Orphaned, domestic bunny.

[MissBunns]

Found a baby on the floor under the cages yesterday, he had been lying on the cement for who knows how long, he was cold and had fallen about four feet. I’m amazed that alone didn’t kill him. Anyway I was freaking out so I called to see what to do and was told to throw him away since he’s a premie and will die.

Needless to say…I couldn’t do it. The mom miscarried I guess for the second time, and she just can’t seem to have babies.

I would have thought that yes, he would die, only he was wiggling around on the cement, and in my hand (they’re so tiny…) I raced him home and got kitten milk replacement and mixed the acidophilus I have now in with it. He’s eating, pooping tiny little poops and peeing when I stroke him. We’re keeping everything clean and aren’t touching him.

He’s in a container with lots of shredded paper (to elevate him from the heating pad) with a soft towel covering the paper and cotton and….rabbit fur in the nest.

My brother has always slept with a rabbit hide (friggin disgusting, I know) and so he thought that the baby would like part of it. Is that bad/okay? Is it going to confuse him?

If he is only eating a little bit at a time, is it okay to ever feed them more than twice a day? I don’t think it should be an issue because his appetite is really picking up

Also, I want to try and get colostrum in him…is bovine okay? It’s the only I can seem to find.

Any advice would be awesome…I feel like an unprepared parent. And I’m not exactly the most optimistic person, but I really do believe he will make it. He is just such a fighter it really does blow my mind.

(I’d like to add… It seems like I’m always putting myself in these situations, and I swear I’m not. It just seems lately they come and find me )

[Beka27]

I assume this is at the home of that breeder you’ve been petsitting for? Unfortunately, the outlook is not good with trying to handfeed a newborn bunny.

There are some links for rehabbing orphaned babies:

http://www.rabbit.org/care/babies.html#Feeding_Orphaned_Baby_Rabbits

http://rabbit.org/faq/sections/orphan.html

http://rabbit.org/care/orphan.html

[jerseygirl]

If there are any other Does there that are nursing, you could see if one will foster him/her. Or if you know of any other rabbit that’s had a recent litter. It could the colostrum that way.
Ring an exotics vet maybe to find a suitable colostrum product otherwise.

Did you check around for other babies? Maybe it’s not premmie at all.

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