Question
I have a pet house rabbit. I want to create a first aid kit, that has items specific for bunny first aid, what should it include?
Answer
The most important thing you can do to help an injured rabbit is to avoid GI stasis by ensuring that he/she keeps eating!
Thus the first aid kit should include:
- Your rabbit's hay (in-case you run out)
- Timothy pellets - these are enriched treats,like a fiber one bar for humans. It's okay to have a little every day, but no more than a 1/4 cup per 5 lbs or rabbit. They can be used as a meal in dire situations where your bun won't take hay.
- Critical care - This is a timothy hay milkshake that you force feed the rabbit if it's not eating.
- 5cc up to 25cc syringe - for dispensing the critical care with.
- A small towel - to make a "bunny burrito" with so you can keep the rabbit still and calm while force feeding
- Septic powder - to stop the bleeding in case you cut a nail too close.
You might also consider asking your vet to keep a standing prescription for a motility agent, such as metoclopramide, on file for you in case your bun is having trouble digesting.
Further, it's much better to be proactive than reactive; it's very hard to help a rabbit on your own, and almost anything besides a badly clipped nail can be extremely dangerous. Because rabbits are prey animals, they naturally do everything in their power not show they they are hurt and weak, and thus it's very hard to tell how badly hurt they really are. Any rabbit that seems to be injured really needs to be brought to a vet for a thorough examination.
In the meantime, to avoid vet visits, invest in a good set of nail clippers (I prefer ones with a backstop so you can't slip and cut too much off) so you can avoid nail problems. Plan on spending a small fortune on chew toys until you can find what your rabbit likes better than your furniture as the must wear down their teeth or risk painful molar problems. Ensure your house and especially your baseboards are lead free (I learned this one the hard way). Finally, cover all wires that the rabbit might be able to access with a hard plastic wire cover to prevent electrocution.
If you have any other questions check in with your local rabbit society as they'll have the info about where to get the best food and doctors in your area: http://rabbit.org/
Answered By - virtualxtc