How to stop bunnies chewing drip lines?!

RE: How to stop bunnies chewing drip lines?!

jojofruits — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 13:56:19 GMT

Place IV in ear - tape in securely - attach "curly" rather than standard giving set

Attach curly drip line to the centre of the kennel roof with tape, about a foot or so from the IUV cannula, so that the bunny can still move around but ear lifts up a bit when he gets into the corners...

never fails ;)

RE: How to stop bunnies chewing drip lines?!

Jenzel — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 00:33:17 GMT

I have worked in a couple rabbit savvy practices including a rabbit referral practice and was always taught if bunny is well enough to chew its drip, it shouldnt need one. Oral fluids are usually sufficient (through syringe feeding) or if needed iv catheter and bung and give bolus. Good tip is to use a piece of cotton wool or something behind ear to help secure it when taped in (dont know if this makes sense). Hope that helps. I wouldn't use a buster collar unless last resort. I have always been told to consider stressful effects of drips, catheters and buster collars and only use if necessary.

RE: How to stop bunnies chewing drip lines?!

Sal the 1st — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 22:00:38 GMT

[quote user="Amy Underdown"]

We would normally place the Iv and then give boluses throughout the day rather than using a giving set. They tend to tolerate this better. Buster collars aren't accepted very well and can stop normal behaviours which isn't very helpful.

[/quote]

I used to work in a practice that had a really high percentage of rabbit patients - buster collars were an absolute last resort, the only time we dripped rabbits were if they were unconscious or collapsed - the rest of the time we used boluses

RE: How to stop bunnies chewing drip lines?!

Heather Bacon — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 17:23:17 GMT

I saw a good idea once using an empty toilet tissue roll sellotaped to the roof of the kennel. The drip line can move freely through it. and if the catheter is in the ear then the drip line will hang above the rabbits head. Not sure how well this works as not done it myself, in my practice we normally give s/c boluses :)

RE: How to stop bunnies chewing drip lines?!

Emily Grinnell — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 16:45:45 GMT

We gave up and started giving bolus fluids instead!

Thanks for all your replies :)

RE: How to stop bunnies chewing drip lines?!

nickyc — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:27:18 GMT

I have used the plastic tubing used to cover and protect wires. Can't think of the name of it but you can pick it cheaply from wilkos ect, and it just clips over the dripline this I have had most success with alongside taping it out of bunnies reach..

RE: How to stop bunnies chewing drip lines?!

martha — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 13:19:26 GMT

RE: How to stop bunnies chewing drip lines?!

Julie-Anne Wilson — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 13:18:15 GMT

It's a difficult task but sometimes is you can feed the set along the ear to the tip and then tape the set to the top of the kennel, it can be difficult for them to reach as long as you make sure there's not too much slack on there. What I usually do is work out the hourly rate and just give them boluses, no giving set to worry about.

RE: How to stop bunnies chewing drip lines?!

PSA-David — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 12:43:30 GMT

bunny buster collar maybe?