First Aid Kit for Rabbits?

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macksmom98

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What is your normal first aid /meds to have on hand for your rabbits? In reading all the recent posts, especially Salis, regarding health issues I am curious. Before I got into rabbits, I learned the basics about housing, feeding, breeding, and daily/weekly care, but the longer we have them the more I am interested in preventative health measures as well as what to do if I notice different things come up. Very curious about pen G, what that is, how its administered, and when its helpful. I already use ACV in water to promote overall health and help regulate hormones, and I have nu stock on hand for cuts or wounds.
 
I try to keep a few things in stock at all times; Poly-vi-sol (without Iron), Baby Gas Drops, mineral oil, Neosporin, blue kote, (and now baby aspirin). These things keep for a relatively long time and are for fairly regular use and can be used for multiple kinds of animals (including humans).

PenG is Penicillin G, a penicillin which is injected primarily SubQ(under the skin) with rabbits though it can be injected IM(into the muscle) that use is primarily for cows and horses. This is something I only get in emergencies even though it doesn't expire for years, I usually don't need it for years. They come in various kinds

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This kind is the one my tractor supply mostly carries, it uses only one kind of PenG, they also carry a more expensive vial that has 2 kinds of PenG in it (this is the kind I prefer as it covers a wider variety of infection, supposedly) Also ignore the posting at tractor supply; Use .20Ga needles with this stuff instead of .22Ga. This stuff is so thick you would be very lucky to ever push a full dose through the .22Ga. You wind up with a very stressed rabbit trying to be very patient as you apply a ridiculous amount of force to a plunger attached to a needle that is still INSIDE THEM.

Basically with this stuff you do not need to keep it on hand, you just need to know a reliable place where you can get it and the syringes and needles ASAP in an emergency.

Regular use equipment wise I keep just a scale, claw clipper, several droppers and syringes, and an otoscope. I haven't had a need yet for much else.

EDIT- found a picture of the dual PenG that my tractor supply carries which is the kind I use. I use the other kind only when they are sold out of this stuff.
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Petlover500":3447ple4 said:
I would be way too scared to use a needle on my rabbits... what if you puncture a vein or artery? :eek:


Before pushing on the plunger, you ALWAYS pull back to make sure you do not see blood. As long as you do not see blood, you did not hit a vein and are safe to inject.. It is just like administering vaccines.
 
Ah, I see.
I have no experience with needles, but one day I hope to be a horse/exotics vet. Hopefully I will know more about needles and vaccinations then! :lol:
 
Great info Sali, and I think I'll just keep an eye out at my tractor supply to make sure they keep it stocked (I have found they run out of things quickly sometimes here)....and the rest of it I have either on hand or I can easily get it....
 
Sali":2b78jih4 said:
I try to keep a few things in stock at all times; Poly-vi-sol (without Iron), Baby Gas Drops, mineral oil, Neosporin, blue kote, (and now baby aspirin). These things keep for a relatively long time and are for fairly regular use and can be used for multiple kinds of animals (including humans).
What are the uses for all of those items?
I would love to know what to use them for, in case anything ever happens to my buns. :)
 
I try to keep it as natural as I can, and if it is an internal problem I usually go for herbs to solve the problem first. Here is the website I use to help me with knowing which herbs to use to cure the problem: http://riseandshinerabbitry.com/2012/06 ... r-rabbits/

I have had no first hand experience with essential oils, but from what Petlover tells me, they are supposed to be good as well.

I haven't had much experience with open wounds or cuts, but when I have they usually are small and heal quickly with the help of my cleanly bunnies. ;) I've only used Hydrogen Peroxide on small wounds (Like ripped toenail, or a bitten young kits foot) which have worked well. I would not recommend it for large wounds as it could be very painful for the rabbit.
 
How could I of forgotten peroxide? That stuff too. One of the dollar stores even carries it in a spray bottle (Family dollar I think... that or Dollar General)
It's not just great for splinters, it's one of the best things for cleaning up urine/blood as long as your rabbits aren't dark-colored. This is especially important if for any reason you are treating a rabbit with sludgy pee. (In my case it was a miracle after I discovered that I can't use any rests with my NZW as every last one of them liked to sleep, poop, and pee on their marble tiles. Every. Last. One.) On that note, Cornstarch is also great to have on hand, it stops bleeding on nipped nails even faster than kwik stop and seems to sting a lot less too. It also helps with grooming quite a lot.
 
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