HELP! Please.

[Kelsey]

I have a two week old bunny from a four liter that my mama bunny had. All of them died one lasting up to almost two weeks and this one was the only one left. I went to check on it this morning and he has gotten tiny from when I picked him up before. Mama pooped on him and won’t feed him it seems. He couldn’t even stand up or had any energy. Mama even keeps putting him out of the nest. So I got a kit and decieded to feed him myself and after feeding him, (he was hungry) he was moving around a little and licking me and himself he just keeps falling over and not able to get himself back up. I don’t know what’s wrong and I’m just letting him sleep right now’ help!!

[Bam]

You can keep feeding him every hour, around the clock. Don’t give too much food at any one time. Keep him warm. It’s unlikely that he’ll make it, but at least you’re giving him a chance. He is very young and helpless and doesn’t have balance or strenght yet. Massage his tummy in a clockwise movement with one of your fingertips, lightly and gently. It’s like when the mummy rabbit licks her kits on their bellies to get their intestines moving. Keep him in sth soft like fleece or next to your own bare skin, warmth is essential. 

[Cottontail]

First: DISCLAIMER THAT I AM NOT AN EXPERT BY ANY MEANS!
My experience comes from wild bunnies, so hopefully someone on the forum with experience with domestic babies will hop on here quickly.

Babies get skinny fast, but fill up just as fast!
Like bam said, you need to keep him nourished and warm.
When my Pete was that tiny we lost the rest of his litter within the first 48hrs of them being separated from their mom. We made a formula for him from dry kitten milk, pedialite, water, and bunny vitamins. The pedialite keeps them from getting dehydrated too quickly and you can get it clear/unflavored. Don’t put the baby on it’s back during feedings or you risk aspirating him/her, instead use a dropper and go slow. I suggest to gently rub it’s tummy a little, periodically during and after feeding. They fill up fast and you don’t want him over-full and uncomfortable. The frequent tummy rubs will also help you to feel when the tummy is firm and full, so you know when that feeding is done.
Also, after you’re done feeding, be sure to either take a warm damp qtip or wet the tip of your finger and rub it’s bottom. The food and tummy rubs help with getting the digestion going, but the stimulation at their bottom when they’re very tiny helps them to poop. It also reinforces to them that grooming is a good thing. Doing the same thing to his/her little face is reassuring to them and also ensures that the formula doesn’t dry around their mouth and nose.

I’ll be sending good vibes to you and your bunny-baby!

[Kelsey]

Thank you both so much. He’s actually doing okay it’s just the balance thing that’s he’s dealing with. It’s hard for me to know when to feed him! I don’t want to over feed him and he sleeps all the time. But he sits there and licks me and cleans himself. We think the mama has mastitis. The baby’s stomach gurgles and he’s pooping correctly. I have hope! Any advice is needed though!

[LBJ10]

I agree with the others. Nothing to add, but perhaps Roberta would have additional information to offer. I will warn you that very few members here on BB have experience with this because we are a house bunny forum that encourages spaying/neutering. So keep that in mind while waiting. Poor little guy, I hope you can help him. It is very very difficult to hand raise baby bunnies.

[Roberta]

Sounds like all good advice so far. It will take a lot of TLC for him to regain his strength and at two weeks his eyes would only just be open. Just make sure he has a warm snug to sleep in between feeds.

[Roberta]

Keep offering the formula hourly, if he wants it let him have it.

[Author]

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