| My setup |
[Jan. 15th, 2010|06:19 pm] |
I finally got around to taking pics of the nebulizer setup I have for Pepper's treatments, and figured that it should go here for reference. Feel free to link.
Pepper has chronic pasteurella, and after almost a year we've found that she responds best to nebulized medications.
A "nebulizer" has two parts - the "pump" is an air compressor and the actual thingie-that-you-put-the-medicine-in is called a nebulizer. It uses the air from the compressor tube to make liquid medicine into a very fine mist that your bunny can breathe in. Humans use them too - usually for something like asthma. That's why I had one already. I have severe asthma and sometimes if I'm having a flare-up I need to put my "rescue" medication (an broncho-dialator) into one. It gets the medication down in my lunger farther than a single puff on an inhaler.
I knew there was no way that I'd get Princess PepperPants to wear a little mask like I do, so I came up with the Rubbermaid Tub "Bunny Gas Chamber". I traced the nozzle from the nebulizer on to the side of the tub and then used a soldering iron to melt the hole! You could also use a utility knife but BE CAREFUL. I also put some packing tape around the hole to make sure it's a really close fit with the nozzle.
The nebulizer is on the left and the compressor is up out of sight on a table. When it's not in use, the nebulizer parts get hand-washed and the compressor and tubing stay up on the table out of reach. This is my second set of tubing - Pepper isn't too fond of this setup...
The medication that I use with Pepper is called Amakacin, and it's mostly an antibiotic solution. It gets deep inside her sinuses to knock the infection down directly, rather than having to go through her bloodstream like a pill or a shot.
I also put an old towel in there for her to chew on and beat up on when she is in there - she hates it of course, but sometimes mommas need to do nasty things so that their kids get better. If she's really scrablling around in there I will go and lie next to the tub and talk to her a little. She then either listens fo me or is SO focused on giving me The Bunny Butt that she stops struggling.
This is The Towel. Did I mention she REALLY doesn't like her treatments?
The treatment takes about 20 minutes. I have to put a brick on the lid or she'll get out, but there is plenty of fresh air coming in from the compressor. It does seem to get a little warm in there, and I'm sure it's stinky, but she gets a treat when she comes out and after a couple of hours (and a couple of raisins) she's usually ready to forgive me. |
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