Bunny ate something bad?

[Taysmama13]

HI, my 6 pound rabbit just chewed a small tube of benedryl anti itch cream. He didn’t get a lot of it but got some. It has diphenhydramine hydrochloride and zinc acetate in it. I fed him dandelion and he drank water with cranberry juice in it just to get him to drink. Will he be okay or do I call the vet? He seems ok…and online it says they use stuff like that on dogs and cats all the time… I don’t know what to do. Help Please!!

[LBJ10]

Benedryl meant to be taken orally can be given to rabbits to help with allergies/allergic reactions, so I wouldn’t be terribly worried about the diphenhydramine hydrochloride part. Zinc acetate is being used as an astringent here, but people can take it orally as a supplement. I’m not sure what it’s affects are in rabbits, but my guess is that a small dose probably isn’t harmful. Is there a pet emergency hotline in your area that can give poisoning information? You might try that or simply calling your vet to see if they know. Right now, I would just make sure he’s eating, drinking, pooping, and peeing normally. I wouldn’t add cranberry juice to the water to make him drink. That would be too sugary. If you want to get some water in him, try wetting his veggies or syringing some in his mouth.

[Taysmama13]

Ok, thank you LBJ10, I really appreciate your response! He didn’t get very much of it before I noticed, it was more of a coating on where his teeth bit through. I don’t normally put anything in his water, I just panicked a bit and thought it couldn’t hurt to get him to drink more at the moment. He is eating and drinking, chewing his hay, but seems sort of drowsy. I will call the emergency vet hotline here just in case. I’d rather be safe than sorry. Again, thanks!!!!

[LBJ10]

Yes, Benedryl will make them drowsy. It made Wooly drowsy when he was taking it awhile back.

[LongEaredLions]

Good thing he is eating/acting normal, I think he should be ok.

[Author]

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