Dr. Guthrum Purdin, Veterinatian

Desert Cottontail Release, Photo by Brittany Moser

Late in January, a Desert Cottontail Rabbit was found with his head stuck under a fence and brought to a local vet clinic. The doctors there gave him some IV fluids and he was quickly transferred to our wildlife hospital’s ICU. When the Cottontail first arrived at CWC, he was highly stressed and disoriented with a swollen face. There was also a small wound behind the left ear. Initially looking very ill, the Rabbit was given oxygen and moved to a warm incubator until stable enough for a thorough exam.

Rabbits have very sensitive, fragile skin and getting trapped like this can be very damaging. The pressure directly injures skin and muscle cells, but even worse, it restricts blood flow which can lead to a spreading necrosis or death of the surrounding tissue. It may take several days for the full extent of the injury to develop. Antibiotics, pain control, and anti-inflammatory medication were started, the wound was cleaned and dressed. By this time, he was standing and looking much brighter. The Cottontail was set up in a comfortable warm enclosure for the night and we settled in to wait and see how the injury would progress.

By the next morning, his appetite was great. He was up and alert, and actively trying to run away from his caregivers—just like a Rabbit is supposed to. As the days passed, and as feared, the injury behind the ear got larger and two big new wounds developed on the middle of the head and the back of the neck. The original wound was especially deep, and there was concern the Rabbit might lose his ear. During surgery, the dead tissue was all removed and afterwards, pain control meds increased.

Fortunately, rabbit skin, while fragile, heals incredibly fast. The wounds were cleaned and disinfected at first daily, then every other day, then once every three days. The Cottontail was scarfing up his food, scampering away when people checked on him, and generally looking like everything was normal, despite the severity of his injuries. It took less than four weeks for this rabbit to go from looking like he was at death’s door to being fully recovered and able to be released. Amazing! If you find yourself in Woodland Hills and see a Desert Cottontail Rabbit out nibbling grass in a field, it might be this very one. Good luck, little bunny…and stay clear of fences!