amh
New Member
Forgive my ignorance but I do not have any other option but to beg for assistance on a rabbit forum as no wildlife rehabber has returned my calls. I know I am not supposed to be doing this, I know the mortality rate is over 90% and they rarely survive human "help" but if/when they die, at least I know they were fed/warm for the last few days of their short life.
I have two surviving baby cottontail rabbits approx 3 weeks old, not sure exactly how to tell their age. They both have the white markings on top of their heads but one mark is smaller than the other. Both about 4" long and eyes open when this happened last week. The nest/den was destroyed by the mower last Tuesday evening. I rebuilt it right away (after online search about what to do) with dead grass and the mom's fur I raked from the yard and put 3 living ones back inside (buried three dead ones on other side of garage) but the next morning the sticks had not moved and one was dead.
The two I have were very dehydrated, the skin on their necks did not bounce back when I checked the following morning.I brought them in and gave them Pedilyte Wed. am until I could get to the store. Starting Wed. eve, I have been giving them equal amounts of powdered KMR and powdered goat milk with a tablespoon of heavy whipping cream for more fat. I only feed them early morning and late evening,and again late but before bed if they want any. I tried a pet nurser and syringe but they do best with a rubber bulb syringe (like you use for babies). I sterilize after each feeding. I feed until belly feels full but is not distended. If they are done, I do not force it on them.
They are urinating and defecating on their own,diarrhea one time the first day and not sure which one. I have them in the master bedroom in a large box with heating pad on low in half the box (bedroom is cold) and I keep it covered with a towel unless I am feeding them. I also put in dead grass and paper towel shreds that I change daily.
I know they will probably not survive but cannot put them back outsideas we live in the country with lots of predators, they are not food! I have done feline rescue for orphaned kittens for many years, did a TNR feral cat program for a few yearsand I have also been a nurse for 20 years. If they make it, I will release them.At this point, they have both lived longer than I expected as I have had them for a full week and they IMO, are doing well.
Now my question: one is very active, kicking about, wiggling while trying to feed it, hopping about in the box and trying tojump out. The other is alive but lies on its side all the time and when I sit it up, it cannot keepbalance for very long.Over the last few days, it can now hold balance for a minute or two and moves forward if I make a "tunnel" with my hands. Once I put my hands down, it falls over.It can move all legs by itself and has no obvious injury.Eyes clear, nose/mouth pink and moist. It moves around in the box by scooting on its side, usually up against the sides of the box or the other bunny (they snuggle). Head does not appear tilted, it can move it in both directions and I do not see any discharge or mites in the ears.
I do not know why or what could be wrong because I have no bunny experience.
I cannot find a wildlife vet within 100 miles but found a rabbit vet within driving distance if you think they could help. Do you have any suggestions? I think (but what do I know) it may be neurological possibly from birth. If it is and it will not get any better, I will have it euthanized because I cannot keep a wild rabbit as a pet nor can I release it if it cannot fend for itself. I plan to release the one doing well in another week if I can get it to take water from a dish (no luck with that yet, it just makes a mess of it).
I looked in some of the other threads before posting but I do not know what I am looking for therefore the titles do me no good at all.
Thank you for any/all responses. I will check back in the morning before work.
amh
I have two surviving baby cottontail rabbits approx 3 weeks old, not sure exactly how to tell their age. They both have the white markings on top of their heads but one mark is smaller than the other. Both about 4" long and eyes open when this happened last week. The nest/den was destroyed by the mower last Tuesday evening. I rebuilt it right away (after online search about what to do) with dead grass and the mom's fur I raked from the yard and put 3 living ones back inside (buried three dead ones on other side of garage) but the next morning the sticks had not moved and one was dead.
The two I have were very dehydrated, the skin on their necks did not bounce back when I checked the following morning.I brought them in and gave them Pedilyte Wed. am until I could get to the store. Starting Wed. eve, I have been giving them equal amounts of powdered KMR and powdered goat milk with a tablespoon of heavy whipping cream for more fat. I only feed them early morning and late evening,and again late but before bed if they want any. I tried a pet nurser and syringe but they do best with a rubber bulb syringe (like you use for babies). I sterilize after each feeding. I feed until belly feels full but is not distended. If they are done, I do not force it on them.
They are urinating and defecating on their own,diarrhea one time the first day and not sure which one. I have them in the master bedroom in a large box with heating pad on low in half the box (bedroom is cold) and I keep it covered with a towel unless I am feeding them. I also put in dead grass and paper towel shreds that I change daily.
I know they will probably not survive but cannot put them back outsideas we live in the country with lots of predators, they are not food! I have done feline rescue for orphaned kittens for many years, did a TNR feral cat program for a few yearsand I have also been a nurse for 20 years. If they make it, I will release them.At this point, they have both lived longer than I expected as I have had them for a full week and they IMO, are doing well.
Now my question: one is very active, kicking about, wiggling while trying to feed it, hopping about in the box and trying tojump out. The other is alive but lies on its side all the time and when I sit it up, it cannot keepbalance for very long.Over the last few days, it can now hold balance for a minute or two and moves forward if I make a "tunnel" with my hands. Once I put my hands down, it falls over.It can move all legs by itself and has no obvious injury.Eyes clear, nose/mouth pink and moist. It moves around in the box by scooting on its side, usually up against the sides of the box or the other bunny (they snuggle). Head does not appear tilted, it can move it in both directions and I do not see any discharge or mites in the ears.
I do not know why or what could be wrong because I have no bunny experience.
I cannot find a wildlife vet within 100 miles but found a rabbit vet within driving distance if you think they could help. Do you have any suggestions? I think (but what do I know) it may be neurological possibly from birth. If it is and it will not get any better, I will have it euthanized because I cannot keep a wild rabbit as a pet nor can I release it if it cannot fend for itself. I plan to release the one doing well in another week if I can get it to take water from a dish (no luck with that yet, it just makes a mess of it).
I looked in some of the other threads before posting but I do not know what I am looking for therefore the titles do me no good at all.
Thank you for any/all responses. I will check back in the morning before work.
amh
