It can be a daunting task to administer medications, oral liquids, and supplemental oral nutrition to rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, and small rodents. Knowing how to administer the fluids and having the proper tools available will go a long way to making the event successful, with limited stress on your pet and you. You should always get instructions about syringe feeding from your veterinarian first.
What equipment will I need?
For most pets, you will need to lay a thick towel on the ground or table so your pet will not slip around on a hard surface. You can also use the towel to wrap around your pet to restrain it from running/hopping away – a wrap affectionately called a “bunny burrito” for rabbits, a “ferret burrito” for ferrets, or a “name your type of pet burrito” for other small mammal species.
The process of wrapping a pet in a “burrito” is simple.
- Pick a towel three times as wide and two times as long as your pet. Next, place your pet in the center of the towel and fold the towel over the back of your pet.
- Fold one side somewhat tightly over his/her back and down the side, then wrap the other side over what you just did.
- Wrap one flap under the neck and up and around the entire neck – but not too tight.
This wrapping process allows you to restrain your pet, keeping it from running away, scratching your arms, or struggling and harming itself. Some pets may willingly take syringes of medication or nutritional supplements without any restraint.
You will need syringes to deliver the medication, food supplement, or liquid to your pet. The size of the syringe will depend on the type of liquid you are delivering and the amount you need to give. For most medications and oral supplements for guinea pigs, chinchillas, and other small pets, a 1 mL, 3 mL or 5 mL regular-tip syringe will be adequate. For rabbits over 2 pounds, it is advisable to use a 3 mL, 6 mL, or 12 mL regular-tip or catheter-tip syringe to deliver larger volumes of liquids efficiently.
When syringe feeding a nutritional supplement (e.g., Critical Care® Herbivore for rabbits and guinea pigs, or Critical Care® Carnivore for ferrets), make sure you have the product already prepared and ready to fill the number of syringes your veterinarian has suggested for your pet's size and weight.
How do I give my pet medication or food with a syringe?
Now that your pet is safely situated on a towel or securely wrapped in a “burrito,” and your first syringe is filled, you can deliver the liquid medication or other fluid.
For pets that do not need restraint, show your pet the syringe and allow them to drink the fluid out of the syringe slowly as you depress the plunger on the syringe. For pets that need some form of restraint, place your arm along the side of their body/"burrito” and place your cupped hand under their neck.
When delivering liquids by syringe to a rabbit, guinea pig, chinchilla, or other rodent, place the syringe in the space behind the upper front teeth (incisors) and the first premolar, called the diastema. Once the syringe is in this space, begin delivering the liquid at a moderately slow and steady pace. Do not push all the liquid in at once. Give your pet time to swallow as you proceed. (Photo credit: Gregory Rich, DVM)
Ferrets, hedgehogs, and other small non-rodent mammals do not have long, widened incisors, so a different method of delivery is necessary. Ferrets have sensitive taste buds, so it is highly recommended to use a “ferret burrito” for squirmy pets and position the syringe in the far corner of the mouth to deliver the medication or fluid. It will be helpful to follow bad-tasting medications with a syringe of Carnivore Care® or other recommended liquid supplement to dilute the bad taste. Hedgehogs, sugar gliders, fennec foxes, and short tail opossums should take a syringe normally, with moderate restraint.
In some cases, pets will drink nutritional supplements out of a bowl instead of being forced by syringe. Medication can be mixed in with the liquid food as long as you make sure your pet consumes the entire amount so that all the prescribed medication is consumed.
If your pet begins to choke or cough, stop immediately and let your pet settle down. If your pet gets weak or limp, call your veterinarian immediately.
How do I know how much nutritional supplement to give?
The volume of medication should be prescribed by your pet's veterinarian. Medication volumes will differ depending on the type of pet and their weight. What is proper for a rabbit may be different than that for a guinea pig, rat, or a ferret. The amount of nutritional supplement required for your pet's medical condition will depend on your pet's weight in kilograms and the pet's health status.
