how to clean tools used on abscess?

[kralspace]

ok, for all you medical types or people just smarter than me….

Thanks to everyone’s good vibes and my super cool vet, Simba seems to be almost healed from that horrible abscess on the side of his face.

I’m going to toss the plastic syringes I used to flush it out and insert the medicine, but I’m wondering the best way to clean and disinfect  the metal tweezers, forceps, scissors, etc. that came into contact with all the infection and pus for when I might need to use them with another bun? Hopefully not for the same reason.

Also, have you guys who have fought abscesses before used peroxide to clean out the gunk? After our first week when it wasn’t looking too well, it was so deep and back inside of his jaw and neck, I wasn’t having much luck cleaning the thick pus out. I read in several places on the internet that flushing with peroxide would help liquify the pus and let you rinse it out of deep pockets so I tried it like everyother night. I know peroxide is not particularly good for the tissue but I was weighing that against the fact that I wasn’t able to get the stuff out otherwise.

I had done it 3 times before Dr. Erving checked him again and was suprised at how quickly it was healing. She said the peroxide hadn’t caused any damage and that it had allowed the abscess to heal from the bottom. I was just wondering if it had worked that well for others here.

It was really an experience. Although I had dealt with a lot of injuries to my horse over the years, this was my first bunny injury. I’d certainly never had to deal with trying to insert qtips and syringes an inch and a half deep into a bunny’s head through a small hole. That was un-nerving to say the least. God and the Rainbow Bunnies were with us, that’s for sure.

[KatnipCrzy]

I would scrub the metal instruments with a brush or toothbrush and drop into boiling water.  By the time the water cools enough to take them out they should be considered “sterile”- as or sterile as they will be.

I have not used peroxide on wounds- but to be honest I have never done much wound care on a daily or twice daily basis with a personal pet.  What works great though is Chlorhexidine solution.  I happen to have some at home as a disinfectant that I use occasionally- and it is great for wounds.  In fact the scrub version (gel like) Chlorhexidine Scrub (brand name Nolvasan Scrub) is surgical prep scrub.  We also use the solution at work as a “cold pack” and keep some surgical instruments in there at all times- for little stuff like pulling a tick, etc. You can pull a instrument out and use it directly on a pet- needs no rinsing.

I know it can be harder to find in small sizes- it is often sold by the gallon, but we often send home some with our clients if they need it as a soak or to use as a flush- it is a concentrate so we just put it in a sterile container with a screw on lid.  When I have a bunny bite or scratch here I usually clean it initially with Chlorhexidine and then treat with Neosporin.  But I have not had any wounds that required cleaning after that- they were are scratches or bites that scabbed.

 

[kralspace]

thanks for the info, Katnip, will do!

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