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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum DIET & CARE Caring for a Dangerously Weak (Domestic) Baby

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    • Sakura-Constealltion
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        Our black four and a half month old American (I believe, I do not know for sure), Candy, had a litter. This was not intentional on our part, we had gotten her from a breeder, she might of been an accidental breeding, but we had no clue until we found five little ones in her cage. This is what we have done and are doing for the little guy.

        He was thrown from the cage (which was off the ground until now) on the first day, he was the same size as all the others before the real trouble began. Ever since then, he gets pushed away, thrown out of the cage, separated from the litter (until now), beaten up, unfed, not groomed, and more. He stays with the litter now, gaining heat, but will not be fed by his mother.

        Today they’re six days old, but we have one who is dangerously weak, noticing this around day three. We gotten Candy to force feed him, and he was okay. Day five, he wasn’t doing too good, he was out on the edge of the now massive cuddle party getting cold. We sprang into action to help the little guy, who I named Seizon.

        His stomach was completely sunken in when we first started this formula, but he is slowly getting plumper. Our closest Rabbit Professional is 2 1/2 hours away, this will factor in later on.


        Feeding

        ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE FEEDING & HANDLING

        Formula (This is what I use, and I find it works well):

        Tablespoon of 100% Heavy Whipping Cream (no sugar)
        3-4 Tablespoons of Goat Milk (Vary by what you think appropriate)

        (body temperature is fine, but I found that a temperature a little higher is what he enjoys, it depends on the rabbit.)

        I found this online, and I found that at first, Seizon wouldn’t accept it. After persisting, having more energy than him as well, he finally gave in and took the formula. He was too weak to suckle or move by himself, so we had to put little drops on his lips and had him lick it up, or get a baby spoon and have him gently lap it up from the edge, not the tip, tilting it at an ever so slight angle so that when he lapped he would get what he could when he wanted to.

        If your rabbit is too weak to suckle, you may have to resort to something like this!

        Do NOT try to fill them up at first, we found that trying to fill them up wasn’t going to work, they will fill about a third of themselves before stopping. If this happens, don’t worry, let the little one have what they want, help them by using the bathroom (later on) and make sure they get warm.

        You want to repeatedly check up on them if they are extremely weak and cold, barely moving is when you should spend an hour or so with the little one to make sure they are safe, warm, and okay. Find a schedule that is not only fitting for you, but something you can stick to. 

        At the next feeding time, you may notice your little rabbit is a tad bit livelier than before, you are doing good if this is your case! If he starts to struggle a little bit, crawl for a heat source, actively trying to “eat” your hand, or any movement they weren’t doing before, feed them almost the equivalent what they had at the last meal, and try to increase it if they’re livelier.

        Their stomach will still be sunken, but they will be noticeably plumper than before, so do not panic and be gentle and patient.

        Because I go to school, I cannot check up on Seizon at midday, if you can check up on your rabbits at midday, you should definitely do it! When I get back, which is around four in the afternoon for me, I will give him a drop or two of honey. EVERY OTHER DAY is my rule. I don’t want to over do it, or hurt him, so a drop is what I usually give him every other day. He takes the drop after a bit of coaxing, make sure to clean them up if you do this, they can get it all over their fur which is sticky, so carefully clean it similar to how helping them go to the bathroom is.

        Bathroom

        This is important, if you skip this step, you will NOT help your little rabbit, make sure you do this after every MAJOR feeding!

        Getting a q-tip or cotton swab DAMP with water is essential, it is a rabbit tongue mimic. Rabbit pee isn’t the best smelling thing out there, but it’s important for these little guys to go, keep a paper towel or something you’re willing to sacrifice, under their little bottom. This is where you find out if you can really save your little bunny, so make sure to do this so you can continue with the little one.

        Take the damp “tongue” and gently move it in a counter-clockwise motion over the lower stomach and the genitals. Keep doing this until the rabbit starts to pee, it may take five seconds to a minute, but you have to do this, or the rabbit’s bladder will burst, killing the rabbit.

        THE NEXT BIT OF INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT, SO PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOUR BUNNY STARTS TO PEE!

        If the pee is shades of yellow and green, you can continue on with your schedule and keep helping your bunny to get to good health!

        If the pee is shades of brown or doesn’t look right, you MUST take the rabbit to a rabbit specialist, the rabbit is dehydrated and needs treatment SOON. Our rabbit specialist is nearly 3 hours away, but thankfully, Seizon had normal coloration.

        Housing/Heating

        Your rabbit needs to stay warm, and safe. If you can take your rabbit with you to work (adults) to keep an eye on them and leave them in a nest, then do it, this may help the little one live.

        If you need to quickly heat the little one for a moment (and if they have larger litter mates), I suggest getting a blanket, sitting with your legs crossed, blanket draped over your legs, and putting the one in need of heating in the part that will sink if there’s any weight. Put the siblings on top of the little one, but do it carefully. They should heat up significantly, so do this while someone cleans out the nest box or prepare the formula, or anything along those lines. This is just for a quick heat, keep on of the larger babies with the rabbit so they can cuddle up together, and have a warm bottle of water (covered in a towel), and put it with them. keep the others in the nest box, and the two and “cuddle buddy” separate from the others.

        For the larger sibling you take, at night, make sure to put the sibling back with the litter, it’s obviously being fed. Keep the sibling fed with the others while you care for the little one!

        To house this little one, if the mother will allow it (like ours), you can keep them with the litter. If they’re regaining strength, they will fight to get into the large pile, if they won’t fight to get into the pile, you must do as I suggested for heating, but as I said above, at night, put the sibling back, and if possible, the little one. 

        If you can’t house them with the litter, make a nest box. Get some of the mother’s fur, paper bedding (for any chances if the baby pees by themselves, it’s happened for me). Under the nest box, if you have a heating pad, put it on LOW, and under half of the box so the little one can decide if they had enough heat (which is unlikely). That is pretty much it for housing and heating.

        If there are any formulas that you know definitely work, I will add them above, I’ve heard mixed things about KMR so I didn’t put it alongside the one I use. Seizon has gotten a little fatter and stronger, this is what I am doing for him, so hopefully, it works for you too! Have a good day!


      • BanditCamp
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          Good post


        • sarahthegemini
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            Whipped cream and goat’s milk???


          • Bam
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              Thank you, Sakura Constellation! These are very good and helpful tips!

              sarahthegemini, the whipping cream isn’t to be whipped, just fed warmed up in a bottle with the goat’s milk: http://www.arcforwildlife.com/bunnies.htm


            • sarahthegemini
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                I thought bunnies couldn’t have dairy? Sorry I’m very confused, I don’t know a thing about raising a litter lol.


              • Crashley
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                  Keep us posted on the little rejected baby bunny, to sad!


                • Mikey
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                    Definitely keep us updated on the little one! This post is great for information! My mom and I had to rescue/rehab/release a little one just like this, almost identical situation. Keep up the amazing work!


                  • Bam
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                      We’d love further reports about this little guy!

                      Sarah, weaned buns shouldn’t have dairy. But all mammals are born with the ability to digest their mother’s milk or milk that resembles it. But that ability ceases when the bun is weaned because then body stops making the enzymes necessary for breaking down dairy. It’s the same with dogs.


                    • sarahthegemini
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                        Posted By bam on 4/12/2017 2:53 PM

                        We’d love further reports about this little guy!

                        Sarah, weaned buns shouldn’t have dairy. But all mammals are born with the ability to digest their mother’s milk or milk that resembles it. But that ability ceases when the bun is weaned because then body stops making the enzymes necessary for breaking down dairy. It’s the same with dogs.

                        Oh I see! Y’know I totally forgot that babies naturally take their mother’s milk  Thank you for explaining it to me


                      • Sakura-Constealltion
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                          To everyone:

                          Sadly, Seizon did not survive today. After a couple of days of him gaining his strength back and getting a little fatter, I believe he was just a little too far past saving. This morning, when going to feed him, he didn’t have the strength to lap up the drop I put on the side of his mouth, he was cold, barely moving, and barely sleeping. He also had bite marks all over him, probably from Candy. She hasn’t mistreated any of the others (which we haven’t name, we named Seizon because we didn’t think he would last long), and they’re doing fine. I’m using the formula to top off what they get in the morning as they started to have bellies that looked a little less fuller than normal. Seizon turned a week old during his last night. 


                        • Mikey
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                            Poor baby Glad the others are doing alright, though; that is always good

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                        Forum DIET & CARE Caring for a Dangerously Weak (Domestic) Baby