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Please Note - Medical Advice
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Darwins Story - Ear infection / Head tilt U/D 16/2 At peace now x
- Thread starter TheThreeB's
- Start date
TheThreeB's
Mama Doe
Thank you both 
Yeah MM, I'm sure as it goes on I'll find what works best for us. Its good to have the advice / tips, of course. I'm just happy I'm managing to do it at all, as it's not the nicest thing to have to do x
Yeah MM, I'm sure as it goes on I'll find what works best for us. Its good to have the advice / tips, of course. I'm just happy I'm managing to do it at all, as it's not the nicest thing to have to do x
tlcwrites
Mama Doe
Oh my. I've only just caught up but poor Darwin and poor you! You're being an absolute star with how you're medicating him. My only experience with injecting rabbits was sub-q fluids for Elphie last year. That was not fun. And speaking of Elphie flump, the vet screwed up her nobivac injection in October. It wasn't until I pointed it out that she noticed, and she re-did it. (It wasn't the vet I'd ordinarily see. I now make more effort to see my preferred vet.)
Anyway, just wanted to send some love and vibes. It can't be easy, so soon after losing Sydney.
Anyway, just wanted to send some love and vibes. It can't be easy, so soon after losing Sydney.
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Hi
Drawing up with a green needle will be easier. You'll need to use a new needle each time you draw up, as using the same needle could risk introducing bacteria into the bottle, and damage the seal at the top which prevents bacteria getting in.
Changing the needle after drawing up means you'll have a sharp needle for getting under the skin which will make easier.
You don't need to hold the tent up. Once you're sure it's in, you can drop the tend unless you wish to massage the area as you inject.
Having surgical spirit and cotton wool to wipe the top of the bottle after each time you draw up is good at preventing by bacteria build up.
I also found while in practice that the premade syringes with needles were often blunt.
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DP has given great advice here, especially about always using a new needle to draw up each dose to minimise the risk of introducing bacteria into the bottle. I have found that it is possible to draw up a dose using a blue top needle as this makes a smaller whole in the rubber bung, again reducing risk of contamination
Hope that Darwin is doing OK within himself, how's his wobbliness ?
TheThreeB's
Mama Doe
Aw, thank you tlc
Yes it's been difficult and some of the symptoms like the tilt have been all too similar to Sydney, although I've been reassured it's quite different.Good thing you noticed about the jab x
TheThreeB's
Mama Doe
DP has given great advice here, especially about always using a new needle to draw up each dose to minimise the risk of introducing bacteria into the bottle. I have found that it is possible to draw up a dose using a blue top needle as this makes a smaller whole in the rubber bung, again reducing risk of contamination
Hope that Darwin is doing OK within himself, how's his wobbliness ?
Hi Jane, last night's injection was much easier and the only thing I did differently was taking the bottle out 15 mins early.
Yes he's still a bit unsteady and preferring to sit in the litter tray. When I put their pellets in this morning he came racing over and had to sort of steady himself after. Overall it's much less though and he's not staggering around all over the place x
MightyMax
Banned
Thank you both
Yeah MM, I'm sure as it goes on I'll find what works best for us. Its good to have the advice / tips, of course. I'm just happy I'm managing to do it at all, as it's not the nicest thing to have to do x
It's not the nicest thing at all, and I think you're doing brilliantly
MightyMax
Banned
Hi
Drawing up with a green needle will be easier. You'll need to use a new needle each time you draw up, as using the same needle could risk introducing bacteria into the bottle, and damage the seal at the top which prevents bacteria getting in.
Changing the needle after drawing up means you'll have a sharp needle for getting under the skin which will make easier.
You don't need to hold the tent up. Once you're sure it's in, you can drop the tend unless you wish to massage the area as you inject.
Having surgical spirit and cotton wool to wipe the top of the bottle after each time you draw up is good at preventing by bacteria build up.
I also found while in practice that the premade syringes with needles were often blunt.
Sent from my SM-G903F using Tapatalk
Using any needle, whether green or blue will eventually compromise the seal, whether the same needle or a new one. That's unavoidable. I was surprised my vet recommended reusing the green needle, but I could see where she was coming from (she's a well respected rabbit savvy vet on RU) and I've never had any issues doing it that way
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
It sounds as though he is making some progress
I am glad it seemed to help taking the Depocillin out of the fridge for a bit. Rather than leaving the whole bottle out you could draw up the dose and just let it 'rest' for 10 minutes, then give the syringe a good shake and then put a new needle on and give the injection. That way the whole bottle of Depocillin is not being left out of the fridge as much 
daphnephoebe
Wise Old Thumper
In VN training, you'll fail your test if you suggest doing this.Using any needle, whether green or blue will eventually compromise the seal, whether the same needle or a new one. That's unavoidable. I was surprised my vet recommended reusing the green needle, but I could see where she was coming from (she's a well respected rabbit savvy vet on RU) and I've never had any issues doing it that way
If it's at the same time of draw up, e.g. you didn't get quite enough and you need more, that's fine.
It when you draw up, leave the needle for a day then use the same needle to draw up again. It's no longer sterile as it's been open to the environment for so long.
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MightyMax
Banned
I shall quote you to my vet when I next see her :thumb:
MightyMax
Banned
daphnephoebe
Wise Old Thumper
I just go by what we were told incase we were ever asked during our practical exams.
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Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
MightyMax
Banned
Yeah, I have to say I was surprised by my vet when she told us that, but as she's known as being rabbit savvy I guessed she must have experience of it! That said, vets do tend to have a - ahem - wide repertoire when it comes to treatment :lol:
daphnephoebe
Wise Old Thumper
Some become a bit slack in their injection routines.
In theory, the needle should be changed between draw up & injection. But it's very rare you'll actually find a vet or nurse that will do this.
They also shouldn't put the cap back onto the needle. They should put the cap on the table, and put the needle into it (not pushing it closed).
There are lots of don'ts that are done in practice simply because doing it right is a pain in the backside.
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MightyMax
Banned
Yeah, you can say that again! :lol:
TheThreeB's
Mama Doe
Darwins condition remains very much the same. We had a telephone conversation with the vet and are going to be continuing with the current treatment for at least a couple more weeks. I had hoped to see some improvement, but I guess these things take time.
What's concerning me the most at the moment is his weight loss. When we first brought him home we commented that he was twice the size of Dottie, now they are the same size. He appears to be eating ok generally, but he's not eating his cecals, every morning there is a squished pile of them, usually underneath him. I'm assuming this is going to contribute to his weight loss.
I'm scared that he's wasting away and that they'll be nothing left of him
x
What's concerning me the most at the moment is his weight loss. When we first brought him home we commented that he was twice the size of Dottie, now they are the same size. He appears to be eating ok generally, but he's not eating his cecals, every morning there is a squished pile of them, usually underneath him. I'm assuming this is going to contribute to his weight loss.
I'm scared that he's wasting away and that they'll be nothing left of him
x
MightyMax
Banned
Darwins condition remains very much the same. We had a telephone conversation with the vet and are going to be continuing with the current treatment for at least a couple more weeks. I had hoped to see some improvement, but I guess these things take time.
What's concerning me the most at the moment is his weight loss. When we first brought him home we commented that he was twice the size of Dottie, now they are the same size. He appears to be eating ok generally, but he's not eating his cecals, every morning there is a squished pile of them, usually underneath him. I'm assuming this is going to contribute to his weight loss.
I'm scared that he's wasting away and that they'll be nothing left of him
x
So sorry to hear this, although I am pleased he is holding his own.
Sometimes their cecals can taste different when on antibiotics. He may get used to that and begin eating them again. I hope he gains a little weight soon x
tlcwrites
Mama Doe
Oh no. Poor Darwin - but I hope the abx are helping.
Iris has just done the same this morning - uneaten cecatrophs everywhere. Arce has begun to put back on the weight she needed to, but like Darwin, Iris feels like she's wasting away.
These rabbits. :roll:
I really hope he picks up soon. xxx
Iris has just done the same this morning - uneaten cecatrophs everywhere. Arce has begun to put back on the weight she needed to, but like Darwin, Iris feels like she's wasting away.
These rabbits. :roll:
I really hope he picks up soon. xxx
