There are a host of emergencies that require first aid in pet rabbits and rodents, ranging from animal attacks, gastrointestinal distress, and breathing difficulties to fractures and head trauma.

What is first aid?

First aid is the initial treatment given to an injured or sick pet during an emergency. First aid aims to stabilize the pet until veterinary medical care can be provided. First aid is not a substitute for qualified veterinary medical care.

What is considered a medical emergency?

A medical emergency is any serious, potentially life-threatening injury or illness that requires immediate attention.

Contact your veterinarian immediately if you observe…

Bleeding that does not stop	Deep cut or puncture wound
Difficulty breathing	Ingestion or exposure to any potential poison
Extensive burns	Blood in stool or diarrhea
Loss of balance No stool production within 12 hours	Any loss of consciousness or extreme lethargy (tiredness)

Contact your veterinarian the same day if you observe

Loss of appetite	Eye injury or irritation
Lameness or seemingly uncomfortable	Evidence of increased thirst and or urination
Sudden swellings anywhere on the body	Decrease in stool size or production

Be prepared

To serve as your pet’s first responder, you must be familiar with what is normal for your pet – so you can recognize the abnormal.

• How much does your pet eat and drink daily?
• How much does your pet weigh? (The smaller the pet (<500 grams), the more frequently we recommend  using a gram scale at home to weigh and monitor your pet’s weight)
• How many droppings and urination amount is passed daily?
• What is the appearance of the stools? What is the typical size and amount passed daily?
• What behaviors and routines does your pet perform daily?

Your exotic animal veterinarian can also show you the correct way to safely capture and hold your rodent or rabbit to prevent injury to you and your pet. If you cannot adequately restrain your pet, you cannot safely evaluate for injuries.

You will also want a first aid kit and other supplies available. Conveniently keep all equipment together, including a home hospital cage, gram scale, towel or washcloth for restraint, and a first aid kit.

Home hospital cage

The hospital cage or makeshift incubator is one of the most important items you will need in an emergency. To create a hospital cage, you will need…

• Cage, crate, or aquarium of an appropriate size
• Food and water containers
• Pillowcases, towels, or other easy-to-clean bedding
• A heating pad or warm water bottle

The hospital cage can also serve as the carrier to transport your pet to the veterinarian if need be

The first aid kit can include the following equipment:

Antiseptic solution (e.g. Betadine)	Dilute solution is used to clean wounds
Band-Aids	In case you are injured
Bandaging material	For short term use on bleeding limbs for transport to your veterinarian
Contact information	For your exotic animal veterinarian, after-hours exotics emergency veterinarian, and the poison control center
Cornstarch	Can be used as a natural hemostatic to help stop bleeding
Cotton balls, Cotton-tipped applicators	Used to apply medications and clean wounds
Eye wash or eye irrigating solution (sterile saline or sterile water)	Used to rinse foreign objects from eyes or wounds
Food	We recommend especially for rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchilla’s to have a critical care food on hand. (Typically Oxbow’s critical care herbivore diet)
Gauze
Latex gloves	To protect hands & to prevent the spread of bacteria to wounds while cleaning
Light	Penlight or even a flashlight to improve visibility
Nail file	Can be used to smooth broken nails
Scissors
Styptic gel or powder	ONLY for use on nails, NEVER use on any open wounds or mucous membranes
Tweezers	To remove debris from wounds, splinters, etc.
Watch or timer
Writing pad and pen	Take notes on your observations & treatments. Do not rely upon your memory in a stressful situation.

Supportive care

Most, but not all emergencies will benefit from general supportive care

Specific advice for specific emergencies:

Animal attacks:

Seek veterinary attention immediately, even if your pet looks normal after an attack or the physical contact appears light. Puncture wounds can be subtle, and bites can also cause crushing and internal injury.

Bleeding:

Determine the source of bleeding. If the bleeding is minimal, place your pet in a confined area and observe to see if it stops on its own. Then, schedule a veterinary appointment for any additional medical treatment that may be necessary.

First aid should be initiated if the bleeding does not stop within 5 minutes. Manually restrain your pet, using the safe techniques demonstrated by your veterinarian…

• For minor skin wounds, apply firm, gentle, continuous pressure for at least 1 -2 minutes (use a timer).
• Broken nails: Wipe away the blood, apply cornstarch or styptic powder to the actively bleeding nail bed, and apply pressure for 1 -2 minutes.
• Major skin wounds: Apply firm pressure with gauze, bandage if possible, and seek immediate medical attention

After the bleeding has stopped, observe your pet for approximately 1 hour to be sure additional bleeding does not recur. Schedule a veterinary appointment for any additional medical treatment that may be necessary.

If you cannot stop the bleeding, if the bleeding recurs, or if your pet appears weak or lethargic, seek veterinary medical attention immediately.