how to give rabbits medication, the SG owner's guide

updated 13 May 2026 by xavier fok

your vet hands you a syringe of liquid antibiotic and says “twice a day for ten days.” then you get home, the rabbit clamps its mouth shut, the medicine ends up on your shirt, and you start wondering how anyone does this.

the technique matters. here’s what actually works.

the oral syringe

most rabbit meds come as liquid. the syringe goes in the side of the mouth, behind the incisors but in front of the molars. there’s a natural gap there called the diastema.

steps:

wrap the rabbit in a towel (the “bunny burrito”) to immobilise the front paws
hold the rabbit against your body, head facing forward
tilt the head slightly up, not way back
slide the syringe in from the SIDE, not the front
push slowly. 0.5 ml at a time max
wait between pushes so the rabbit can swallow

if you push fast the rabbit aspirates. that’s how you get pneumonia.

the eye drop

eye drops are easier than oral but timing matters:

bunny burrito or have someone hold
approach from BEHIND the head, not the front
pull lower eyelid down gently
drop into the pocket of the lower lid
one drop is plenty
the rabbit blinks the rest in

don’t aim for the eyeball directly. you’ll miss and the rabbit will flinch every future time.

the ear drop

ear infections need drops in the canal:

restrain in burrito
tilt the head so the affected ear is up
straighten the ear flap by pulling gently up and back
drop into canal
massage the base of the ear for 10 seconds
the rabbit will shake its head — let it

if you see brown discharge or smell something, that’s the infection. clean gently with cotton before drops.

the topical

skin treatments for hot spots, scabs, or fur loss:

burrito the rabbit
part the fur around the area
apply small amount
avoid the rabbit licking it for 10 minutes
distract with hay

never apply human topicals without vet approval. some are toxic when the rabbit licks them off.

the injection

if your vet prescribes subQ injections (rare but happens for chronic conditions):

they should teach you in clinic first
usually between the shoulder blades
the loose skin lifts easily
needle goes in parallel to the body
pull plunger first to check no blood
inject slowly

don’t attempt without explicit training.

the rabbit that fights every time

some rabbits become impossible after a few rounds:

try a different position (some hate burrito, prefer sitting)
try Critical Care mixed with meds (taste cover)
ask vet about flavoured compounds (banana, apple)
ask about long-acting injections if available
ask about whether oral can be IV at clinic

the SG-specific notes

three things relevant:

1. humidity affects liquid meds

some compounds degrade faster in SG humidity
store as instructed, often fridge
check expiry strictly

2. air-con and dose timing

rabbits in cooled rooms eat steadier
give meds when rabbit is calm and fed
avoid right before or after meals

3. emergency vet hours

if you can’t give meds, contact vet
some clinics have nurse visits
partner clinics overnight

the dosing accuracy

never eyeball:

use the syringe provided
measure exactly
round down if unsure, never up
ask vet to draw up sample doses

overdose risks are real. underdose is better than overdose.

what owners often get wrong

three patterns:

giving up after 2-3 failed attempts. technique improves; keep trying
using human syringes. they’re often too big and inaccurate
skipping doses because the rabbit fights. every missed dose risks treatment failure

the SG rabbit first-aid kit — what to have ready
post-op recovery at home — meds during recovery
rabbit anaesthesia risk — surgical context
our vet directory — for med questions

community-sourced information here is not veterinary advice. always follow your vet’s specific dosing instructions.