So your rabbit has just been prescribed ongoing Metacam for a chronic condition, like arthritis. What do you need to know?
💊 Meloxicam is the drug and can be prescribed under different medication brand names (Loxicom, Rheumocam, Metacam, to name a few popular ones), so you may be given a different one depending on what your vet is stocking.
💊 The dog strength is the one which should be prescribed to rabbits, not the cat one.
💊 This is an extremely safe drug for rabbits and acts as an NSAID - anti-inflammatory and pain relief.
💊 Unlike dogs, rabbits should be given this twice daily (at minimum) and not once per day. Rabbits have extremely fast metabolisms and get rid of things out their system quickly, meaning if you only give them pain relief once in 24 hours, they will go a chunk of time without any. This can be counter productive as they feel the benefits sometimes and then are in pain again.
💊 This is an expensive drug and if being given on an ongoing basis for chronic conditons you should request a prescription to order this yourself. The cost of the prescription should be reasonable and is the best way to get the best cost online. If you get a prescription written, you must take your rabbit to see your vet for a quarterly - biannual review to ensure they are still on the correct dose and not requiring any changes to their treatment plan.
💊 If you have a senior rabbit, it is advised to do biannual or annual bloodwork to check your rabbits liver and kidney function. While it is highly unlikely the Meloxicam will cause a problem with organ function, other factors can affect their kidneys and liver which may require them to be taken off this medicine.
Fun Fact: This is a very easy medicine to get your rabbit to enjoy taking as it has a sweet taste!
#bunnywelfareimprovementmovement #understandingrabbits #rabbitvetmed #exoticvets #exoticvet #bunnylover #rabbitsunited #rabbitmedicine #rabbitwelfare #rabbitcare #disabledrabbit #specialneedsrab
Our little Whisky Clan 🐇🥃🏴
These poor souls are filthy, stink of drugs and smoke, are emaciated and covered in fleas but their road to recovery starts at BBBB where they will know only love and care. 🩵
First stop, lots of food and flea treatment! Then daddy needs the snip and mummy Balvenie needs spayed. At only 1 year old she has already had at least 3 back to back litters. 💔
Please help support us 🙏 we are not even 3 months into 2025 and we have already taken in 3 welfare cases (20 bunnies) and turned away over 100 rabbits who need help.
#thewhiskybunnies #scottishbunnies #bunnywelfareimprovementmovement #rabbitwelfare #bunnywelfare #understandingrabbits #bunnylover #lovebunnies #bunniesofinstagram #welovebunnies #adoptbunnies #clan #whisky #supportrescue #rescuerabbits #rabbitrescue #minilops
💉 SYRINGE TRAINING 💉
Training to come to the syringe willingly and take from it no matter the medication. A skill we teach all of our rabbits and particularly our young and baby rabbits. Why is this so vital?
Rabbits are prey animals who prefer a hands off approach. Studies show that restraining methods such as the bunny burrito actually cause more stress. Our force free method takes longer to teach than pinning them down, but is far more ethical in the long term.
Inevitably your rabbits will get sick and require oral medication at least once in their lifetime, likely more. In Ben Ledi's case, she gave herself a hernia and after such an invasive abdominal surgery, the last thing we would want to do is pin her or even lift her. Her muscle wall needs to heal and she has not to thrash or move but requires medication. How would we get this into her safely if we hadn't syringe trained her? Here she is trusting us to take her gut motility drugs herself - these do NOT taste nice!
Want to learn more about syringe training? Our whole syringe training guide is on our Members page 🐇
#bunnyjunkies #syringetraining #rabbitbehaviour #trainingrabbits #rabbitpyschology #positivereinforcement #forcefreetraining #forcefree #positivetrainer #animalbehaviourist #bunnywelfareimprovementmovement #rabbitwelfare #sickrabbit #hernia #specialneedsrabbit #disabledrabbit
💉 SYRINGE TRAINING 💉
Training to come to the syringe willingly and take from it no matter the medication. A skill we teach all of our rabbits and particularly our young and baby rabbits. Why is this so vital?
Rabbits are prey animals who prefer a hands off approach. Studies show that restraining methods such as the bunny burrito actually cause more stress. Our force free method takes longer to teach than pinning them down, but is far more ethical in the long term.
Inevitably your rabbits will get sick and require oral medication at least once in their lifetime, likely more. In Ben Ledi's case, she gave herself a hernia and after such an invasive abdominal surgery, the last thing we would want to do is pin her or even lift her. Her muscle wall needs to heal and she has not to thrash or move but requires medication. How would we get this into her safely if we hadn't syringe trained her? Here she is trusting us to take her gut motility drugs herself - these do NOT taste nice!
Want to learn more about syringe training? Our whole syringe training guide is on our Members page 🐇
#bunnyjunkies #syringetraining #rabbitbehaviour #trainingrabbits #rabbitpyschology #positivereinforcement #forcefreetraining #forcefree #positivetrainer #animalbehaviourist #bunnywelfareimprovementmovement #rabbitwelfare #sickrabbit #hernia #specialneedsrabbit #disabledrabbit
💐 SPRING FEVER 💐
Spring Fever is something that all rabbit owners should be aware of as it explains a lot of unusual behaviours that you see with your rabbits at this time of year. Spring fever affects domestic rabbits (indoors or outdoors) including those who are neutered of any age. 🐰🌱🌼
The animal kingdom wakes up at this time of year and hormonal behaviours begin. Pheromones are released and this evokes behaviours such as:
🐇 Nesting
🐇 Honking
🐇 Digging
🐇 Nipping
🐇 Scent marking
🐇 Chinning
Rabbits will become more active and bonded rabbits may scuffle and squabble. It's also common for rabbits to fight at this time of year but don't panic!
To understand more about Spring fever and how to prepare for Spring time with your rabbits - head over to our Members Only Page this weekend and geek out on all things Spring! 💐
#springfever #Spring #rabbits #rabbitsofinstagram #bunnywelfareimprovementmovement #rabbitwelfare #bunnywelfare #understandingrabbits #bunnylover #rabbitlover #bunnywars #understandingrabbits
#rabbitears #rabbitcare #rabbittrio #cuterabbit #minilops #giantbunny #rescuerabbits
Biston's progress so far 💛
He has come a long way so far but is a chronically ill bunny with intense care needs. ❤️🩹 His treatment plan has helped so far but he will always be a special needs bun.
We are still nursing him round the clock and hoping he will keep fighting so he can meet a new friend/s soon. 🐇
Keep following his journey with us. You can also sponsor him to help with his veterinary treatment which will also give you regular updates on how he's doing. 💌
#specialneedsrabbit #disabledrabbit #specialneedsbunny #veterinarynursing #inpatientcare #exoticvetmed #exoticveterinarymedicine #rabbitvet #rabbitvetmed #ecrabbit #ecuniculi #headtiltrabbit #splaylegrabbit #arthrticrabbit #seniorrabbit #minilopsofinstagram lop #lop #rabbitwelfare #bunnywelfareimprovementmovement #bunnywelfare #bunnycare #rabbitcare #welfareneeds #intensivecare
Bastiodon was brought safely to the rescue last Summer. 🐼 He had lived in a residential home in a cage all his life but it was closed down and he needed somewhere to go.
Fast forward 6 months and he has complete freedom and today he got a new family - his first real family and his first bun friend is waiting to meet him. 🖤🤍
This is why we do it. Happy adoption day Bastiodon. 🥲
And if you have a bunny needing a bun true love, get in touch and we will help. Every bunny is bondable and every bunny needs a buddy. 🐇🩵🐇
#happyadoption #happybunnies #bondyourbunnies #rabbitsdeservelove #acageisnotahome #cagesareprisons #rabbitrescue #rescuerabbit #bastiodon
Did someone say Fun Friday? 🙌🩵🐇
It's a full house here for half term so if you buns are staying pop over to our Instagram stories today and join us for Fun Friday. Can you spot your buns?
Rabbit welfare organisation 🏴🐇
