Penicillin in Rabbits.

[HHRR]

Basically my question is Sub-Q or IM? My problem doe has a nasty case of sore hocks and just kindled seven DOA and under-formed (but deliver on due date) kits. A very experienced rabbit person, actually who I bought the daddy of the litter from, suggested I give her some penicillin to help fight any infection in her feet and if there's stuff in her uterus that my cause future problems. BUT she said that if I have Durapen to do Sub-Q or if we have Pen G do IM. I'm not sure what we have, but I can check tomorrow. (Med fridge is in barn NOT at house and it is too dark to walk out there right now) Whatever penicillin we have is a livestock brand and we use it one our goats, we do both SQ and IM with it on them. Now I've only given rabbits SQ shots, Ive done goats SQ and IM but I havent done IM as much. I'd much prefer to do SQ but if IM is NECESSARY I will of course have to do that.
Thank you in advance!!

 

[Miss M]

I've given PenG SubQ several times, worked just fine. IM not necessary.

 

[michaels4gardens]

if you give antibiotics, think about also giving a probiotic

 

[akane]

IM will work faster and it's really not hard. I never liked doing horse shots because of finding the correct location and depth. The rabbit I tried it on was super easy. Just grab a hindleg and shove it in. Ended up not being effective enough for the mass amount of damage and infection so I put her down after a few days but it wasn't for lack of giving accurate injections. SubQ should work but the absorption rate will be slow. In horses that often have 20cc twice a day we've had problems where the first injection site has not fully absorbed all the penicillin the next day. We end up doing IM anyway because we have to use a major muscle group other than the neck area.

 

[Miss M]

if you give antibiotics, think about also giving a probiotic

YES, and watch to make sure the bun doesn't stop eating.

IM will work faster and it's really not hard. I never liked doing horse shots because of finding the correct location and depth. The rabbit I tried it on was super easy. Just grab a hindleg and shove it in. Ended up not being effective enough for the mass amount of damage and infection so I put her down after a few days but it wasn't for lack of giving accurate injections. SubQ should work but the absorption rate will be slow. In horses that often have 20cc twice a day we've had problems where the first injection site has not fully absorbed all the penicillin the next day. We end up doing IM anyway because we have to use a major muscle group other than the neck area.

Very interesting... thank you for posting this!

 

[michaels4gardens]

it is a little bit of a pain, but-- after you have inserted the needle into the back of the rear leg thigh area muscle group, pull gently out on the plunger to see if any blood shows in the syringe , if blood shows do not inject the Pen G as pushing it into a blood vessel might kill the rabbit. [sad experience teaches these things]

 

[Miss M]

^^^ Yes, you have to do this IM or SQ!