First aid kit

[Buttercup n Charlie]

What do you guys keep in your first aid kit? If listing medicines I would also appreciate if you would mention what that medicine is for as I am not very well versed in animal medication

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

I don't know if I found this article on here, or where, but its in my bunny folder:

First Aid For Rabbits
by Laura K. Lathan, DVM
South Arundel Veterinary Hospital
Edgewater, MD 21037
from [url]http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/firstaid.html[/url]

Be like a scout, keep these supplies on hand:

· antiseptic soap (for you, not for your bunny)

· triple antibiotic ointment or silver sulfadiazene cream 1% (available by prescription)

· 81 mg chewable children's aspirin

· saline solution (plain contact lens solution)

· mineral oil or hairball remedy (Laxatone, etc.)

· hydrogen peroxide or iodine solution

· KY jelly or other water soluble lubricant

· styptic powder (Quick-Stop)

· cotton swabs (Q-tips)

· 2 inch self adhesive stretch bandage (Vetwrap)

· 2 inch roll gauze (Kling)

· gauze squares (nonstick and regular)

· strong light (or penlight)

· unbreakable digital thermometer

· tweezers

· blunt end scissors

· cool pack

· heating pad

· towels

· 6 cc dosing (long tip) syringes

· Lactobacillus acidophilus culture (dried or Benebac)

· vegetable baby food

· canned pumpkin

More experienced folks may also want to have:

· 1 liter bag of lactated ringer's solution

· administration (drip) set

· 1 cc and 3 cc syringes

· 18 or 20, 22 and 25 gauge 1" needles

· simethicone pediatric suspension (Phazyme, Mylicon)

· stethoscope (you should spend between $15-30 for this)

· Bunny Health in the 21st Century

____________________________
Emergency Kit
[url]http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/emergency.html[/url]
· Pedialyte (unflavored liquid) or powdered Pedialyte for hydration
· Baby food, unsweetened canned pumpkin, apple sauce
· Feeding syringes
· Flushing syringes
· Simethicone liquid or chewable brandnames GasX Phazyme)for gas · Neosporin antibiotic ointment
· Betadine and Novalsan (diluted) to wash cuts & puncture wounds
· Alcohol
· Heating pad for hypothermia

· Carrier to take bunny to the vet



Additional Items

· Polyhydroxydine solution or chlorhexidine solution for cleansing minor wounds, scratches

· BeneBac probiotic which contains beneficial GI bacteria

· Mortar and pestle to crush pills

· Styptic pencil or flour to stop a clipped nail from bleeding

· Bath mat to place on top of a heating pad or on a vet's examining table (for traction)

· Eye wash to flush eyes

· Bag Balm or calendula gel for minor wounds, sore hocks, scratches

· Plastic digital thermometer to take rectal temperature

· KY jelly to lubricate thermometer

· Scissors to cut hair away from wound site

· Disposable razors to shave hair around wound

· Sterile gauze

· Cotton squares

· White vet wrap

· Flea comb for grooming

· Brush or shedding tool for grooming

· Ice pack for fever or heat stress

· Soft towels for a "bunny burrito" or warmed in a dryer to treat hyporthermia

· Q-tips

· Sterile Cotton Balls

· Nail clipper

· Tweezers

· Sterile absorbent bandaging pads

· Butterfly bandages to close wounds

· Stethoscope to hear tummy noises

· Otoscope to check ears, teeth, etc.



Other Articles:


Rabbit Medical Emergencies
[url]http://www.mybunny.org/info/emergencies.htm[/url]

Basic Emergency Kit
[url]http://www.ontariorabbits.org/health/healthinfo7.htm[/url]

Animal CPR
[url]http://members.aol.com/henryhbk/acpr.html[/url]

Bunny Choking and Heimlich Maneuver
[url]http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/Heimlich.html[/url]

The Hazards of Hydrogen Peroxide
[url]http://www.thelinksroadanimalclinic.com/index.php?view=pageView&docid=100035851[/url]

 

[Buttercup n Charlie]

Wow thanks Mia! What would you use the hydrogen peroxide and the baby food for?

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

I'm not sure about the hydrogen peroxide, but as for the baby food, I think it could work instead of pumpkin if there are GI issues.

As for my personal first aid kit for my buns, it curently contains:

Vetrap
Metacam
gauze
cotton swabs
triple antibiotic ointment
mineral oil
oxbow critical care
bag balm
pediatric ear bulb syringe
first aid waterproof tape (for vetrap-ing sore hocks I use a small piece)
Booster (dietary supplement from my vet)
Simethicone
1 mL syringes
Silver Sulfadiazine Cream (SSD cream)-similar to triple antibiotic ointment, but from the vet
6 cc dosing (long tip) syringes
Mini super skinny flashlight to look down ears
Nail trimmers
Furminator (not for first aid, but i keep it in there)

I think that's most of it in my kit. might be missing something though. hmm

 

[MiniLopHop]

I use baby food to coax a reluctant bunny to eat, to mix with critical care, or the occasional "salad dressing". For christmas they had yam flavored baby food on the top of their salads and loved it

I wouldn't use peroxide for anything, it can cause more cell damage.

 

[Watermelons]

Hmmm well my PET kit... More for the dogs. But alot is transferable for bunnys. **Please caution alot of the items I use, I only use because I have the training to do so. Please do not request these items from your vet. **

Liquids:
Surgical Scrub - Sterilizes a wound without irritating the area like alcohol or iodine. Its hot pink and stains everything.
Alcohol 99% - I use this more for cleaning equipment or on my own wounds.
Hibitane - Cleaning wounds.
Hydrogen Peroxide - If theres alot of junk in a wound its great for helping to flush some of that out. But can easily irritate skin/tissue.
Saline - 0.9% NaCl, for flushing eyes, wounds, or other stuff.

Equipment;
Hemostats
Tweezers
*Needle Drivers (This is MY kit and I have been trained to use these please dont try and stitch up your own animals)
*Suture Material
*Skin Stapler
Bandage Scissors
Sewing Scissors
Electric fur Clippers
Thermometer
Syringes
*Needles
*Catheters


Stuff in other areas:
Ice
Snuggle Safe - Heat
Critical Care
Stethoscope
Towels
Clippers
Combs
Fllorentero
*Airline Tubing - Force feeding

Bandage:
Roller Gauze
Telfa
Vet Wrap
Square Gauze
Absorbent Padding
Elastoplast/tensoplast - Very sticky durably stretchy 2"+ thick tape, great for holding a bandage onto an animal, but expensive.
Tongue Depressers - For splinting
q-tips
Normal bandaids of many shapes and sizes
Transpor tape - Supposed to be hypoallergenic. Easy to rip, not too sticky.
Fabric tape
paper tape
Tegraderm Film - Doesnt stick to fur very well.
Rubber tourniquet
Various single use antiseptic wipes from Alcohol to chlorhexidine or sting relief.

Drugs:
*Diphenhydramine - IV Injectable and Pill form. Great for full out allergic reactions or prevention/relief if the pets been stung by a bee.
Pepto Pills - Puke or Poopy puppys.
*Acepromazine - Sedative... For dogs and cats.
Animal Laxatives
Metacam - Its no stronger then giving a person 2 advil but I guess it will help take the edge off in dire emergencies.
Polysporin
*Lidocaine Spray - Typically used before tubing an animal, but I use it on a wound before I Suture.
*Vitamin K IV Injectable - Just incase of rat poison intake.

I know theres more stuff.... lots more.... But I doubt Ill be able to remember with out looking at it

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Got most of that in our standard kit--also, saved antibiotics from one that passed while being treated and was glad because we had to use it last year as another became sick 1 day before Xmas and our vet wasn't back until the 29th. Toss them if they expire as they become toxic with enough time.