Mr. Waffles--who I basically renamed to Waffles, because somehow, the horror is just that much less--had a checkup about two weeks ago or so, due to my hysteria. Anyway, they did some kind of enzyme test on his liver, had the test redone somewhere else, and on Wed, my vet called to say that it came back positive, so Waffles has a parasite.
Not a big deal! he said heartily, while I hyperventilated into the phone. After calming me down, he explained in short words that there was medication, and all I needed to do was give it to him and voila! Healthy rabbit! Nothing we can do about the attitude, he didn't say but he also didn't offer me a rabbit anti-psychotic, so a fat load of good he did me in the bunny mental health division.
The problem here is, my relief kind of blocked out what exactly I'd be giving him and how often. Saturday, when I got the bottle, I stared in horror at what I was expected to do with the rabbit who chewed through my network router, chewed on the toe of my brand new shoes, and sometimes lunges for my jugular.
Mouth feed 17 cc once a day.
For twelve weeks.
Two days down. No scars. Yet. Eleven weeks and five days to go. God. I may not make it.
You totally win.
Stephen Hawking, the gerbil in question, and I have finally come to an understanding about the meds. It takes me longer to get everything dosed out into syringes than it does to actually administer them. But for a while there it was a fight. The only stuff that was actually getting into his system was whatever he groomed off his fur.
But they can be wrapped up in a bath towel... I've had to resort to the bath towel wrapping for the cats at times.
My *vet* uses the wrapped up in a bath towel method when examining my feral kitty. We just unwrap a bit at a time as the exam goes on, then rewrap and move to the next area. She lies there, crying piteously and rolling her eyes, trembling with combined terror and revulsion at being touched by humans *ICK*. And she looks so ... sweet. ::gazes up at icon::
Best luck....
*sends you a suit of armour*
Also, HI! Don't think I've delurked before now. So, HI! *g*
And yes, suit of armour would *rock*. He has claws. God, does he have claws.
Dear God yes. I'm not there yet? But I can feel it will be *very soon now*. He's got the desperate look.
Is Mr W at all food motivated? Can you give him some kind of treat right after a medication thingee, something that will, uh, you know, make up for it and keep him from a psychotic episode because he'll be thinking "treat next!"?
Have you considered trying Bach Rescue Remedy to help his attitude? A couple drops in his water per instructions on package. It's safe for humans and animals, it's a homeopathic/holistic alternate medicine type thingee.
Or maybe animal T-touch? It's kinda a massage method that helps with stress relief and attitude and even some kinds of pain.
Meanwhile, I still have the feral kitty who doesn't even let me touch her and is currently growing out dredlock-style clumps of fur because she doesn't have any teeth for grooming and won't let me brush her to help ... and have to take my other darling in about an hour for weight-check and blood test to see how he's doing.
***feels deeply for you/your plight w/pet medication***
Be brave, wear heavy leather gauntlets and a spiked collar while medicating bunny, and this too shall pass. Eventually.
I've never had problems medicating a pet. the trick is to link the medication time to something he loves beyond all reason. His favorite treat. His SUPPER. or, if his favorite thing is for you to let him go/put him down: hold onto him for awhile (maybe wrapped in a towel for your safety?), give him his medicine and immediately release him. that way, the medicine gets to mean "something GOOD is coming" and he's get happy about it, like kids get happy on their birthdays because Presents are coming. Even if it is yuckky, he'll learn to tolerate it.
I had a friend who got her pet chickens to tolerate having a stingy antibiotic ointment applied with this method. They'd run up to her when she called "time for your medicine!" so if it works on chickens, it will probably work on bunnies....
My hamster, however, has won the battler the last time she had to be medicated.