very lightly) to say hes fed up.

Does anyone have any tips on syringe feeding techniques please?
 
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I've had to do a lot of this recently and I have to say me and my sister took a tag team approach. I would hold Buttons as still as I could and try and gentley hold his head in one position, my sister then sryinged the food in.

How big is the syringe? We've found that the thinner ones are easier to get in the rabbits mouth and ours seemed to like it better. It does however mean that you will need to do this process for longer to get the same amount in them.

I have managed to syringe feed by myself - I usually kneel on the floor and hold bunny between my knees, I then hold his head still with my left hand feed with my right, Buttons doesn't really struggle if I hold him like this.

I'd unfortunatly say just to persevere. Buttons got used to it in about 4 days, but he's still not happy when we do it.

I hope this helps and that Bailey gets better!

Lauren
 
Is it critical care you are feeding? Mine like it and will eat it off a little flat dish or lid if they are not too poorly. Some people advocate doloping a bit on to a front paw so they lick it off and maybe "get the taste".

If he is eating ok why has the vet suggested syringing rather than just offering more food/food more regularly? Does he munch veg but not hay perhaps? Does he have any pellets/museli?

If I have to syringe I put them on the kitchen table on a towel, bottom to my tummy, hold them steady by the shoulders, lean forward over their back to prevent "rearing up", hand over head, lift lip insert syringe on top of toungue and press plunger slowly.
 
Hes eating veg and some hay put barely touching his pellets, hence the syringe feeding. Ive put some in a dish but hes not bothered so far.
 
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