A sick rabbit should only be breastfed at home for veterinary instruction, that is, if your rabbit is sick, always consult a veterinarian first. There are several circumstances in which your vet may ask you to breastfeed your rabbit at home rather than keeping it at the vet’s office. For example, if your rabbit has had an operation, usually neutering or spaying, or if he is suffering from a long-term illness like Pasteurella or E.Cuniculi.
Atmosphere
Sick rabbits should always be kept in a warm, draft-free environment. If you have a rabbit outdoors, you will need to bring it indoors so that you can keep it warm and supervise it properly. Set up an indoor cage with some blankets and a litter tray and make sure clean, fresh water is always available.
For domestic rabbits (without a cage), you can let them go to their usual den or sleeping area, but make sure it is comfortable, clean, and has fresh water nearby.
Medicine
Rabbit medications commonly administered at home, such as Metacam, Baytril, Panacur, and Fibreplex, are administered orally, so it is important that you know how to feed your rabbit with a syringe (see below).
Syringe feeding
Regardless of what illness your rabbit has, the most common result is that your rabbit is unwilling to eat. Rabbits have very sensitive digestive systems and any type of pain is likely to affect their eating habits first. It is very important to keep their digestive system moving to avoid the risk of intestinal stasis and rabbits that are not eating need to be fed with a syringe every two hours.
Recovery Food or Critical Care is available at veterinarians, some pet stores, and online retailers. It comes in sachets and must be mixed with a little water to form a paste. The rabbit is then fed with a small syringe (again, available at vets or retailers); about 2 to 3 full syringes every 2 hours.
Place your rabbit on a non-slippery surface on a table; sometimes it helps to wrap it in a blanket. Place the rabbit with its back to you with the bottom against its tummy. Support the rabbit’s head gently but firmly with one hand while inserting the syringe into its mouth. If the rabbit clenches its teeth, move the syringe until you find the space on the side of its mouth and mix it gently. Press the syringe slowly; This is essential for the rabbit to have time to swallow, as otherwise there is a risk that the rabbit will inhale the food and choke. Hold the rabbit until you are sure the food has been swallowed, as many rabbits keep it in their mouth and then spit it out. If the rabbit spits any food on the chest, clean it; In the case of rabbits with a large dewlap, it is helpful to place a napkin or tissue over the dewlap.
Syringe feeding can be tricky and requires practice, so ask your veterinary nurse to demonstrate first and have two people present the first time you try it.
Cleaning / bath
Rabbits are usually very clean and groom themselves from head to toe several times a day. However, a sick rabbit may not be able or willing to do this and this can lead to skin problems if the rabbit is not kept clean. You should avoid full rabbit baths whenever possible, but if your rabbit has poop stuck around the bottom, you can give it a bottom bath. Put a few inches of warm water in a sink and gently lower your rabbit’s bottom. Loosen the poop from its fur by rubbing it gently; You can use a baby or pet shampoo if needed. Pat the rabbit dry with a towel and place it next to a radiator or other warm place until its fur is completely dry.
If your rabbit’s chin (dewlap) is dirty from dripping food, wipe it with a soft damp cloth, otherwise the skin may become irritated and sore.
Caring for a rabbit at home is time consuming and stressful, particularly syringe feeding, but the rabbit will generally do better in its own environment away from the stress of veterinary surgery. However, it can be difficult, especially with more stubborn rabbits, so if you are in doubt as to whether you can handle it, ask your vet to take care of the rabbit.
Copyright 2011 Hannah Davis / Bunnyhugga. All rights reserved.