naturestee
Well-Known Member
[align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"][/font]Note From the Moderator: [/align]
[align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]It's what many of us dread the most - something is very wrong with Bunny. He's hurt, he's not acting right. But is it an emergency, or can it wait until the morning? Some things simply can not wait, while other problems can wait for a little bit until the vet is able to squeeze Bunny into his schedule. [/font][/align]
I am not a vet. My advice is only from my personal experiences. So instead of rewriting what experts wrote or simply giving you the link, I'm giving you the sections that I thought were the most important. There are more details in the links, and I encourage you to read them BEFORE an emergency happens.
[align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]
Remember, you know you bunny better than anyone else. If you think something is wrong, it probably is. It never hurts to call your vet and ask for advice.
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[align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]- Angela
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[align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]The Following is From Sari Kanfer, DVM:
[/font][/align][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]
[/font][align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"][/font][/align][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]
[/font][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]http://www.mybunny.org/info/emergencies.htm
[/font][align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"][/font][/align][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]
[/font][align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]Common Emergencies
[/font][/align]
[align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]Although it isn't always clear whether you have a true emergency on your hands, the list below includes the most common signs bunnies exhibit when they need professional help fast. But remember, you know your bunny better than anyone else, and WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK IT OUT!
[/font]
(Moderator note: many people find a pinch of rolled oats helps treat diarrhea.)[/font]
[align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]It's what many of us dread the most - something is very wrong with Bunny. He's hurt, he's not acting right. But is it an emergency, or can it wait until the morning? Some things simply can not wait, while other problems can wait for a little bit until the vet is able to squeeze Bunny into his schedule. [/font][/align]
I am not a vet. My advice is only from my personal experiences. So instead of rewriting what experts wrote or simply giving you the link, I'm giving you the sections that I thought were the most important. There are more details in the links, and I encourage you to read them BEFORE an emergency happens.
[align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]
Remember, you know you bunny better than anyone else. If you think something is wrong, it probably is. It never hurts to call your vet and ask for advice.
[/font][/align]
[align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]- Angela
[/font][/align]
[align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]The Following is From Sari Kanfer, DVM:
[/font][/align][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]
[/font][align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"][/font][/align][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]
[/font][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]http://www.mybunny.org/info/emergencies.htm
[/font][align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"][/font][/align][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]
[/font][align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]Common Emergencies
[/font][/align]
[align=justify][font="Verdana,Sand,Arial,Geneva,Helvetica,Sans-Serif,MS Sans Serif"]Although it isn't always clear whether you have a true emergency on your hands, the list below includes the most common signs bunnies exhibit when they need professional help fast. But remember, you know your bunny better than anyone else, and WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK IT OUT!
[/font]
- [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Heat Stroke (Can occur at temps above 78 degrees F). Weakness, lack of coordination, seizures, unconsciousness, lying down/not moving
and incontinence. DO NOT use ice or alcohol!
Mist or rub down rabbits ears with cool---not cold---water, put rabbit in carrier and get to vet.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Respiratory problems (Stretching head/neck in the air, gasping for breath) Sudden onset pneumonia is not uncommon.
Put rabbit in carrier and get to vet immediately.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Bite wounds, scrapes, punctures (Shock, infection)
Small shallow wounds may be cleaned with a clean cotton or gauze pad and some Betadine (may also use Peroxide, but never in deep cuts or punctures!). May use Neosporin (with NO pain killer/lidocaine, which can induce heart failure in rabbits). If cuts are large, ragged, deep, requiring stitches or if you are not sure go to vet immediately.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Electric Shock (Cord chewing). Rabbit is weak, incontinent, unconscious .
Wrap rabbit lightly in towel and get to vet immediately.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Back, leg, neck injuries (Dragging a limb, inability to put weight on limb, dragging hind end)
Gently put rabbit in carrier and get to vet immediately. If there appears to be a broken limb, back, etc., it may be advisable to bring companion rabbit in separate carrier. This is why it is a good idea to have on hand one carrier for each rabbit.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]GI Stasis (Not eating, no feces, etc.)
Get to vet immediately. For more information on how to prevent and/or deal with this situation, see articles Rabbit Diet and Nutrition, Nursing Your Rabbit Through Gastrointestinal Stasis and of course, the number one article on the subject, GastroIntestinal Stasis, The Silent Killer, by Dana Krempels. Or Rabbit References threads GI Stasis and Bloat/Gas
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Eye Injuries [/font][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]
Eye injuries always need vet attention.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Shock (Fear, animal attack, stress temp below 99-100)
Lightly cover rabbit with towel and get to vet ASAP.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Diarrhea[/font][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"] (Runny or liquidy stool)
Do not give veggies to rabbits with diarrhea; take away pellets for a few hours and offer a variety of fresh hays. If diarrhea persists for more than 6-8 hours, contact your vet immediately. If there is blood in the stool or if bunny stops eating, is listless or in pain, get to vet ASAP. If rabbit is under three months old, do not wait, call your vet.[/font]
(Moderator note: many people find a pinch of rolled oats helps treat diarrhea.)[/font]
- [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Urine Scald[/font][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]
Generally a sign of underlying problems. Get to vet immediately. If there are maggots (fly larvae, also known as "fly strike ) DO NOT attempt to pull them off or deal with this on your own. Get to a vet ASAP.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Maggots[/font][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"] (fly strike)
See above.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Straining to urinate/inability to urinate[/font][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"] (Urinates frequent small amounts, grinds teeth when trying, postures to urinate often, but does not; extreme urination posture (back legs spread, bottom/tail high in the air))
Could be a sign of infection, bladder stones or blockage, get to vet ASAP.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Hock Sores[/font][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"] (Bottoms of back feet have no hair, open wounds, etc.)
Clean wounds with warm water and Betadine and/or contact your vet ASAP. Hock sores can become infected and quickly turn into abcesses which can penetrate the bone.
[/font][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Aftercare: Clean pen or cage, make sure footing is solid and comfortable, such as industrial, low-pile carpet, rugs or untreated sea grass mats. Rabbits should never live on wire flooring.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Head Tilt[/font][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"] (sudden neurological changes)
[/font]- [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Rolling/spinning
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Nystagmus (eyes rolling)
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Seizures
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Sudden paralysis
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- [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Rolling/spinning
- [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Poisoning Symptoms can be delayed.
If poisoning is suspected, GET TO A VET and bring poison with you!
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Blood in pen/cage/enclosure[/font][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]
Feel bunny all over and locate source of blood. If it is broken nail or small bite wound, scrape, etc., you can care for it yourself as mentioned above. Major wounds, undetectable blood sources, blood in the urine or feces all require immediate veterinary attention.
[/font] - [font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"]Broken incisor/Dental Problems
Call your vet, describe situation and make appointment immediately or as necessary. [/font]