Very sick baby rabbit, please help!! We think it’s headtilt.

[GabyKate]

We had a couple rabbits and were just given 2 more (a breeding pair of dwarfs) by a neighbor who was moving. We did not want to breed them and they were kept separate when in our care but the female was already pregnant when we got her. She had babies about a month and a half ago, there were 2.

Today we found the smaller bunny laying down shaking and he can’t keep his head up and he won’t eat and he won’t nurse and he keeps trying to jump but falling. He’s lethargic and his head is bobbing. He looks very ill. We don’t know what to do. We have no money at all for a vet, as awful as that sounds. We took these bunnies is as a favor because we already had a few and had experience with them before. Now I see we shouldn’t have done it, but I thought they’d be better off with us than left at some shelter as we are pretty loving pet owners and give them attention and love every day. We had one sick rabbit before and spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars that we did not have on surgeries to help him, and he died anyway a few days later and my mother and I haven’t heard the end of it from her husband. We called rescues and none would help him. We don’t know what else to do. We think he has Head Tilt.

How do we get him to eat? Should I try to bottle-feed him? I have some experience with that as i’ve saved a few dying wild bunnies before, but more often than not the bunnies did not make it and I don’t want to be the cause of this baby’s demise. Do I take it to get put down or let him pass on his own? I can’t stand the thought of that…. There has to be some solution or treatment. I can’t get him to eat anything. Please give me some advice on what to do here.

[jerseygirl]

Oh gosh! This must be very difficult for you to be seeing. At 6 weeks old they probably are not taking milk as much now. I think trying to gently get some water into him would be an idea to start.

Hopefully some other members will post soon with more helpful information.

[jerseygirl]

Is he feeling colder then usual?

[Beka27]

He does need to see a vet. If it is head tilt, the vet will prescribe medication.

[MoveDiagonally]

Taking him to vet is really my only advice.

If you can’t afford treatment can you surrender the mother and babies to a rescue? I know it’s not ideal but it would be a way for them to get vet care. 

[bunnylova123]

Try these links if you haven’t found them already http://www.imom.org/ http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html
http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/financial-help-vet-bills.aspx

[Author]

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