Argh…I did it. I’m a bad bunny mommy. I let my Binkles’ toenails grow out too long, and one of them got caught on something today and tore off. I…uh…have kind of had post-traumatic stress in any kind of…dealing with bunny toenails. And so I guess I let it go too far.. (What did you THINK would happen, Sarah?)

I caught it RIGHT when it happened. I was sitting in my computer chair when I heard her jump either out of her cage (which is elevated) or off my bed. I could immediately tell that it didn’t sound right, like maybe she had lost her footing and fell or something. So I whirled around in my chair to see her post-landing hop cycle ending where it usually does by her water bowl. Immediately, she brought her right rear foot up to her mouth and began fevorously licking it and making those little piggy ‘this hurts’ noises.

I could see the toenail hanging there, so I immediately scooped her up and wrapped her in a white towel to stop the bleeding. I’m fairly certain I got most, if not all of the blood she bled on that towel because I acted so quickly…thank goodness I was there to see (hear) it happen. Somewhere in between scooping her up and getting her wrapped, the toenail fell off.

She bled, alright, but not an insane amount. Like…maybe it might have covered the bottom of a coke cap -but that’s it. The bleeding stopped almost as quick as it started and she hasn’t bled anymore since. (I’ve confined her to her cage, lined completely in white towels so I can see if she bleeds anymore.) Didn’t need to use styptic powder or anything. So I don’t believe I’m to worried about her blood loss.

There IS a little ‘nub’ left. Like, if I wanted to I could look at the broken off nail, look at the nub, and fit the nub inside the nail like a puzzle peice. Is this the quick or something..?

In my panic, though, I did not have enough time to grab the ever-extensive bunny emergency kit (that I’d JUST put together) in order to put any gauze or (non PLUS) neosporin on it. So I need to know, would it do any good to put antibacterial stuff on it NOW? (The incodent happened maybe six hours ago, a little more.) I also need to know what I need to look for and what I need to do if she developes a bacterial infection there. I’m SUPER-worried about that..

Aside from the initial vigerous licking and pain-grunting though, she has been her usual self, gnawing at the bars of her cage trying to get out. digging in the towels and such. She’s drinking water and eating food and hay.

Anyway..

If anyone remembers the circumstances under which I first came here, you’ll know that this has been a particularly upsetting event for me. So please, if anyone knows anything I need to know about this sort of thing, please tell me. ;_;