Cottontail Rescue Hard Poops no urine

[Saving The Least of These]

Hi Guys,

15 years ago rescued 2 eye closed bunnies caught by cat.  Rest of nest killed.  No rehabber would take til eyes open.  Otherwise, kill them.  I raised both bunnies, KMR plus Human grade Probios and warm water.  Fed 4 times per day.  Turned over to rehabber at 2 weeks old (soonest they would take them).  Bunnies eventually released to bunny sanctuary.

Typing as new baby, Buster Brown, approx 9-10 days old, is in one hand against chest.  Forgive cript sentences.  No bunny rescue/rehabber available.  Buster was approx 3 days old when I pulled him out of dogs mouth.  No wounds.  Board horses, owner will not lock up dogs.  Nest destroyed, other siblings eaten.

My question is this.  Had no problem stimulating fist recues to pee.  Buster will not.  Warm Finger dipped in warm water, q-tip, puffs plus kleenex dipped in warm water, holding his hiney under warm running tap and stimulating with finger…nothing.  Have had Buster for a week.  His droppings are hard little round balls, yellow in color.  I can’t find any soiled spots on paper towel under soft fleece box lining.  No spots on white fleece either.  

Am feeding him 1 part heavy non sweetened whipping cream, 3 parts KMR, 4 parts a combination of water and Pedialite.  Human Probios from capsules… about 1/6 of capsule per feeding.  Forgive Spelling.  Buster weighed 54 grams this am.

Can these droppings be urine?  If so, wouldn’t poo pellets look different.  All tiny light yellow, light brown mix look alike.  They are hard when they come out.  Those he will give up with stimulation and drops tons by himself.

Have exhausted Internet searching for info about baby poo while being rehabed….

Anyone???

r

[MountainBuns]

Has he been drinking? Contact a vet as well, he needs medical attention. I wasn’t very sure about what you said, Are these bunnies wild? What is their diet like?

[Saving The Least of These]

Yes, He is a wild cotton tail.  Probably 2-3 days old when I rescued him out of a dogs mouth.  Have had him for a week.  I think the stress of the vet exam would kill him.  They are extremely fragile.  I tried to feed him once when I hadn’t showered with Dove soap and he started shreaking like he was when the dog had him.  He completely freaked out.  Peed pretty good then…  was heart breaking.  He has peed a few times.  It really isn’t not wanting to pay a vet… I am sure the stress would kill him. 

I have cut the KMR down a bit and am adding more water to the mixture.  1 part heavy whip cream, 2 1/2 KMR, and 4 1/2 part Pedeolite blended with h2o.

No rehabbers will take these guys til eyes open, and even then, no one really wants them.  They are the most difficult animals to rehab with only approx 10% surviving.  He is my 3rd.  The other two made it to release as young adults.

Now that I know his hard stools are not at all normal, I will try the new formula mixture and feed him 5 times a day.  One can’t believe all the different opinions on saving these guys… Noone agrees on anything.  ugh

He gained a gram since yesterday.  

Thank You for answering my post.  Appreciate all advice  

[Saving The Least of These]

Hooray,

2nd feeding with new formula and we have urine! Was never so happy to be peed on! lol Thought I was going to loose my mind. Today is a good day for me and Buster Brown. I believe his poops are yellow in color as the KMR is the same color. Put a damp sock in the corner of box to add humidity to his little home as well. He drank 3mls of formula and is now happily sucking on my neck. Old lady necks make great pacifiers!

[Azerane]

Hi there. I’m glad to hear that the little bunny is doing well and has peed.

I know next to nothing about hand raising kits, but I am concerned about the cream in the mixture, rabbits shouldn’t have cow based milk. If you want to add something to the mixture you can use goats milk as that is commonly used for raising kits if KMR isn’t available.

I do recall another member saying something about KMR not being recommended to use anymore for raising rabbits, I think due to an ingredient change but I can’t remember what or why. If it’s working then keep using it for now, I’ll do a bit more research into that because I can’t remember what exactly was said.

Keep us informed as to how the little one goes.

[Saving The Least of These]

Thank You for your note Azerane,

The reason it is suggested not to feed cows milk is that it doesn’t have enough nutrients.  Its not a lactose thing.    The formula mix is not my own idea.  It is from, what I can tell, a top cotton tail rescue Dr’s site.  Don’t have the name in front of me.  Buster was a little thin when I was using the KMR without the whipping cream.  He gained weight pretty quickly after I added the cream.  I think the mixture was just a bit too rich before causing the urination problem.  

I know the KMR is not the number one formula to use for cotton tails.  There is a product called Zoologic that is better, but it is hard to get at times and this little guy hasn’t developed the runs with the one I’m using so I will stick with it.  By the time I found the information on Zoologic, he had already been on the KMR for a week.  Since the last two eye closed bunniess made it on KMR, I feel OK using it this round.  Though next time, your right, I will get the Zoologic formula.  I remember reading about several formulas that changed they way they make it and now people weren’t having good results.  I seem to recall that KMR wasn’t on the list, but that doesn’t mean that you didn’t find an article about the KMR that I haven’t seen.  Would love to know what you find. 

What is killing me right now is trying to find someone with a bunny to get some cecrotropes to help is gut as me move on to real foods.  I offered to buy some from a breeder and no responce.  Hey…. is anyone on the board from Northern CA, Sac area?  If so, could you sell me some cecotropes…. well it would really help me out.    I didn’t feed the cecotropes with the first two as I didn’t know about them.  After having read about it, seems it really saves lives if you can feed them to these little guys.   I read not to bother with pet stores as the rabbits aren’t fed well enough to pass on the digestive properties to baby bunnies.  Please private messsage me if anyone can help me get my hands on some of the stuff.  I’m exhuasted trying to find a little rabbit poop for this guy.  Crazy huh???

Thank You so much for your help.  It’s nice not to feel so alone.

[Saving The Least of These]

Hi Guys,

Buster Brown is doing great!  Few days ago he went to Tri County Wild Life Rescue.  An absolutely wonderful group of selfless people helping injured and abandoned wild life.  They are finishing up the things he needs so he can be released back into the wild.  It was a heart breaking decision, but I know it is the right thing to do.  

Things have really changed since I last helped those 2 little cotton tail bunnies that were caught by a cat.  Now there is a formula made especially for cotton tail bunnies!  No more having to mix your own and worry if you have all the proper nutrients for the baby to move on to solid foods.  The formula is only available to licensed wild life rehabbers.  Also, there is a lot of misinformation out there on the World Wide Web.  These rehabbers care about the little cotton tails as much as they do the mighty birds of prey and larger mammals.

I miss Buster terribly, but am so very glad I was able to help him.  However, now that I have found this wonderful organization, in the future I will take any injured or abandoned wild animal straight to them.

Thank You for your advice and support,

Warm Furry Hugs to All!

Kimberly

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