A first aid kit is not a replacement for going to a rabbit-savvy veterinarian when there’s an emergency. A first aid kit can help you keep your rabbit stable until they can see a vet.

• Digital Rectal Thermometer (a rabbit’s temperature can be taken rectally and should read between 101-103°F) - practice taking your rabbit’s temperature before it’s an emergency.

• Water-based lubricant, like KY Jelly, to lubricate the thermometer

• Stethoscope, to listen for gut sounds

• Heating pad or disc, and cooling pad/ice packs, to keep your rabbit warm/cool, if needed. Only heat/cool a rabbit after taking their temperature!

• Blanket or cuddle pod to safely secure your rabbit for syringe feeding and/or medications

• Recovery food, like Oxbow’s Critical Care, for syringe feeding  Canned pumpkin (not pie filling) to mix with Critical Care, if needed

• Infant gas drops (simethicone) – While simethicone may not do anything if a rabbit has gas*, it’s unlikely to hurt, and anecdotally some people feel it helps their rabbit.

• Oral syringes (1mL syringes for medicine and 35 mL catheter tip syringes for feeding)

• Pedialyte (unflavored), or apple juice (diluted) for hydration

• Hydrogen peroxide, to clean blood off fur or check for blood in urine, seeing if it fizzes

• Pet-safe wound care spray, like Vetericyn

• Neosporin or Polysporin for minor cuts/bite wounds (none with added “pain relief”)

• Q-tips and cotton balls

• Gauze and self-adherent bandages, like VetWrap or CoFlex

• Tweezers to remove debris

• Blunt scissors to safely trim fur away from a wound or mats

• Small flashlight to look in ears, eyes, examine wounds, and backlight nails for trims

• Styptic powder or cornstarch to stop bleeding if a nail is cut too close to the quick

• Saline solution or veterinary eye wash to flush eyes

• Washcloth to do a warm compress for a weepy eye or abscess

• Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) to clean thermometer after use, or to apply to ears of an overheating rabbit (temp over 104°)