Bunny
Emergency Kit Essentials adapted from bunniwerks.org
Pet carriers next to house exit.
Pedialyte to rehydrate and keep hydrated.
Phazyme to relieve gas symptoms.
Assorted Oral Syringes (minus needles, of course)
to force feed, force hydrate.
Canned Pumpkin or pureed baby veggies in a jar,
or baby foods, for forced feeding.
Eye Dropper
Probiotics: Acid-Pak 4-way as a probiotic to stabilize
a bunny with chronic soft cecal stools. GI flora imbalance.
Mix 1/4 teaspoon to a gallon of water and fill bunnies
water dish with it. It smells kind of vanilla-y, should
drink it willingly. Used for a few months with good
success.
BeneBac
Non-dairy Acidophilus
Prozyme to help digestion as Prozyme is enzymes.
Prozyme works better than papaya, pineapple or other
plant enzymes because Prozyme is made of enzymes specific
for the animal intestine.
Probiacin for good gut bacteria. Note on Prozyme
and Probiacin: They do two different things. Do not,
however, mix them or give them close to one another.
It is possible that the enzymes could damage the bacteria
and make them less likely to survive the stomach.
Nail Clipper
Quik Stop or Styptic powder to stop bleeding in
case of nail clipping accidents.
Saline solution to clean out the eye if needed.
A wound disinfectant, such as betadine, polyhydroxine
or chlorhexidine/clorahexadine (Sp.) solution (very
dilute concentration to flush out wound) for cleansing
minor wounds and scratches.
Neosporin antibiotic ointment, triple antibiotic
ointment (or generic) - Neosporin Plus is a no - no.
Scissors to cut hair away from wound site.
Tweezers
Disposable razors to shave hair around wound.
Sterile gauze
Sterile absorbent bandaging pads
Sterile KY jelly keeps tissue from drying out.
Q-Tips
Sterile cotton balls
Varying sizes of butterfly bandages.
Vet wrap (white will not bleed, like the other colours
do.)
Elizabethan collar (already fitted to your bun,
use mole skin around the outer edge to protect your
bunny's ears.)
3M makes these new bandages called "Clear Strips"
that work great. The skin needs to be shaved for them
to work.
Pain killer with dosage written on it.
Thermometer (digital) and the thermometer covers
- Pediatric rectal thermometer, KY jelly. The best
thing is to have your vet show you how to do this,
so that you will not hurt the bunny. But here are
some general guidelines... The best, safest tool is
a plastic digital thermometer that gives a relatively
quick reading. The easiest position is to hold the
bunny on his back such that his back is resting on
a towel on a countertop. Gently part the fur behind
the prepuce. The anus is the one that "winks
back at you" when you gently touch it with the
cold icy thermometer! Lubricate the tip of the thermometer
with K-Y jelly or other appropriate lubricant and
insert it into the anus about 1". Never force
anything! Gently move it around (you will pretty much
be inserting straight down if the bunny is slightly
curled on her back) until the thermometer can be easily
slid into the bunny's bum, and wait for results. Normal
body temperature ranges between 38.4 - 39.4°C.
Lower temperatures are as great a concern as higher
tempeartures! A bunny with a temperature lower than
37.8ºC should be seen by the vet ASAP! Rabbits
thermoregulate via their ears, and it is normal for
the ears to be pretty warm.
Bag Balm for topical application to wounds, sores,
scratches.
Brush for grooming.
Flea comb for grooming.
Soft towels to do a bunny burrito, or to wrap and
comfort them.
Those instant cold and instant warm packs which
you bend to start using.
Heating pad/hot water bottle in case of hypothermia.
Ice pack for overheating/heat exhaustion/heat stroke.
Ice packs are convenient for putting in a car carrier
if you are taking your bunny somewhere and the weather
is hot. Wrap it in a towel and bun will curl up against
it to cool off. Heat stroke is a serious risk for
bunnies.
A vet otoscope for examining ears, molars, etc,
is an item for a compulsive bunny parent. Less expensive
otoscopes will do the job for most situations. Some
pharmacies have them. They can be quite expensive
or fairly cheap. Get a cheap one. The ones sold in
pharmacies are made for humans, in most cases adult
humans, and the expensive ones conduct sound better
through a big well-padded body. You do not need this
kind of sophistication for a stethoscope for first
aid to a bunny.
