Help pls re: 5 day old bunnies?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 7sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 7 months ago by skunklionshow.

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- 05/05/2007 at 6:46 PM
  Flo
  Participant
  22 posts
  Flo our dwarflop gave birth 5days ago to 7 bunnies, 4 look strong healthy and well fed, 3 look skinny not as responsive but still very much alive. How can i help these 3 bunnies or should i just let nature take its course. The small 3 bunnies are at bottom of nest was thinking of trying to manouvere them 2 the top, my thought was mayb they were getting pushed to the bottom at feeding time? Would appreciate ur thoughts?
- 05/06/2007 at 10:52 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  This is a subject I am still learning about as I really don’t know more than just some very basics on newborn bunny care. I am seeing a rabbit savvy vet in the morning, and I have printed out your question and will ask and get back to you. If you find an answer elsewhere please share as I always want to continue learning.
- 05/07/2007 at 5:20 AM
  Flo
  Participant
  22 posts
  Am very sorry to inform u binky bunny but when i checked the nest after work tonight there were only 5 kits 2 had deceased another 1 looks frail, hoping u get some info for me shortly didnt even get a chance to hand feed if that was a possibility they died within 24hrs of noticing trouble. Am devastated.
- 05/07/2007 at 10:33 AM
  Gravehearted
  Participant
  2428 posts
  Flo, I am so sorrry to hear about the bunnies. It can be very difficult for baby bunnies to survive.
  Here is an article about caring for young baby bunnies. Some of the basic things it includes are ensuring to keep the bunnies warm and how you can tell if the babies may be in danger.
  
  http://www.rabbit.org/care/babies.html
- 05/07/2007 at 7:09 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Awww, I’m so sorry Flo for the loss. I know it’s not abnormal to have runts that may not survive, but I know it’s hard to know if they could have if some intervention was given. Because of some other things going on, I will be seeing the vet tomorrow, but I know that may be too late.
  
  I don’t know where you live, but do you have any rabbit rescues or rabbit savvy vets near you?
  
  When I search around the internet, I do get conflicting information – like supplement the mother’s milk with a special mixture, but then others say that you have to be so very careful because you can actually suffocate them doing this. So I think it’s best to find a vet professional who knows about rabbits. And even a breeder may be able to help guide you.
  
  You can also ask on Etherbun http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/etherbun/ , I did a quick search for answers, but it may be better for you to ask you specific question. They are a get down to business type of forum which is great for urgent medical concerns.
  
  I just went to the House Rabbit Society chatroom, and got someone who also advised you speak to a vet since this is your first time.
  
  I’ll send healthy vibes the third struggling bunny’s way.
- 05/07/2007 at 7:31 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  UPDATE:
  
  Okay so another person came on the HRS chat , who said they have experience with newborns, and this is what they did with the skinny ones: You can also go to the chat (hopefully someone knowledgable will be there when you’re there http://www.rabbit.org/cgi-bin/chat/chat2.cgi
  
  She said:
  
  "well this is what i tried i got the mom oput and covered her eyes and let the babies drink and hold the mom tight with your other hand to make sure she dosnt trample them…… "
  
  i then asked the person if they knew when to feed, their answer:
  i just noticed that they wre following the mom too much but if you want a time it should be 2in themorn or 5 in the afternoon
  
  I asked them how long they should be fed, their response:
  1 min should be enough for them
  
  Now again, since I am not an expert, but I know you are sort of in an emergency situation, this is what I could come up with so far. But if it all possible, seek out a rabbit savvy vet to get expert advice regarding this subject.
  
  ARRG – don’t know why everything is forced aqua type now, but whatever. I’ve also emailed you the address of someone who said they would be able to give you advice.
- 05/07/2007 at 10:02 PM
  Flo
  Participant
  22 posts
  Binky Bunny, Gravehearted, thank you from the bottom of my heart for trying to help me with Flo’s babies. I have got onto another website in the interim which has advised me to remove healthy kits from nest keep warm and take Flo to nest and see if she will nurse weaker kits on there own. Not sure if Flo will run with this as she is her own bunny!! but will give it a whirl other than that they suggest dropper feeding with kitten milk like gravehearted but that can be hard and not without its own risks.
  Thanks again I will keep u posted.
- 05/08/2007 at 4:04 PM
  skunklionshow
  Participant
  1257 posts
  Sorry…but I wish I had some sound advice for you. I lost all 5 of Jessica’s babies in less than a week. My biggest advice is to make sure you don’t over-warm the nest. I believe that this contributed to our babies’ deaths. B/c it can be difficult to tell if a bun is nursing (it is done once a day), I’d recommend what I used to do w/ foster kittens/mamas…I used a food scale and monitored their daily weights. B/c nursing infants gain weight daily, it is a good measurement tool to ensure growth is occuring.
  
  Good Luck and lots of good baby vibes!
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