Rabbit possibly ate oxygen absorber packet

[AltonaAcres]

I found this in my new $100 baby rabbit's cage today. I have NO idea how it got there. I am kind of freaking out, I can't loose this rabbit!! I've had a horrible year animal-wise. Between Mareks, predators, and lots of unsuccessful breeding this rabbit is very important. Anyways, the corners are chewed, and the packet is empty.I ripped open the back to see if there was anything in it still. A little background: we bought several bags of banana chips from Trader Joes to give to my meat rabbits as a treat. These packets were in the bags. I just have no idea of how to packets went from the bags to my rabbits cage that was closed all day. I occasionally gave her a banana chip or two, but I just pulled it out of the bag, and gave it to her, I didn't dump the bag or anything! I checked each chip to make sure it wasn't moldy or anything. However, we have been cleaning out some trash (empty banana chip bags with the oxygen absorber packets, empty rolled oat canisters, etc.) and we left them all in a pile last night. A squirrel has been visiting and this morning I found all the trash scattered around and chewed up. It could be the squirrel ate/chewed this, and somehow made it into my rabbit's hutch, but that would be unlikely. As I said before, her cage was closed all day, but who knows. She is fine currently, eating, drinking etc., her hutch is pretty big so it's hard to tell if she's pooping or not. I'm just really worried!! Suggestions are welcome......

 

[Ebony Rose]

No need to worry. The reason the package says to not eat it, is because it is not food AND it is a choking hazard. There is absolutely nothing toxic in it.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Really? I read it's iron that can erode GI tracts. Am I wrong? I'm crossing my fingers you are right

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

The material most often used inside oxygen absorber packets is iron dust....according to WebMD, poisoning symptoms begin to appear only after eating more than 10 mg of iron per kilogram of body weight. This means that even a small child or animal would need to eat several packets to have any poisoning reaction.

https://healthfully.com/happens-eat-oxygen-absorber-8589475.html

 

[TwoChicksChix]

If you’re very worried you can give the rabbit some activated charcoal as that stops the absorption of most things. That way it’ll just pass through it’s track and be pooped out.

 

[Ebony Rose]

A little bit of rust (seriously it's rust-dust) is not going to hurt. It's not like you feed a half-pound of the stuff.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Here's what was in one that wasn't chewed if this helps.

 

[AltonaAcres]

Thanks for all your help. This rabbit is just so tiny a small amount may harm her.