Emergency first aid

Being able to recognize situations requiring emergency first aid, can mean the difference between life and death for your rabbit. Whilst we hope that we never experience these situations, having knowledge on what to do and when is important.

Emergency first aid is the immediate treatment given, after a rabbit has suffered a serious illness, injury or accident. The aim is to preserve life and prevent the condition from getting worse until veterinary treatment is started.

Emergency first aid is not designed to prevent you from taking your rabbit to a vet. Rabbits deteriorate rapidly when ill, and failure to seek prompt veterinary treatment, can be fatal.

There are many situations which constitute an emergency and may require some first aid, whilst you are arranging to take your rabbit to your veterianarian for veterinary treatment.

It must be emphasized again that any first aid provided, does not take away the need to get your rabbit examined by a veterinarian straight away.

Emergency situations include:

• Electrocution
• Seizures (fitting)
• Flystrike (maggots)
• Labored breathing or struggling to breathe, including mouth breathing
• Hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding)
• Heat stroke
• Suspected fractured limb or spine
• Collapse and unresponsiveness
• Bloated abdomen
• Choking
• Unable to urinate
• Not eating, not passing droppings and lethargic (likely gastrointestinal stasis)
• Liquid diarrhea (not to be confused with uneaten cecotrophs).

There may be other situations, which also require emergency first aid to be given prior to taking your rabbit to your veterinarian, but the above are the most common scenarios.

Firstly, do not panic and do not put yourself in danger.

If you have someone to help you, whilst you perform first aid, this is a useful idea, or they can be calling the veterinarian, whilst you tend to your rabbit.

Depending upon what the situation is with your rabbit you may need to:

• Control a bleeding wound – Apply careful and constant pressure to a bleeding wound. Ideally use something sterile, but if this is not available then a clean cloth which isn’t going to leave threads of material in the wound is okay.
• Place in a safe, padded area – Use your rabbit’s carrier. Pad out with towels and blankets and cover them over to keep them in the quiet and dark.
• Keep the rabbit warm – Hypothermia is when rabbits are cold. Again, place them in their carrier with towels and blankets. DO NOT USE ANY HEAT PADS as this risk burning your rabbit. Place blankets and bubble wrap/foil blanket over your rabbit to keep them insulated. Make sure they do not overheat.
• Cool them down – Rabbits do not cope well in hot and humid weather and hyperthermia can develop. Rabbits in heat stroke will be mouth breathing, may have blue gums/lips, hyper-salivate, breathe rapidly and collapse. Get them out of the sun, place cool water (not freezing cold) on their ears, place a fan on a low speed on them and allow them to lie on cool tiles. Do not place them in water.
• Remove visible maggots – If you find maggots on your rabbit, pick off visible maggots with tweezers. Do not wet the rabbit’s fur or place any creams or powder on the rabbit’s skin or fur.

The most important thing to do is to get your rabbit to a veterinarian straight away, even if this is the middle of the night. Do not continually attempt to provide any first aid to your rabbit and delay veterinary treatment. If your veterinary surgery are closed, you will need to take your rabbit to the Out of Hours provider. If you have someone who can drive you, you can monitor your rabbit on the journey. Phone ahead to the veterinary surgery so they know to expect you and can have treatment prepared for your arrival. Time if of the essence in an emergency situation and every second counts.

The best treatment for your rabbit is at your veterinarians – any delay in getting them there will make treatment less likely to be successful.

Absolutely, yes. It is important that you take your rabbit to your veterinarian straight away. If it is during a time when your veterinary surgery are closed, there will be an Out of Hours provider that you will need to go to instead. It helps to know where this is beforehand, so speak to your veterinarian during their normal opening hours so you know where you may need to travel if you have an emergency, and your veterianarians are closed. It is likely to be further away and if you are in a panic about your rabbit, it’s one less thing to worry about if you know where you are going.

Veterianians are required to offer emergency first aid treatment to all animals, regardless of if you are registered at the practice. In some emergencies, such as cardiac arrest, choking, uncontrolled bleeding etc. time is essential and getting to the closest veterinarian is imperative, even if they are not your usual practice. Always phone ahead so they know you are coming.

This is a wise idea. It helps to have everything in one place, if or when, you may need it. A basic first aid box should include:

• Your veterinarian and out-of-hours provider telephone numbers
• Taxi company telephone number, in case you are unable to drive
• Safe and secure carrier
• Blankets and towels
• Tweezers
• Sterile dressing materials or a clean cloth
• Blunt ended scissors
• Nail clippers
• Styptic pencil/silver nitrate
• Foil blanket/bubble wrap.

Check your First Aid box on a regular basis to ensure everything is still in date and items haven’t been removed.

Being prepared is key. In an emergency know what you need to do. Know where your first aid kit is. Know where your Out of Hours veterinary cover is, or your closet practice and above all, although it is easier said than done, do not panic.