Rabbit with foot wound

Question
QUESTION: My 2 English lops were outside playing today and both of them got really scraped up.  I don't know if they got into a fight or just were playing too rough.  Each on had one ear with several scratches and one bite.  I cleaned with peroxide and put bacitracin on them.  They are about 10 wks old.
Lexi somehow got a foot laceration on the lateral heal or hock.  When I first noticed it there was a piece of shaving stuck in her foot and blood.  upon pulling the fur away I could see that she has a lac about 1/4 in long.  She also has little bald spots on the hocks hiding under the surrounding hair.  I cut away a little of the fur, then I cleaned the wound really well with water then peroxide, and put a glob of bactracin into the cut and the surrounding fur and on the bald areas.  I am worried because she is in a crate type cage and her feet are going to get dirty.  
I am an RN and would like to do the wound care myself if possible.  The cut did not look deep enough to require a stitch, but I am worried about infection.  I can get Penicillin G and administer it if needed, but don't know the dosing for rabbits by weight.
I was thinking I could get some Coban wrap and bandage it with gauze n ointment, but then I was worried the bunny would chew the dressing and end up with GI issues.  
Please advise as to how I should treat this type of wound

ANSWER: Dear Jenn,

If the bunnies were fighting (which doesn't sound unlikely if both are males at 10 weeks), they should be physically separated until you're sure they're not going to mutilate each other again.  Let them see/smell contact each other through a barrier, but no contact in case of fighting.

Superficial wounds should be washed well with dilute povidone iodine. Peroxide is really too caustic for this, and may cause local necrosis.  Try to clip away as much fur around any wounds as possible, and wash well with the povidone solution.  If the wounds are extensive, they may need suturing, and for this you'll need the help of a good rabbit vet, whom you can find here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I would avoid using ointments, as this can seal in bacteria.  The povidone iodine should do the trick.

I also would not administer antibiotics unless you suspect a puncture wound that could have Clostridium spores in it.  If this is the case, then a shot (NO ORAL PENICILLINS!  DEADLY TO RABBITS!) of Pen-G at a dose of 50,000IU/kg Q 24 hours should prevent problems.  But if the wounds are open and aerobic, then I would not give the Pen-G.

If there is even the *remote* possibility that these wounds were caused by a cat attack, then the rabbits must be seen by a good rabbit vet and given fluoroquinolone antibiotics to prevent systemic Pasteurella infection.  This must be done within a few hours of the attack.

It would be best to have a good vet look over both bunnies, and at that time you can schedule the neuters.  Rabbits can be neutered as soon as the testicles descend, and this will make re-bonding them possible, if this was a fight.

I hope they will be fine soon.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My bunnies are both female and are bonded sisters, so I don't think they were fighting...they spend most of their time grooming eachother if anything.  I dont intend to spay them as they will be shown and most likely bred eventually.  
Lexi's heal is scabbed over well today.  I cut some more of the fur away and cleaned it again.  I will get iodine to use.  So, should I not cover with a bandage then?  
Also, What are the best signs to look for in case of infection?

Answer
Dear Jenn,

Even bonded bunnies can sometimes fight.  And it would actually be medically better if it were the bunnies fighting than if a predator inflicted these wounds.  Before you breed them, please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/breeding.html

You don't need to cover the wounds if they are not deep. (If they're deep, they need veterinary attention!)  Just keep them clean and dry, and let them scab over.  Nature's bandage.

Signs of superficial infection include redness, swelling, pus, tenderness.  But if this was a cat attack, then there is the real danger of systemic infection, and by the time a bunny shows signs of this (lethargy, inappetence, "floppiness", high fever, etc.) it may be too late to save her.  For this reason it is *imperative* that fluoroquinolone antibiotics be administered as soon as humanly possible in the case of a known cat attack.

I hope they will be fine.

Dana