*If you are not already a member of the Holland Lop Rabbit Specialty Club, JOIN. The membership comes with a guidebook that contains an amazing medical/first aid section. 

 

Diet:

Pellets: 16% crude protein, I feed Templeton. 

I don’t recommend: Manna Pro & Purina

Hay: Grass, orchard, timothy

I don’t recommend: Alfalfa for daily feeding. Alfalfa is high in sugar and low in fiber so it does make a great bribe for rabbits that have pulled off feed.

Treats: Old fashioned oats, parsley, mint, YQ, Black oil sunflower seeds

 

My first aid kit:

• Critical Care - 1 part powder / 3 parts water or as needed. Use for high fiber intake, probiotics, mucus in stool, GI stasis, and more. (give as needed, my goal is 15cc per sitting for adults) (can be purchased on amazon, KW cages, and All Things Bunny)

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• Terramycin - Ointment for eye infections like nest box eye, weepy eye, and eye injuries. Can be acquired in most counties, some need a vet. (Place a ribbon on the bottom eyelid as needed) (certain countys require a vet visit to optain)

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• Safeguard Goat Dewormer - Use for internal parasites such as pinworms. Give orally, (0.2cc per lb) (can be found at tractor supply)

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• Probios - can be bought in either a paste or a powder, can be mixed into critical care or given directly for probiotics. (Give as directed) (can be bought from KW cages)

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• B Complex(Vita-Jec) - A mix of b vitamins, mainly B12. Given as an intermuscular injection to stimulate appetite. (0.2cc per lb) (can be bought at tracture supply

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• LA-200 - Antibiotic, can’t be bought in California over the counter. Intermuscular injection (2cc per lb) dose timing depending on infection. I commonly give 2cc to does with stuck kits. (antibiotics in general are difficult to get in CA, either go to a vet or get a friend out of state)

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• Corid - Used to treat intestinal coccidiosis and is a preventative treatment. It should be used on the entire herd, sometimes routinely depending on your show schedule or exposure. 1 tablespoon per gallon of drinking water. Give for five days, then give fresh water for five days, repeat the second dose for 5 days and then you are done. (can be bought at tractor supply or amazon)

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• Acid-Pak 4 way - Electrolytes for stress and hydration. Use as directed depending on need. Great for long shows, travel, or general stress. (can be bought at KW)

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• Pen G - an oral penicillin, another antibiotic good to have on hand.  

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• Immunize - probiotic. My favorite probiotic. I always have it on hand. My go to for mucus enteritis, especially in babies starting to wean (about 3 weeks of age) (can be bought at KW)

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• Ivertectin - Anti parasitic for ear mites, fur mites, and fleas. It comes in a couple forms. For injectable, the dosage is 0.2 cc per lb, rather underdose than overdose. I prefer topical. I use oral horse ivermectin topically between the shoulderblades, a pea sized amount, to treat fur mites.  *Baby oil/mineral oil can be used to treat ear mites but I’ve never had ear mites* (can be found at most feed stores)

 

Wound Care:

• Blu-Coat - Wound care, apply directly to the wound after flushing.

• Saline - Used to flush wounds, cysts, eyes, ect. Can be used as subcutaneous fluides. I like to keep saline wipes on hand for easy care of weepy eye or nest box eye, soothing soaks, and other crust removals. 

• Chlorhexidine Solution - can be used as a rinse or as subcutaneous fluids.

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*subcutaneous fluids are often used as a step in bloat treatment

 

Isopropyl Alcohol - don’t use it directly on the wound. Use to clean an area around a wound or before using a needle (like lancing or tattooing) let sit for 30 seconds to dry, DO NOT FAN. 

Neosporin - Make sure to pick up the type WITHOUT numbing agent. A good, basic, antibiotic ointment to have on hand. 

Vet wrap, gauze, and other bandages should be kept on hand along with sharps like scissors, sterile needles, syringes, sterile lances, ect. Keep and clean 

 

Laxatives:

Mineral oil can be given in small amounts as a laxative

Pineapple juice can be given to help with constipation and wool block. 

Vaseline can be used as a lubricant for placing syringes in tight spots. 

 

My supplements:

Circulate - give as directed. For increased circulation, fur density, flesh condition.

Calf Manna - give as directed for weight gain

 

Misc:

• Straw is great to have on hand for rabbits that are suffering from a loose gut. It can be fed when needed alongside hay. I like to use it when I pull pellets.

• I have a vast collection of different sized and shaped syringes for both needles and blunt use. 

• Dawn dish soap is always kept on hand for needed butt bathes, fly strike, ect. 

• A can of powdered or liquid kitten milk, or frozen goat milk is good to have on hand along with a miracle nipple and either a bottle or syringe that it fits on in can you end up with bottle babies. (my milk recipe: 1 cup milk, 1 egg yolk, 1 tbsp of heavy cream)

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Familiarize yourself with what your local stores have and learn to work with what you have. I rarely use the majority of what is listed but it is important to have on hand just in case. Make sure to be aware of when things expire.