:Xany tips on hand rearing kits, the doe died when they were 1 week old and I've been looking after them ever since, there are six of them and 3 are thriving but today 3 seem to be taking a turn for the worst, they are feeding but after they do, they just sit it one spot panting and hardly able to move, after a couple of hours they were moving normaly again but when I fed them again the same thing happened, Im getting really worried, any help please
hand rearing kits (not going so well)
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naturestee
Well-Known Member
*moved to the Rabbitry*
Hi. I'm actually going through the exact same thing right now, although my babies were seriously malnourished when they were given to me (raising them at request of the owner). I've never done this before, so please bear that in mind.
How old are they now? What exactly are you feeding them? There's no good replacement for rabbit milk. I'm currently using puppy milk with colostrum and I add heavy cream to it to increase the fat. My vet said that's a good recipe but another good one is half goat milk, half kitten milk, plus colostrum and cream. There are a few ready-made milk products made for rehabing cottontails although they're never right there when you need them and have to be special ordered.
Also, do you warm the milk up for the babies or are you feeding it cold? Cold/room temp milk might make them feel poorly as they're too young to keep themselves totally warm on their own.
Hi. I'm actually going through the exact same thing right now, although my babies were seriously malnourished when they were given to me (raising them at request of the owner). I've never done this before, so please bear that in mind.
How old are they now? What exactly are you feeding them? There's no good replacement for rabbit milk. I'm currently using puppy milk with colostrum and I add heavy cream to it to increase the fat. My vet said that's a good recipe but another good one is half goat milk, half kitten milk, plus colostrum and cream. There are a few ready-made milk products made for rehabing cottontails although they're never right there when you need them and have to be special ordered.
Also, do you warm the milk up for the babies or are you feeding it cold? Cold/room temp milk might make them feel poorly as they're too young to keep themselves totally warm on their own.
BlueGiants
Well-Known Member
Do you have a heating pad under them? How warm are you keeping them? (It may be too warm.) Also, are you feeding with a nipple and bottle or feeding syringe? Make sure you do not allow them to get any formula in their nose. Inhaling the formula into their lungs will cause pneumonia...
How are they doing today?
How are they doing today?
Hi I am using puppy milk and I warm it before giving it to them, I've had them from they were one week old and I started feeded them with a shyringe but have moved on to a bottle now, I ended up back at the vets with them cause I was that worried but it seems three had forgotten how to suck properly and that was the problem, sadly one of thelittle guys didn't make it, the one that passed got fluid in his lungs, the other two are improving now with help,one is sucking properly now , the other can suck for most of his feeds now maybe once a day he still has a problem
