Some sort of predator got into my rabbit cages last night. Don't ask me how!!!! I have very sturdy hutches, there were no broken wires,except in the one cage where the dwarf was pulled through the cage. He's gone, only hair and blood remaining in the cage and outside it.. My other larger rabbits are limping but I can't find cuts etc. Except my dutch which has a serious cut across his back foot, it looks like possibly the bone on one toe is exposed. No serious blood loss. Should I put antibiotic ointment on it,or honey, or garlic, or nothing? He's licking at it , is still active and eating well..Poor things are really traumatized, very nervous today. How to ward off another attack?? Treat the wounds?? YOur help, as always is greatly appreciated!!!!!!!

-- Margaret (gjensenii@earthlink.net), October 29, 2000

Answers

Margaret, mix up some Dakin's solution, one part plain bleach to seven parts water, easiest to apply using a small spray bottle, apply twice a day until well scabbed up. Animal bites are easily infected, especially racoons, which this could be, or weasels, very vicious creatures! I don't know where your at to further guess about possible type of predator and prevention thereof. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), October 29, 2000.

Put something down that they can stand on ,we had the legs chewed off a rabbit years ago and she was still alive!Maybe put in cardboard boxs that they can jump into .and change when they get gross.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), October 29, 2000.

I put triple antibiotic on any wounds my rabbits get. They heal quickly. Just keep checking for infection. Sometimes the skin will close and a puss bubble will be under the skin that you will have to get out. (I slice with new razor and clean with peroxide. reapply ointment) I agree with the raccoons. They have little hands that reach through the wire. Sometimes they work in pairs, one chasing, the other grabbing. My rabbits all have wooden boxes that they can go in or on top to get away from anything. They also use these boxes to chew. I have run electric fencing around for a short while to deterr predators. They get zapped a couple of nights and don't return.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), October 30, 2000.

I had a prized rabbit killed by a stray dog last Feb. while I watched and that was awful!! (The dog busted through the door of the hutch, grabbed the rabbit and ran under a section of the barn, and then broke it's neck!)

Now all my rabbit hutches are hanging in a pole building up against the barn and so far that has deterred any predators!!! They have walls on three sides but the fourth wall is open for ventilation. Hopefully will have that partially with wood and wire before many more months. Rabbits do heal easily...make sure you keep flies off any wounds.

-- Suzy in 'Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), October 30, 2000.

well margaret, ur rabbit should not be outside. i have a rabbit but we have high fence! move him inide might help a bit

-- Jeunesse lafrance (cool_girl_kasumi@hotmail.com), May 29, 2001.