Many people as the question of how to care for your injured rabbit. Nobody loves their sweet, tender rabbits in pain. Especially when these bunnies are caring and tender, seeing them injured hurts you. I know. And most times, it is not your fault that your pretty Bunny is injured, whether it’s a cut or a shock or a hot liquid spilling on its body.
But, when your bunny gets injured, it can be hard for you as the owner. I can only but imagine how traumatic it must be seeing your sweet Bunny whimpering in pain as it lays on one side of its body, its usually glassy eyes sunken in. The thought of it alone is heart-breaking. Nobody deserves to suffer such emotional pain, and for the Bunny, it indeed doesn’t deserve the physical pain as well. So, how do you take care of your injured Bunny?
In this post, I’ll be walking you through all the fundamental processes of managing your rabbit(s)’s injuries when they happen. I will show you how to check for injuries and administer what I like to call the ‘First Bunny Aid’ on your Bunny.
How Do You Know That Your Rabbit Is Injured?
It can be pretty hard knowing when your rabbit has sustained an injury because rabbits have a high pain threshold. They can withstand pain for a long time, and if not checked early, can die from the pain.
Many times, your rabbit might look fine, but he’s seriously hurting inside.
Want to know whether your bunny is injured?
I will tell you how to check to see if your sweet cherry Bunny is in the best shape physically.
- When you see your rabbit lying on one side of its body, still, sometimes moving slightly, then there is a high possibility that your rabbit is injured or hurt. And because most bunnies are always running around, when your Bunny lies on that one side for a long time, then rest assured something is wrong.
How long is a long time?
It depends on how active and playful your Bunny is. But on average, if the Bunny lies on one side for up to 10 minutes, check what might be wrong with it.
- If your Bunny is falling over when walking, a high level of imbalance could be a sign of shock or a broken limb.
- Should you see your Bunny limping or not walking straight, quickly carry it gently, and check for any broken bones on its body.
- When your rabbit runs in zigzag, mostly belabored movements, then you are sure that your rabbit is injured.
- Notice that your rabbit doesn’t drink water for a long time, usually eight powers? Then something is physically wrong with your Bunny.
Usually, rabbits drink a lot of water and eat grass; therefore, if your bunny doesn’t look for water for a long time, it’s a pain.
- If your rabbit doesn’t pass our fecal waste in a day, the Bunny isn’t feeling well.
How To Check If Your Bunny Is Injured Or In Discomfort
- Check the eyes: A glassy eye shows that your Bunny is in shock. Shock is one of the fastest ways bunnies die. To confirm whether your Bunny is experiencing shock, shine a relatively bright light into the rabbit’s eye. If the pupils constrict, then your Bunny is okay; if it doesn’t, you need to see the vet as soon as you can.
- When a rabbit’s eye turns yellow after you’ve shone the light into its eyes, it’s a sign that the rabbit has a severe fever. See a vet!
- A rabbit’s gums should be bright pink. Check whether something broke the cat’s teeth and the color of the gum. Your Bunny can break its teeth when if I try eating healthy foods such as fruits like oranges.
- Run your hand regularly over your Bunny’s body to check for lumps or any swelling. If, when running your hand over the Bunny’s body, you notice the rabbit jerks and squeals in pain, stop, and immediately take the Bunny to a vet.
- You should also check for rapid breathing from your rabbit from time to time. A shocked or injured rabbit breathes heavily.
How To Manage Shock In Your Bunny
So, you have done some of these things highlighted above and discovered that your Bunny is in shock. What do you do?
It is advisable always to take your rabbit to a vet whenever you notice discomfort or shock.
However, before going to the vet, you’ll need to administer some form of ‘First Bunny Aid’ to your sweet Bunny.
Having said that, what’s the first thing you’ll do when you confirm that your Bunny is in shock?
Wrap your Bunny in a clean towel and put them in a box or a safe space.
Why? You ask.
When bunnies are in shock, they need some form of reassurance that all will be fine. It’s pretty much like when a person survives a terrible car accident, all they want immediately after the accident is a form of reassurance that the accident is over and won’t happen again.
In the same vein, rabbits need that reassurance that a warm towel and a relatively enclosed space provide.
When a rabbit recovering from shock is in a safe space such as a cage or a box, the Bunny feels less vulnerable.
After a few minutes, you can see the vet with your Bunny.
However, there are some injuries – physical injuries – that will require you to administer treatment to your Bunny. These injuries are usually mild injuries such as cuts or minor wounds. It’s possible that something broke the bunny’s limbs.
How To Treat An Injured Bunny Before Going To The Vet
Your Bunny has a minor injury; what do you do?
Before you drive your injured Bunny off to see your vet, you’ll need to take care of the Bunny.
I know how soft bunnies are and how handling them can be pretty challenging, but you need not worry. I will walk you through how to care for that injured Bunny of yours.
- Check what’s wrong with your bunny: Is the cut a deep one? A broken bone or just shock? Inspect your Bunny thoroughly to be sure what is wrong. If it’s a cut, one where the Bunny is bleeding, then you do the following:
- Ensure that you clean the cut on the Bunny’s body with peroxide or water solution: This will help stop the bleeding and make the injured surface neat. If you don’t clean the injured part fast, your Bunny might lick that part and get contaminated with disease.
- After cleaning, give your bunny antibiotics: A natural antibiotic solution is the raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in water. Give your bunny 1TB/gal. You can also use Echinacea as an antibiotic.
- Give your bunny painkillers afterward. Willow twigs and birch are great painkillers for bunnies.
How To Treat Your Bunny If Caustic Chemicals Spills On It
Should your Bunny mistakenly have hot water or a caustic chemical spilled on it, you can quickly administer the following treatment:
- Allow cold water to run over the scarred surface of the Bunny, usually for about 10 minutes.
- After you’ve allowed the running water to cool your Bunny’s skin, do not rub ointment on the skin. The cream will cause the skin not to heal fast.
- Take the injured rabbit to the vet afterward.
CONCLUSION:
An injured bunny can be hard to deal with, especially given how fragile bunnies can be. But with suitable attention and care, you can successfully treat your Bunny from whatever injury it suffers.
And if the injury is severe and needs a vet’s attention, administer these ‘First Bunny Aid’ to your rabbit before taking it to the vet.
Bunnies are sweet, soft, and adorable. Just do the simple things, and they’ll be fine.