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  • Clinical Techniques
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Assisted feeding for small herbivores

Abstract

Force-feeding or syringe-feeding is a necessary skill in the care and maintenance of small herbivores. The ability to supply dietary energy to a rabbit, chinchilla or guinea pig is as important as the ability to administer medication. Anyone involved in the care of small herbivores must be comfortable with and accustomed to the process of restraint and administration of force-fed supplementation.

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Figure 1: Restraint of a small herbivore for force-feeding.
Figure 2: Modified restraint of a small herbivore for force-feeding.
Figure 3

References

  1. Mader, D.R. in Ferrets Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery (eds. Quesenberry, K.E. & Carpenter, J.W.) 147–154 (Saunders, St. Louis, MO, 2004).

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Correspondence to Christopher Michael Howell.

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Michael Howell, C., Brown, C. Assisted feeding for small herbivores. Lab Anim 37, 251–252 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/laban0608-251

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