Abandoned Babies -- urgent

[sweep]

Hi,

Today after work we found baby rabbits scattered around the hutch. One was dead, six alive, and one critical. We think their mother may have abandoned the litter (as they all had empty stomachs etc). The babies still have their ears and eyes closed but have a coat of fur.

We managed to revive the critical one (it was dark purple and unresponsive), however it seems a little too weak too feed. What can we do? I am worried that by suppliment feeding I may induce diarrhoea which at this stage may be fatal. If we should supplement feed, what should we give them? it is after hours so I will need the grocery store.

 

[Meeky242]

The only thing i can suggest but it may not be appropriate in this situation is maybe make up some SOY (Can't tress enough that it's soy) Human Infant Formula and feed it to the to get some fluids and sustenance in their stomachs as this is what we do for baby rats but again. I'm no bun expert so I'm not sure what effects it might have if any?

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

You need to start them on kitten formula. Or even better if the doe will allow you to hold her while she nurses the kits. Maybe fix her a big salad and while she is eating slid one kit at a time under her for a few minutes each. Or if you can trance her then let the kits nurse. But if not then kitten formula is your best bet.... Good luck

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

ray: Praying for you and the buns.
^^Yeah I_heart_fraggles has a good idea with giving her some food and sliding one under.

 

[Maureen Las]

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/orphan.html

 

[Nancy McClelland]

My suggestion is the same a President Fraggles.

 

[sweep]

We gave them a feed of Goats milk and transferred them inside with the mother. The mother doesn't seem to be lactating (we even tried to milk her). I had an offer from a friend to put the kits under her friends doe for a feed, will this work?

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

If the other doe will allow it then sure. Rabbits milk is rabbits milk. How are they all doing? I would still go with the kitten formula if you can't get them under a doe.

 

[sweep]

They still seem underweight, the one in critical condition seems much better. There is a big difference in sizes - to me this suggests the mother may not have been producing much milk the whole time. They become very active when disturbed.

 

[Maureen Las]

I_heart_Fraggles wrote:

If the other doe will allow it then sure. Rabbits milk is rabbits milk. How are they all doing? I would still go with the kitten formula if you can't get them under a doe.

best would be to go with the other doe

 

[golfdiva]

FWIW: I have a friend that has raised many abandoned baby rabbits. She prefers goat's milk to kitten replacement formula.

 

[sweep]

The option for the other doe fell through (her kits were too old thus the breeder thought she may reject ours). She did suggest adding egg yolk to whole goats milk with 1tsp of molasses and a few drops of vitamin supplement, does that sound okay to you guys?

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

That's sounds like a good formula. The critical one might be a runt. Is there anyway to do with this other doe what was mentioned before and distract her with food while you sneak the babies under her for a feed.

 

[sweep]

The runt was dead, the critical one fell into a hole when the nest disbanded and was hypothermic. There are three large and three tiny kits. The breeder didn't seem responsive to the idea of milking or force feeding from the doe..

 

[Maureen Las]

How are the babies doing. I have never cared for an orphaned litter, however, I do know that it is a difficult task and that the formula can be somewhat complex ( as described in Dana krempels article).