Rabbit

RABBIT

Intravenous injection

  • Clean the area with 70% alcohol. Select a 2 ml syringe and fit it with 25 gauge needle. Take the volume of solution to be injected in the syringe and remove all air bubbles from the syringe by tapping the barrel.
  • Press the vein near the base of the ear to cause distension. Hold the syringe in the right hand and ear in the left hand. Place the needle, over the vein pointing in the directions of blood flow. Gently push the needle through the skin and continue into the vein. When the vein is entered, clamp the needle shaft against the ear with thumb and forefinger to maintain the position of the needle. Inject the contents of the syringe slowly. If a bleb forms at the injection site and blanching occurs, the needle is not in the lumen of the vein. Quickly withdraw the needle leaving the thumb over the point of insertion until the blood has clotted.

Intramuscular injection

  • The thigh muscles are usually used for intramuscular injections in rabbits. Clip the thigh free of hair and clean with 70% alcohol. A needle of 23G is suitable for intramuscular injections.
  • Insert the needle a short distance into the upper third of the thigh muscles. Withdraw the syringe plunger slightly to ensure that the needle has not penetrated a vessel and injected the contents of the syringe.

Subcutaneous injection

  • Shave the area and wipe with alcohol. Raise a fold of skin between the thumb and index finger on the left hand. Insert the needle into the base of the fold without entering the underlying tissue.
  • Free movement of the needle under the skin indicates subcutaneous injection. Inject the material and gently withdraw the needle, prevent oozing of blood by thump pressure.

Intradermal injection

  • The skin is pinched between the thumb and fore finger into a fold. The needle (26 G ¼”) is inserted at right angle to the fold, passing completely through one layer of skin and into second layer until it is nearly piercing the skin surface.
  • Injection of 0.1 ml may be given and a definite bleb or blister is formed.
Last modified: Thursday, 23 June 2011, 6:49 AM