Bunny has a cut – help

[kbun]

My bunny has always not liked being picked up since I adopted him a few months ago, but the people at the shelter suggested I learn how to pick him up and get him used to it.

I picked him up 15 mins ago and he didn’t like it, struggled, and I let him off. He jumped off from a height of around 8 inches from my arms (not a high height) onto a rug. I thought things were normal, but noticed some blood where he was laying. It looks like his foot is injured.

I know of 2 vets after-hours now (I’m in CA, so it’s 10:30 pm) that can see him, but they do not specialize in rabbits. I also have a regular vet who opens in 8.5 hours who has seen my rabbit and has experience with bunnies, so presumably can give him antibiotics, wrap him up etc.

Trying to weigh that, and the potentially traumatizing experience for him of getting in the carrier at this point.

The after-hours vet I called said he thought if he is not bleeding anymore, I may be better off waiting until morning for my regular vet. Thoughts???

Super worried.

[LBJ10]

How is/was he bleeding? Is it a cut? Did his nail break? Did he injury his leg more seriously? If it’s obviously something simple, like a broken nail, then it’s probably fine to wait until the morning. Especially if he is no longer bleeding. It it looks more serious (like a possible broken bone), then the emergency vet can at least get him some pain medication and monitor him until he can make it to his regular vet.

[kbun]

It looks like a broken nail (it’s in the right spot). Also spoke to another emergency (non rabbit) vet, who looked at the photo I sent, and said that since it’s not in a dangerous spot (i.e. near internal organs) and looks like it’s no longer bleeding, he would advise waiting until 7 am for my regular vet who sees bunnies.

He said to clean it and apply some pressure (fat chance my bunny lets me do that). 

It looks like it’s no longer bleeding, but it’s hard to tell. If it is, it’s very, very little (i.e. a tiny spot – and it was only 20 mins ago this happened).

Photo attached looks scary – this is when it first happened so he was bleeding more. ((

[LBJ10]

Looks like a broken nail from the picture. Do you have any styptic powder on hand? Or you could use flour or corn starch in a pinch.

[kbun]

I don’t have styptic powder, but I do have corn starch. Asked a vet friend who said that we can use that if it’s bleeding, but if it’s stopped bleeding, it should be okay.

We tried to clean his wound with a wipe and bandage it so he stops licking at it, but he kicked it off immediately. It definitely looks like it is not bleeding anymore and in fact, it’s hard to see the wound at all (he was licking at it…so there is no blood). 

Both vets I spoke to on the phone, who also saw the photo I attached, said that since he’s hopping and running and acting normal, it doesn’t seem like a bone injury.

Worried still, and emailed and left a message at his vet so I can take him first thing at 7 am.  Ah..

[LBJ10]

How is he today?

[MoxieMeadows]

How is he today? I agree with LBJ, it looks kinda like a broken nail.
=

[kbun]

Thank you so much, everyone! He was acting totally normally, but just in case I took him into the vet. I’m a relatively new bunny parent (4 months) so more for peace as mind.

The vet took a look at it and said indeed the nail had broken off (you could still see some encrusted blood), but she said no need to clean it or do anything, and that he’d grow it back. She said it looks like his nails had been short enough, may have been unlucky and got it caught on the rug when he was trying to jump away.

Also they let me practice picking him up a few times using the towel method. He hates being picked up, but I was trying to try to do it more (i.e. once a week or so) to get him used to it. The vet said the regular method I was shown by the shelter people (i.e. hand in between the legs, then other hand to support the butt) was challenging, especially given he is squirmy.

The method the vet showed me seemed to work. Throwing a huge towel on him, facing him towards you (so he won’t be as likely to run), covering his eyes and then wrapping one hand around his neck and the other supporting his butt.

I have renewed confidence in picking him up — I was going to avoid picking him up in the future given this experience, but hopefully the towel method works!

In other news, he gained 0.3lbs (from 4.3 to 4.6) in <3 months. Vet said still normal but would advise reducing his pellets.

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