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By Edison T. Rabbit -
October, 1999
Sometimes we
bunnies have our share of small accidents, just like you humans, and
need some minor medical attention. Here are some suggestions for a
first-aid kit for those minor medical emergencies. For really bad
conditions, please get your rabbit to a veterinarian, quickly.
So, what type of box to use? My pet
humans had decided that a good sized fishing tackle box did the
trick nicely. You could pick one up in the sporting goods section of
any department store. It doesn't have to be too expensive, just big
enough to hold all of your first aid items.
Because of the many slots the
tackle box had, it was an easy way to organize some of the items. I
will admit my pet humans did have to make some modifications to the
compartments but it wasn't anything that could not be overcome.
Please remember to
check the expiration dates of any of the ointments or treatments you
have for your rabbit friend every so often, replacing the
items if needed a fresh supply. The last thing you want to do
is to be stuck with an expired ointment or disinfecting wash in an
emergency!
This is what my pet human has set up for me as an emergency first
aid kit. You could outfit yours accordingly or make additions as you
see fit
Cotton
Swabs |
Cotton Balls |
Sterile gauze pads |
A supply of paper towels |
A supply of "zip type" sandwich bags (in case you need to
deliver a sample of some kind to a veterinarian. |
A pair of small precision scissors |
A pair of small precision tweezers |
A small precision scalpel and supply of sterile blades.
(Warning:
DO NOT NOT USE THIS UNLESS DIRECTED TO DO SO BY YOUR
RABBIT'S VETERINARIAN! You could do more harm than good!) |
Animal Toenail Clippers (You can get a pair of these at any good
pet shop) |
Syringes without
the needle to administer medication, force-feed, or to give warm
milk to a baby bunny. Also used to to wash and clean wounds |
A supply of
skeptic powder to stop nails from bleeding if you should happen
to cut your rabbit's nails too close. |
A plastic medicine
dropper |
A supply of
Betadine (to clean and disinfect wounds) |
A tube of
Neosporin to dress wounds. |
A tube of
Petromalt (to help dissolve hairballs) |
A stethoscope to
listen to you bunny's digestive system and monitor him/her for
GI Stasis |
The business card
of your primary and secondary veterinarian and emergency
24 pet clinic (if there is one in your neighborhood) taped to
the inside cover of the kit or the phone numbers displayed on
the lid. |
The above is just
what my first aid kit looks like. The one that you equip for your
bunny could vary
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