Rabbit Emergencies and First Aid

Injuries and accidents can happen to any pet, including pet rabbits. As a rabbit owner, knowing what to do in the case of an accident or emergency could save your rabbit’s life. First aid isn’t a substitute for veterinary care, but it may help prevent further injury and keep your rabbit comfortable until you can get them to a veterinary clinic.

Common rabbit emergencies

Rabbits are inquisitive pets and sometimes this trait can get them into dangerous situations e.g. getting caught in a door. They also chew and gnaw items a lot due to their need to wear down their teeth. Rabbits often chew skirting boards, coffee tables, and books but unfortunately, they may also chew through electrical cables and wires.

Along with this, rabbits are often picked up as they’re small pets. If they get a sudden fright or shock, they may kick out their back legs and as a result, they may be dropped.

Common emergencies that occur with rabbits include:

• Being dropped
• Getting stepped on
• Getting caught in a closing door
• Being electrocuted
• Eating toxic/poisonous substances

As a result, rabbits may have injuries/symptoms such as:

• Wounds
• Bleeding
• Breathing difficulty
• Broken bones
• Pale gums
• Collapse
• Seizures
• Not eating
• Not passing poos

Any stress or pain in rabbits can lead to secondary gastrointestinal (GI) stasis. This is when the gut motility reduces causing a build-up of gas, fluid, and hair which can be fatal if not treated quickly.

Rabbit first aid

If your rabbit has suffered an injury or accident, there are some steps that you can take to help them. Remember to always contact your vet for advice and that first aid steps are only the initial steps that you take before your rabbit is seen by your vet.

It’s useful to keep a rabbit first aid kit at home in case of emergencies. This kit may include disposable gloves, sterile wound dressing or bandages, bandage scissors, a towel, and a pet carrier. These objects may help you carry out the following first-aid steps.

Stay calm

The first piece of advice is to stay calm. Emergencies can be very stressful but if we start feeling panicked and stressed, so will our pets. Stay calm and collected to prevent stress in your rabbit.

Safety first

First of all, make sure that you don’t put yourself or anyone else in danger and that the area is safe. This is particularly important if there are live electrical cables or wires and your rabbit has been electrocuted.

Ring your vet

Always try to ring your vets to let them know that you’ll be coming with an emergency. It will give them time to get equipment and a team ready for your rabbit.

Check for any obvious bleeding or injury

If your rabbit is bleeding or has an open wound, cover this with a sterile bandage or dressing and keep this applied until you get to your veterinary clinic. Rabbits with broken bones should be handled very carefully to prevent further trauma.

Place them in a pet carrier

Carefully place your rabbit in a secure pet carrier for transport to the vet. If they’re stressed or badly injured, it may help to place a soft towel or blanket over them to pick them up. Avoid stressing them out while trying to put them into the pet carrier.

Drive safely

In emergencies, owners are understandably stressed and upset. This may impact driving so be careful to drive slowly and pull over if you need to. Better yet, if you have someone else with you, ask them to drive instead.

What not to do in an emergency

There are some things that you shouldn’t do in emergencies. These things may make the situation worse, dangerous, or even cause further damage to your rabbit.

Don’t panic

If you panic, it’s likely that your rabbit will too. Stress may lead to further injury and gut stasis in rabbits.

Don’t try to examine and treat your rabbit yourself

Rabbits that are injured will require veterinary treatment. Don’t be tempted to try and treat wounds or injuries at home as there may be serious underlying injuries present and it will delay your rabbit’s recovery.

Don’t delay in contacting your vet

Rabbits are sensitive pets and if they’re injured, they need urgent veterinary care. Rabbits that are injured, stressed, or in pain are very vulnerable and may be at risk of GI stasis which is a serious emergency. If your rabbit is unwell, contact your veterinary clinic straight away and don’t delay.

Final thoughts

Rabbit emergencies and injuries are possible in any household that has pet rabbits. Knowing the above information can help to prevent further injury and get your rabbit to the vet safely. Always contact your vet for advice and don’t delay in seeking veterinary treatment.