Emergency Kits

[CinnabunMom]

I’m trying to put together a bunny emergency kit just in case anything happens over a weekend or I can’t get ahold of a vet. But as a first time bunny owner, I’m realizing that I’m not sure what I should have. I have one bottle of infant strength Simethicone, but nothing else. Any suggestions? I read something once about pineapple (papaya? perhaps) extract for cases of stasis and you can’t get your bunny into a vet right away? 

Any hints are welcome 

[Sarita]

There is no proof that papaya or pineapple enzymes helps and it really won’t if your rabbit is already in stasis. The idea is that the enzymes help break up the mucuos that hold together the blockage but the best thing for this is really sub-q fluids and hydration. Papaya tablets really are more of a treat anyway and offer little of the enzyme.

[Sarita]

I would invest in some Critical Care and some 12 cc tubes – the 12 cc’s are normally used for flushing and you have to cut off the curved tip and smooth it out to administer the Critical Care. The 35cc syringe is too awkward for syringe feeding but it’s good to suck up the Critical Care and fill up the 12cc tubes – just take the plunger out of the 12 cc and fill it up from the 35 cc syringe. It’s much easier to handle the smaller size and much easier to syringe feed as well.

[bunnnnnnie!]

My emergency kit for Zeus includes…

– Styptic powder
– Simethicone drops
– Little dosing syringes for force feeding or administering oral meds
– Vegetable and fruit baby food
– Critical Care (but there’s an expiration on it, so not sure if it really keeps for a long time?)
– Alcohol prep wipes

I think that’s it. Basically first aid stuff. I also have my vet’s number and the emergency vet’s number programmed in my phone, as well as on a note on my fridge.

[Sarita]

According to Oxbow you can put the CC in the freezer and it keeps longer. Not sure how long but longer.

[CinnabunMom]

Is CC available at grocery stores or do I need to go to a pet store?

[Usagi5]

You will probably need to get the Critical Care either online (binkybunny sells it), at your vet, or if you have a pet store that sells Oxbow products.

[FluffyBunny]

• My emergency kit contains:

  -Liquid simethicone (for gas)
  -Gauze pads (for wounds)
  -Cornstarch (for stopping bleeding)
  -Hydrogen peroxide (for cleaning out small wounds)
  -Neosporin
  -Bag Balm (for sore hocks and dry skin)
  -1 ml. and 10 ml. syringes (for simethicone and force-feeding)
  -Grape Pedialyte (for dehydrated bunnies)
  -Critical Care
  -Spray bottle with water (in case of overheated bunnies) 
  -Contact info and directions to the vet and the emergency vet

• -Kitten milk replacer, crushed mouse food and quick oats (did I mention that this emergency kit is for my mice, too?)

It’s nice having an emergency kit around just for the bunnies. I haven’t ever used some of the things in my kit – knock on wood – but the kit has come in handy many times. It definitely makes having a sick/hurt bunny a little less stressful when you know you can help them right away.

[kinggoblin]

In my “bunny first aid kit” I have

– bene-bac
– critical care
– 100% banana and mango baby food
– simethicone drops
– a few different sized syringes

[LittlePuffyTail]

I have a first aid drawer. I keep a hot water bottle in it since its good to keep a sick bunny warm. My bunnies have snuggled up to it during various tummy issues.

[mocha200]

I copied this list from this topic that was created a few years back: Emergency kit

Syringes without needles to force feed

Syringes for subcutaneous fluids – this should only be done if you have experience and your vet has given you the nod to do so.

vetwrap – spongy stretchy self stick wrap

ointment

saline solution – to rinse out eyes and/or irrigate wounds, you might want to have a special narrow tipped syringe for this.

diluted peroxide – to clean wounds

flea comb

styptic power

pedilayte – dehydration

canned pumpkin

clippers – to buzz away fur from wound area

scissors

sterile gauze – for wounds and soaking in saline & wiping a rabbits face free of dust & debris, ears too.

sterile gauze pads

thermometer

aloe vera gel

nail clippers

Critical Care (you might want to check for the shelf life of) it’s made by Oxbow and you’ll need to get it from a vet

baby food (also check expiry date)

hot water bottle

cold ice pack

ear wax remover

mini flashlight

magnifying glass

tweezers

Q-tips

echinacea

lint roller

Rescue Remedy

I was wondering if anyone could list what each one is used for. Some of these words are confusing! Also ,like ear wax remover, do you just buy stuff made for humans.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Not sure why ear wax remover is listed but never, ever use anything not specifically made for bunny ears and only if your vet says to use it. By using products unecessarily, you can disturb the ph balance or cause too much moisture or dryness.

[mocha200]

Thanks LPT. Do you think every one of these is important to have?

Sorry I didn’t mean to take over your thread!

[Sarita]

I don’t have much of that at all.

I think if your rabbit is injured or wounded you have to get them to a vet whether or not it’s a rabbit specialist. The idea for wounds, injuries or trauma is stabilization and you simply cannot do this at home. Any vet, even an emergency vet who does not specialize in rabbits can stabilize an injured rabbit until you are able to see your own vet. Emergency vets specialize in these type of situations. Obviously you won’t get an emergency vet to do dental trims or any other rabbit medical treatments, but for injury, absolutely, no questions asked, see a vet.

 Well, you may be able to stabilize them at home somewhat, but just enough to get your act together, get them situated and get them to a vet for treatment.

[mocha200]

The one thing I am wondering about is pedilayte. I have heard of other people using it for bunnies too, but when I was talking to my Mom about it, she always thought that water is always best to force feed.

[Sarita]

I would use water since you can always have that handy and the point is to hydrate them. Dana Krempels says in her article on stasis – water is best, but the unsweetened pedialyte for infants may also be used.

[HoneysBuns]

Get a rectal thermometer (and have your buns normal temp on hand) as well as a het pad, like the kind you can microwave as well as a frozen water bottle in case of temperature spikes.

[mzmette]

Instead of styptic powder i have and in the past used, regular flour as a replacement that works just the same. I keep a little plastic bowl of it with lid set aside, along with my grooming supplies. Mainly used for when I’d trim nails and accidentally draw blood. Stops it.

[tanlover14]

This may be a dumb question – but I’ve read everywhere to keep baby food in your rabbit emergency kit. First off, when do you use this? And second, are there brands/types that are bad or harmful to them?

[LittlePuffyTail]

Baby food can be used to administer medicine or to entice/force feed a bunny when mixed with Critical Care. I don’t think there are any brands that could harm a bunny. Just stick to flavours that make sense for a bunny like carrot or banana.

[FluffyBunny]

Posted By Sarita on 06/06/2012 07:44 AM

I don’t have much of that at all.

I think if your rabbit is injured or wounded you have to get them to a vet whether or not it’s a rabbit specialist. The idea for wounds, injuries or trauma is stabilization and you simply cannot do this at home. Any vet, even an emergency vet who does not specialize in rabbits can stabilize an injured rabbit until you are able to see your own vet. Emergency vets specialize in these type of situations. Obviously you won’t get an emergency vet to do dental trims or any other rabbit medical treatments, but for injury, absolutely, no questions asked, see a vet.

 Well, you may be able to stabilize them at home somewhat, but just enough to get your act together, get them situated and get them to a vet for treatment.

You could say the same about humans and their first aid kits, but many people still keep a basic first aid kit in their home. Of course, if your bunny has a broken leg, or they’re injured and need stitches, or they haven’t eaten in a day…there’s very little you can do at home. But if, for example, they break a nail or get some bad gas, it’s good to be able to treat them right away instead of not knowing what to do and needing an expensive, stressful visit to the ER vet over a minor problem. That’s why I keep an emergency kit and recommend them to other bunny owners.

[mocha200]

Well said Fluffy!

[tanlover14]

Thanks! Since we’ve gotten our rabbits, we haven’t thought a whole lot about what to really put in an emergency kit but this thread helped tremendously!

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