Baby Bunny! Please help??

[xiwishtoloveyou]

Hi There I am Dottie, and I’m new to BB, get to know me by reading my profile. Anyway my babygirl Alice I just got her was from what I think was weaned too early from her mother (I got her from a petshop). She has attached herself to my boyfriend, and I very quickly, and even cries while we’re at school (high school students ). We spend all day with her, but she has a hard time eating, and drinking. My question is what kind of milk could I give her to help her put some food in her? Thank you.

[LBJ10]

How old is she? I don’t think you need to do any sort of milk replacement. That would be for baby babies. What are you feeding her now? What does she have for water (bottle or bowl)?

[kamdynandsunshinesmom]

like lbj10 said you should give her any milk here is a great website to look at http://rabbit.org/faq-diet/

[Fox]

If you want to use milk, I’ve used Kitten Milk Replacement, and added in extra calcium, and it worked fine(:

[Roberta]

Hi Dottie,
Early weening is a big concern but even babies will nibble pellets and hay from 4 weeks old… Did the pets shop tell you her age ?
I would see if you can get to the vets as I am concerned there may be underlying issues if she is not eating. It is also good to have a base line check when you first get them so your vet has something to compare to in the future. Your vet will also be able to provide the correct supplemental formula if needed. Mean while you could also try mixing some age appropriate pellets into a paste. If she is still not eating this is becoming urgent and I would not delay at getting her to a rabbit savvy vet.

[Roberta]

Is she taking any hay ?

[xiwishtoloveyou]

Wow, thanks guys for the replies. Honestly? I think she is at least 6 weeks old. She nibbles at her food, but doesn’t really eat enough to do anything, and her water intake is extremely minimal (from a large bunny bottle) I even put her in front of it, and put my finger on the ball and showed how the water comes out. She eats a really good pellet mix, and she is experimenting with apples (no seeds), Timothy hay (with fruit in it mango usually), small thin slices of carrot, a 50/50 lettuce, spinach and romaine mix, and couliflour. I’m a vegetarian, and my family eats organic foods.. so it’s all fresh.

@Fox what kind of extra calcium? Like for people?

@Roberta The petshop is a mom and pop shop not really where I would buy a pet, but this little bunny was there, and the only white one.. and has really unique markings.. I had to have her, and I knew she was young because her feet are extremely small, and her teeth are starting to cause her to teethe in the back. They had tried to tell me she was nine weeks, but usually that shop will tell you things to make you happy -_-. Like I said I’m pretty sure she is at max 6 weeks. I already do have a vet that did a really fabulous job with my hedgehog so i guess if the milk doesn’t work i’ll take her in.

[Roberta]

Ooo-Kay… First flag is the term pellet mix….. Those packed mixes are BAD for your bun. They are full of crap and have minimal nutrition. It is tantamount to raising a child on a diet of crisps and candy. You want a PLAIN good quality pellet. If it’s mixed with corn and grains etc its garbage. Your bun is too young to have a large range of fruit and greens yet, it will play havoc with her stomach. My babies had greens early but only because they were raised with Mum and Dad and they stole little pieces of the basil and parsley. Cauliflour is to heavy for a baby. Go Back To The Basics… A good quality alfalfa hay or timothy without the fruit. A plain pellet, preferably one of tghe Ox bow for young rabbits and one-two kinds of leafy green. In fact she could probably go without the leafy green for another few weeks. As to greens when she is ready, check out the food list on the diet page. Kale, Parsley, Basil, Rocket, Dill. Bok Choy, English Spinach, Cilantro. No Ice Berg Lettuce.
As to the milk I would ensure it is the right thing first… At 6 weeks she needs a balanced diet and should not require milk supplements. If she has food issues then another supplement like critical care may be more appropriate.

[kamdynandsunshinesmom]

Try offering her water in a bowl. My bunnies drink more water when it is a bowl rather than in a bottle. I agree with Roberta rabbits that young should be having a lot of veggies and fruits. I feed my bunnies oxbow rabbit food and hay http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=16618 pellets and hay http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=17281 there hay is the best and there pellets are fantastic I personally have tried other brands and my bunnies only do good on oxbow. Hope this helps

[Roberta]

Posted By kamdynandsunshinesmom on 04/12/2013 09:46 AM

Try offering her water in a bowl. My bunnies drink more water when it is a bowl rather than in a bottle. I agree with Roberta rabbits that young should be having a lot of veggies and fruits. I feed my bunnies oxbow rabbit food and hay http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=16618 pellets and hay http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=17281 there hay is the best and there pellets are fantastic I personally have tried other brands and my bunnies only do good on oxbow. Hope this helps

 

Urm, I think you mean… “should NOT be having a lot of veggies and fruit”

[LBJ10]

Oh wow! You don’t need milk if she is at least 6 weeks. Yes it was early to be weaned, but baby bunnies also start eating solid foods at 4 weeks (as Roberta said). I think you would do better by giving her an age-appropriate diet. Try some alfalfa hay and a quality pellet. It’s too soon for fruit and veggies, especially so many of them. If she refuses to drink from a bottle, try a bowl. Some people have much more luck with bowls.

[BinkyBunny]

You had mentioned she cries while you are away. Did I misunderstand that? What do you mean? What kind of noises. There may be something else wrong.
I always advise anyone, with any new animal companion, to set up an appointment with a vet any way right away for a general exam to spot any issues that you may not be aware of or to give a good clean bill of health to start off with. You did say you had a vet you trusted and so I encourage you to seek a vet regardless.

She is a bit too young for fruits and veggies HRS recommends slowly introducing these things at 12 weeks. Right now she should be on a good non-junky pellet (no seeds, dried fruits etc). Just alfalfa based unlimited pellets and hay (which can be alfalfa too, but you can mix in Timothy, Orchard ect)

Please see http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html#babies for detailed feeding instructions and what food changes can be made at what age.

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