giving an injection

Question
Hello!  My bunny rabbit, Reuben, is a 6yr old male holland lop and for the past month we have been dealing with a myriad of health issues.  He is suffering from pasteurellosis for which he has been put on Pen-G injections.  I have been administering these injections for the past 5 days, however, this morning was slightly traumatic for me - I had to stick him 4 times, 2 of which the needle became blocked.  After all that, I was not stable enough to even attempt giving him another injection, but don't want to compromise his health.  Can you give me any pointers for better administering injections (to a person who is terrified of just looking at needles!)? Also, is there any alternative oral medication that can be giving in lieu of the injection?

Thanks so much!
Monica  

Answer
Dear Monica,

If you are using bicillin, it's very thick and can become stuck in the needle if the bore isn't big enough.  Please ask your vet to be sure the needle bore is large enough to prevent a blockage.

Also, please ask your vet if it would be all right for you to inject the Pen-G into the muscle, instead of subcutaneously.  I find that this is MUCH easier, and have never had a problem with clogging or the needle tip lodging against skin or fascia, causing this "blockage" problem.

IM gets the medication into the bloodstream more quickly, so do ask your vet about this.  Also ask him/her to show you how to do it (the large lumbar muscles on either side of the spine are the best location:  Feel for the spine, and then insert the needle directly vertically about one inch away from the vertebral midline so you don't hit anything important).

If a culture and sensitivity test was not done, then this could reveal alternative antibiotics that can be given orally.  But I would not stop the Pen-G course midway through.  Finish that, even if you have to get bun to the vet for his injections.  Please see:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/culture.html

I hope this helps.

Dana