My Rabbitry first aid kit & the importance of having one

Westover's Glory Boy Brkn Chestnut Sr. Buck
(Gary was another really nice rabbit from Brenda Westover. He had a head to die for and the thickest, most correctly shaped ears I have to this day, ever seen on a Jersey Wooly. He never had the 10% body color to be shown, and he developed a lot of health problems later on so I never bred him. He was a true sweetheart, and a handsome boy.)

GC Westover's Shalinka REW Sr. Doe - 3 Legs all for BOB
(Shelly was a REALLY nicely typed doe from Brenda Westover I had a year ago, I regretfully sold her because I thought I was going to get out of the breed with an at that time lack of Jersey Wooly stock available, I'm really kicking myself for that one -.- I have a blue buck right now that I know would have produced VERY nicely with her...*sigh*)

This post is really for ANYONE who raises any type of livestock, and also for the every day person who doesn't own an animal! A first aid kit is always an ESSENTIAL in any home/barn/office/work space. You never know when something is going to go wrong, or when someone is going to get sick or injured.

I can not stress enough the importance of keeping one in your rabbitry. I wouldn't own animals if I didn't have a first aid kit handy. All sorts of things from the simple weepy eye to the more serious enteritis, coccidiosis or gaping wounds could pop up at any moment when you're least expecting it, and the least you can do, is be prepared!

My First Aid kit MUST HAVES & estimated cost of each item: (I purchase my first aid essentials from KW Cages & Equipment)

• Wormer $4.99: Ok, so this really isn't a FIRST AID must have, but I worm all my rabbits on a yearly basis. Roundworms & pinworms can do harm, soaking up the goods of your expensive grain that the rabbits are ingesting, and denying your animal the nutritional benefits and robbing them of much needed body condition and weight.
• Penicillin G Drops $5.99: This is an oil based formula that can be directly applied to spots of infection such as vent disease and can be used in the treatment of wry neck.
• Mycin Nose Drops $6.99: Aids in the treatment of Pasturella Multocida and helps relieve symptoms such as snuffles and respiratory problems. This is an absolute must have for me, I have known people who have lost rabbits to this disease. It's very deadly, and must be treated ASAP upon detection. It is also highly contagious. You apply this directly to the nostrils of your rabbits.
• Sure-Clot Styptic Powder $6.19: Helps stop bleeding from the tattooing process, short cut nails, scrapes or punctures etc.
• Pennicillian G 100cc Injectable form $12.95: This is the injectable antibiotic form of the oil based drops. The drops help relieve infection symptoms, while this aids in CURING the actual infection. Great for Pasturella Multocida, Snuffles, Mastitis, Metritis, Abscesses etc.
  
• Bene-Bac PetGel $6.99: Given orally, this paste helps cut loses due to Enteritis. Use during times you can expect when numbers of beneficial intestinal bacteria will be low i.e., weaning, post weaning, after shipping, or during & following antibiotic therapy.
• Acid Pak 4-Way $6.49: A supplement source of live,naturally occurring microorganisms, acidifiers, electrolytes and enzymes. A water soluble alternative to Bene-Bac PetGel. Cuts loses to Enteritis.
• Vital vitamins & electrolytes $3.89: Helps to combat stress and encourage appetite in rabbits off feed while providing them the essential vitamins they need. Great for show rabbits who are subjected to traveling long distances such as ARBA conventions and rabbits being shipped.
• Nutrical $6.89: A paste given to sick rabbits who have gone off feed. Filled with essential nutrients to keep them sustained until they regain their appetite.
• Oxbow Critical Care $8.99 (5oz pouch): A complete syringe feeding formula for convalescing rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and other small herbivores. For lack of appetite due to illness, post surgical recovery or pain. (This is for the more serious reasons as to why a rabbit would go off feed, I suggest the above 2 formulas for rabbits recently off feed due to stress such as ARBA conventions etc, save this one for the more serious stuff).
• Sulfadimethoxine Solution $17.99 (8oz liquid): Helps to control/eliminate the Coccidia bacteria which causes Coccidiosis.
• Dri-Tail $3.99: For the treatment of diarrhea/scours.
• Syringes w/needles $.50-$.65 ea: I keep 3cc and 1cc syringes with needles on hand at all time in case I have a rabbit that needs antibiotic injections. 3cc is used to administer a larger dose, while the 1 cc is for low doses. I keep 3 of each size on hand.
• Curve Tip Syringe w/o needle $1 ea: Used to force feed. I would use this to administer the Oxbox Critical Care formula. I keep 3 on hand.
• Bandages, gauze, rags, rubbing alcohol, bag balm salve etc: All the basics for cleaning up cuts/runny eyes, cleaning ears before/after tattooing and treatment of sore hocks.

It's also important to quarantine any animals who are extremely sick that carry contagious infections and administer proper treatment or dispose of the animal humanely. I also keep old bath towels or beach towels I no longer use on hand in the case of a stressed animal off it's feed, I can throw a towel over their cage to make them feel more secure and thus help in regaining their appetite.

-Domonique
www.northrunswild.webs.com

ps to make my blogs more interesting to look at, I posted photos of rabbits I used to have!