Rabbit First Aid Kit – Items that are really needed 

The results are overwhelming if you use Google to check items for a regular pet first aid kit. There are pre-assembled kits and all kinds of lists. If you’re a rabbit pawrent, you’ll need a few more specialised tools for your Bunny First Aid Kit. How do you know what you really need? We will help you figure that out.

Ask your rabbit savvy vet

Wondering why? They know your pet better than anyone else other than you. Additionally, they can recommend speciality items for your bun’s specific medical needs to put in your pet’s first aid kit.

Ask your local rabbit rescue

Did you adopt your sweet lagomorph from a rescue? Chances are they have bunny first aid kit recommendations. Additionally, if they have a gift shop, they may sell all the first aid kit supplies for rabbits. Finally, ask if they offer pet first aid or health check classes.

Supply list

Here are our suggestions for items for your rabbit first aid kit.

1. Pet emergency care contact and address information. Have a list of all the places your bunny can take care of quickly in an emergency. This should include your vet, plus urgent and emergency care options in your area.

2. Pet carrier. Make sure you keep your first aid kit with your pet carrier so you can quickly grab one to help restrain your bun. However, depending what is wrong, having another human hold your bun in certain situations may be better; putting them in a carrier could increase their pain and stress.

3. Old towels are useful for burritoing your bun, providing extra support in the carrier, or wiping recovery food from your face or ceiling, while syringe feeding your bun.

4. Bandages (adhesive or non-adhesive), gauze, cotton balls, and cotton swabs (brand name Q-tip). Make sure to keep a variety of sizes on hand.

5. Elizabethan collar, aka “the cone of shame” or “e-collar.” Is there a problem with your TV? I’m just kidding! All bun pawrents joke about improving your TV reception or talking to aliens when your rabbit wears the cone of shame. Pro tip: Whenever your rabbit has a procedure done, bring the e-collar to drop off. You won’t have to pay for a new one.

6. Small, helpful tools. Tweezers, scissors, pet nail clippers, flashlights, headlamps, reading glasses, etc.

7. Disinfecting solution (Hydrogen Peroxide or Sterile Saline Solution or F10). Disinfecting solutions are beneficial. For example, they can irrigate wounds (again, ask your vet).

8. Styptic powder. Styptic powder now comes in various formats. Still, it stops bleeding from nail trims and other minor wounds.

9. Syringes and eye droppers in multiple sizes. These items are fantastic for giving medications, recovery food and liquids, and nutritional supplements. The eye dropper can also be used to flush the eyes.

10. Splints. If your rabbit has broken or severely injured a limb, splinting will keep it from moving and may reduce discomfort.

11. Hot and Cold Packs. Hot packs or a pet-safe waterproof heating pad (Pro Tip: add a cord cover!) are essential in helping your bun recover from GI Stasis. Conversely, cold packs are your friend if your rabbit has a heat injury or needs to decrease swelling.

12. Recovery Food (Example Brand: Oxbow Critical Care). If there is one item on this list that you should prioritise adding to your first aid kit, it’s Critical Care. This formula is used to force-feed rabbits in emergencies, giving them the nutrients to remain healthy and keep their digestion going. Most of the time, your veterinary office will have packages of critical care on hand for you to buy when your rabbit has an emergency. However, my vet recommended that I always have a bag at home.

13. Baby Gas Drops like Infacol. (Liquid Simethicone). Rabbits have a sensitive digestive system and can suffer from a gas build-up. To help ease your rabbit’s discomfort and prevent GI stasis, give your rabbit 1ml of simethicone, also known as infant gas drops. This is sold in most grocery or drug stores in the baby aisle.

14. Oral Thermometer and Personal Lubricant. In case you need to take your rabbit’s temperature rectally at home. This will give your vet more information when you call to make an appointment for your rabbit. Have your vet or rescue train you to carefully insert the thermometer after applying the personal lubricant.

15. Refills of Daily Medications and Syringes. If your bun takes daily meds, keep a spare in the first aid kit. You’ll also want spares of the proper syringe sizes to dispense the medication from the bottles.

16. Soap, Hand sanitiser, and disposable medical gloves. Before helping your rabbit, wash your hands and don gloves. This prevents the spread of bacteria or disease.

17. Grooming Brush/Comb, Nail clippers and flea comb. I prefer to keep my bunny grooming kit with my bunny first aid kit.

Maintaining your kit

If your rabbit needs supplies from the first aid kit, remember to restock those items for the next time. Additionally, check your kit every six months for expired materials and medications.

What did you think? Did we miss anything? We hope you never need a Bunny First Aid Kit, but having one on hand will decrease your and your bunny’s stress in an emergency medical situation.

Written by Best4bunny writer, Jess Sullivan. Bunny mum, animal advocate and enthusiast.