How to administer bad-tasting medicine

Question
My rabbit has a respiratory infection and my vet prescribed an antibotic - Enroflaxacon.  I have tried everything and my rabbit will not take it.  I have even tried using a syringe and giving it to him in his mouth.  The vet gave me Etodolac to try as a last recourse.  Next step would be to administer it by injections.
What are your thoughts on this and do you have any suggestions.  My rabbit is very picky.  He does not like to be picked up.

Answer
Dear Anna,

Baytril (enrofloxacin) is very bitter and nasty tasting, so it's not surprising that the bunny objects.  You might wish to ask the vet about switching to a drug in the same class, zeniquin (marbofloxacin) that is a little less nasty tasting.

Some rabbits are very difficult to medicate, but it must be done.  It just takes practice.  

1.  Place the bunny on a secure table or countertop on a traction-backed surface (such as a bath mat with rubber backing.

2.  Place the bunny on a towel, and fold the towel up over his backside so that he's sort of "cupped" in the towel.  This will make it very difficult for him to back away from the syringe if someone is tacking the front of the towel down around him.

3.  Place your crooked arm around his backside with the towel in place.  Lean over the bunny and press your chest against his back with firm pressure, but not squashing him.  Just let him know that he is NOT going to be able to move.  If possible, have another person holding down the front of the towel so the bunny has nowhere to move.

4.  Being careful to squirt *sideways*, insert the tip of the syringe behind the incisors and slowly (a few 10ths of a cc at a time) squirt the liquid into his mouth.  Don't try to do it all at once.  Give him time to swallow in between squirts.

If you do this with gentle firmness, he'll get used to the idea and stop struggling.  If he thinks that struggling will get him out of taking that medicine, you can bet he'll keep it up!

I hope this helps.

Dana