Hydrogen Peroxide

[lucygoosey]

Is Hydrogen Peroxide safe for buns? I recently noticed Lucy has some flaky skin (no fur loss though) I believe the flakes are just a minor case of dry skin. So I have started a routine of wiping the area with Hydrogen Peroxide soaked Q-Tips and then applying a few drops of Hypo-Allergenic baby oil (contains Vitamin E and Aloe Vera). This morning I was reading the Hydrogen Peroxide bottle (I read whatever is on the table while I eat breakfast… it’s a strange habit) and I noticed it had a poison symbol at the bottom. (I’m an idiot for not noticing before). The type I have is a 3% mix so I’m not sure if it’s okay on Lucy. If not what should I use instead?

[skunklionshow]

Just in general…from what I recall from chem.  Alcohal tends to dry out the skin, that’s why its not always recommended for wounds—no really?  Hydrogen peroxide is actually better to use on wounds b/c it won’t dry out the boo boo.  W/ alcohal (isopropal) & hydrogen peroxide it should not be ingested!  That’s why the label says poisin.  Both will cause probs in the human tummy b/c there’s alot of hydrochloric acid in there.  For my cats I use q-tips w/ mineral oil.  Its a lubricant that will not dry out their skin.  It also acts as a lubricant inside (i.e. it comes back out), making it a safer alternative.

[Gravehearted]

The biggest issue with using any topical meds on bunnies is that anything you put on them they can potentially lick off and ingest.

diluted hydrogen peroxide safe for cleaning surface wounds and abscesses.

Sometimes bunnies do get scaly patches that are from healing sores or areas of dry skin. But, it could be a case of fur mites. Pull some loose fur in that area and see if it has flakes near the roots – this is a sign of mites. Take your bunny to the veterinarian to confirm this. If it is mites, the vet will give you meds for her.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Gravehearted, what is the dilution rate? I’d like to keep that on hand just in case for my bunny-emergency kit. Or do you recommend that it be mixed "fresh" for when you use it?

[Gravehearted]

I always make it fresh, since you hopefully need it rarely and in a small quantity. I am guessing I dilute it perhaps 3 parts water to 1 part hydrogen peroxide.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Great thanks! I’ll just keep that on a recipe card in my emergency kit then! Hopefully I will never need it!

[BinkyBunny]

I ditto gravehearted’s suggestion to make sure it’s not mites!

Also, gravehearted and scarlet, I have a question fo you two.  I was told by one vet that hydrogen peroxide was fine to use on abscesses (I used it on Bailey when she had on on her back when I first got her), and it worked well.  But then another vet said it could actually spread the infection into the body.  Both vets are extremely rabbit savvy.  

Have you ever heard of anything about the later (abscess issues only) .  

I think I’ll ask my own vet and see what she says, and if you guys happen to talk to a vet or rabbit expert, could you ask them about this?

[Gravehearted]

I hadn’t heard about the potential problem hydrogen peroxide causing spreading infection, that’s scary! it sounds like it may be safer not to use it than to take the risk.

Binky – did the vet recommend another method for cleaning wounds? I know some people recommend Betadine.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hey Binkbunny, I’ll ask my vet, it’s time to take my two in for their annual physical anyhow, I’ll just put that on my list! Let me know if there is anything else.  

OK in the interim I have a wound first aid memo for myself that says to use, betadine, polyhydroxydine or chlorhexidine solution for minor wounds and also listed is hydrogen peroxide (use diluted). But I am def. making sure to ask my vet!

OK and while we’re at it, I’d like to share my "emergency kit" with everyone and encourage you to make one for yourself too.  I have a plastic box that has the vets card taped to it, the hours and the emergency hours & phone # highlighted.  Inside I have an ointment for wounds, bandage, gauze, styptic powder, flashlight, aloe vera gel, thermometer, saline solution, acidpohilus, two syringes, one for feeding and smaller one for medicine dosing, can of pumpkin, pedialyte, hot water bottle, eyedropper, scissors, tweezers, Rescue Remedy, cotton balls, nail clippers, file, couple of paper towels & Q-tips.

Also, Binkybunny, Gravehearted etc. I was advised by two bunny savvy vets (and one that gave me a hairy eyeball about it) to NEVER use Bag Balm as it can aggrivate the skin on a bunny and make the infection worse or one happen where there was none, not to mention it can be very bad if ingested and and that they had seen many cases of this, not just with bunnies.  Have either of you heard this? If you could ask your vets if you happen to go in sometime that would be great to have additional info.

[Gravehearted]

Glad you shared the contents of your bunny emergency kit, it’s so important to have one. Mine is fairly similar – but I also keep simethecone, critical care and laxatone (mixed recommendations, but one vet gave us a tube). I have aloe vera, but haven’t needed to use it on the buns.

I wouldn’t recommend bag balm either. I keep sylvadine – which is available from the vet or in a pinch I use plain triple antibiotic ointment for boo-boos

[Scarlet_Rose]

Thank you for sharing the contents of your as well! Also, thank you for the input on Bag Balm as well.

[jellyrose]

Hydrogen peroxide is very out of vouge in wound care in humans (I can’t speak for bunny med!), It can cause localised chemical burns if not dilute enough and also it has been found to actually damage or remove epithilal and granulation tissue (the nice red and pink bits that mean healing is occuring) from the wound bed. Best thing for wounds is clean with warm , sterile saline (cold can also damage healing tissue). I wouldn’t like treat a wound with antibiotics unless it appears infected….. over use can create resistant bacteria. My bunny was prescribed silver sulfadiazine cream (used in burns treatment) for an infected bite wound and it seemed to work well.
One of my buns had flakey skin on his ears… my vet recomended treating him for mites any way just to rule it out. And hey presto! Skin is back to normal!

[Scarlet_Rose]

That some great info! I’ll have to look into that. How much silver is in silver sulfadiazine and how much can be absorbed through the skin? Silver can build up in in a human body and discolor skin and cause organ damage. I don’t think I would risk using it on a bunny. But good to keep in mind if a Dr. needs to treat a burn I have.

[Author]

Messages