How To Syringe Feed A Rabbit? Know 6 Easy Steps!
Do you have even the slightest idea of how to syringe feed a rabbit? Well, the easiest way to do it is by putting your finger on each side of the jaw and pressing it a little bit to open the bunny’s mouth.
It will be your worst nightmare as a pet owner if you notice that your bun is not eating as it should be.
Syringe feeding may be equally difficult for you and your pet since it requires a lot of patience.
You have to make sure that you are keeping your bun calm and that you are in an excellent area to ease your bunny’s mind.
You need to have gentle control over your pet’s head so that it won’t turn away from you.
In this article, we will teach you the proper way of syringe feeding a cottontail and some tips to make the work easier and faster.
Without any more delays, let us get right at it!
Proper Way To Syringe Feed A Rabbit
In this part of the blog post, we will explain each of the steps, hoping that this information will be beneficial to you. Below are the steps in feeding your bunny using a syringe.
Step #1. Get the vet’s approval
You cannot just decide on syringe feeding your cottontail without approval from the veterinarian.
It is imperative because, without proper advice, your pet may choke and breathe in the food in the wrong way.
If the food gets into the respiratory tract, it can lead to very serious consequences for your pet.
Let me tell you a story about my bunny named Thumper.
It was a month ago when Thumper had a gastric obstruction. I knew that I should take the vet’s advice because the illness should be treated entirely before doing the feeding technique.
More so, the vet will teach the proper amount that should be fed by considering the weight and size of the bunny.
Step #2. Buy a syringe
There are a lot of pediatric syringes that are available in the pharmacy or pet shops.
You have to select one that can hold up at least 1cc of liquid. 3cc, 5cc, and 6cc syringes are also available if you wish to have a more extensive type, but you must first discuss with your vet.
Step #3. Wrap your pet with a towel to restrain it
You need to calm your bunny before syringe feeding it because the food may be all over the place, and your bun will be scared as hell.
This method is called a bunny burrito because it keeps the cottontail still.
It is also essential that your pet is in a horizontal position when feeding it.
Do not devise any other position because your goal is to pass down food into its stomach directly.
Step #4. Place the syringe in the corner of the rabbit’s mouth
The proper way how to syringe feed a rabbit is by using your dominant hand in holding the syringe and your non-dominant hand for its jaw.
This way, you can make your pet stay still as you try to give it food.
After that, you can then poke the feeding syringe gently in the corner of your rabbit’s mouth because it will encourage it to open it without any difficulty on your part.
Step #5. Press the plunger down to let out small amounts of food
You cannot just suddenly press all the formula into your rabbit’s mouth because I am sure that it won’t be a good idea.
The first dose, which is recommended, should only be about 0.2cc of food.
As you are pressing the plunger, you must be aware of the amount you are dispensing. It is crucial since you must pour out the right amount with every push.
Step #6. Wait for the rabbit to swallow
Of course, you have to let the bunny swallow the food, right?
After it has consumed it, I am sure that the nose will wiggle as a rabbit’s indicator that it ate the food.
Be sure to check if the cottontail has already swallowed the food before giving it another dose.
Do not forget to wipe off its mouth after feeding it to make it a job well done for you and your beloved pet.
When To Syringe Feed Your Rabbit?
Are you wondering when do you need to syringe feed your rabbit?
Well, the answer to this question is dependent on the kind of food you give to your rabbit.
In feeding your pet, it is a must that you offer enough nutrients for every two or six hours while your bun is not eating.
Tips And Tricks In Syringe Feeding A Rabbit
If you want to have a successful feeding session with your bunny, there are several tips that I can share with you so that you can be an expert in just a short period.
Below are some tips to help you with syringe feeding your rabbit.
Tip #1. Make sure that your bunny is still and in the natural standing position
The very first tip that you must learn is that you have to keep your rabbit in a natural standing position when feeding it.
Having it lied down may cause your bun to become uncomfortable, and it may run away.
Furthermore, this trick needs to be done if you do not want to have the risk of aspirating (in which the food goes directly to the lungs).
If your beloved pet doesn’t stay still, then drop your card, which is the “bunny burrito.”
Tip #2. Avoid touching its nose
The parts of your rabbit that you must avoid are the nose and the in-between of its incisors.
If you touch them, the bunny will tend to shy away from you. Make sure that you are holding only the gap next to the incisors for a better feeding process.
Tip #3. Do not rush in feeding the rabbit
As we have discussed earlier, you must not press down all the food at once because you will surely make some severe issues on that count.
Make sure that you are pressing the right measurement every time. The food being administered to your pet must be small to enable it to swallow easily.
Tip #4. Hold the bunny with gentle pressure
You don’t need to put a lot of pressure on holding the cottontail because it may hurt it.
You have to go with the flow so that your pet will become calm, and then it will be easier for you to syringe feed it.
Moreover, the best trait that you can have is being patient with your beloved pet. You also need to be extra prepared in case it runs away from the syringe.
Conclusion
If you notice that your pet rabbit isn’t eating normally or if it is sick, you may need to syringe feed it. You must know how to syringe feed a rabbit.
It can be a life-saving technique for your pet. But it has its risks as well. You must make no mistake when syringe feeding your rabbit.
If the condition of your beloved pet worsens, do not waste time and immediately take it to the veterinarian to know what went wrong.
I hope the information from this article will help you take better care of your pet rabbit and good luck in feeding session.
Thanks for reading!
