Off mum to early :(

DebbieLouise · Oct 19, 2012

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping iv got the right section, i work in a pet shop and a local girl breeds rabbits for them, well her last littler she took them off there mum at 4weeks old and brought them into the shop at around 5/6weeks, it is only recently we have found this out though. Luckily all the babies are doing well, apart from one

Iv brought the little on home with me today due to its siblings pushing it out the way ect....he is super tiny for his age and very thin, iv also noticed when he sits still that his head starts to turn off to the left, i looked online and that can be from poor nutrition? not to sure if that's correct.

Hes still rather lively hopping around his box, hes drinking and eating hay but only eating TINY bits of food, iv brought a syringe today and i was planning on mixing some of his normal pellets with some warm water and making like a paste and just giving him it in a syringe for a few days to build him up and make him stronger..will this work? would it be better mixing with it warm whole milk instead of water?

I want to do everything i can for this little fella as he really deserves a chance in life, if he was not hopping around and wasn't attempting to eat or drink that i would do what we all dread and send him over the rainbow bridge but at the moment hes being a little fighter and im not putting an end to that.

Sky-O · Oct 19, 2012

Hi there. There's a sticky at the top of this forum about taking on babies. That might be worth a read.

I'm just dashing out but will come and have a proper read and think when I come back to see if there is anything that I can suggest specific to what you said.

Has he seen a vet?

emmiiee · Oct 19, 2012

My grayson was off his mum at 4 week to, it was a hard decission but she munched some of his ear off to it was a matter of safety,

he did totally fine on his own as he was eating and drinking already etc

the head tilt is abit worrying tho :/ i would get it a full health check xx

Sky-O · Oct 19, 2012

DebbieLouise said:
Hi everyone,

I'm hoping iv got the right section, i work in a pet shop and a local girl breeds rabbits for them, well her last littler she took them off there mum at 4weeks old and brought them into the shop at around 5/6weeks, it is only recently we have found this out though. Luckily all the babies are doing well, apart from one Iv brought the little on home with me today due to its siblings pushing it out the way ect....he is super tiny for his age and very thin, iv also noticed when he sits still that his head starts to turn off to the left, i looked online and that can be from poor nutrition? not to sure if that's correct.

Hes still rather lively hopping around his box, hes drinking and eating hay but only eating TINY bits of food, iv brought a syringe today and i was planning on mixing some of his normal pellets with some warm water and making like a paste and just giving him it in a syringe for a few days to build him up and make him stronger..will this work? would it be better mixing with it warm whole milk instead of water?

I want to do everything i can for this little fella as he really deserves a chance in life, if he was not hopping around and wasn't attempting to eat or drink that i would do what we all dread and send him over the rainbow bridge but at the moment hes being a little fighter and im not putting an end to that.

It's possible that there is something wrong with the kit, so getting a full vet check, with a rabbit savvy vet, is vital.

I would suggest a heat source (Snugglesafe or simmilar) and having it warm 24/7- this stops him having to use his energy to heat himself up and so can conserve energy. This should be done even if it's warm or he's inside.

It's great he is eating. What are you offering? Syringing may be fine if it doesn't stress him, but never use milk. At 4 weeks old he has an adult gut so doesn't need any milk so any milk you gave him would be detrimental. Equally though, if you can find a way for him to eat by himself, that would be preferable, so try a variety of hays, and also maybe try some fresh (maybe grass) but in a really tiny amount to start with and only as a last measure.

You could try a variety of pellets (but remember to introduce gradually) and also a tiny pinch of rolled oats (not quick, or instant or flavoured) which can also help.

Please keep asking questions. I've had a few kits who were away from mum too early for whatever reason, that have come in via rescues, and, with the right care, even the sickest one got through it. Not all can and will, but hopefully you are going to give him the best chance of doing so

Sky-O · Oct 19, 2012

This is the thread I mentioned earlier.

lovelybun · Oct 19, 2012

Maybe you could try kitten milk replacer along with solid food. yes, and get it to the vet!:wave: an amish girl i once read about raised a very young rabbit successfully with milk replacer she made at home.
good luck!

emmiiee · Oct 19, 2012

Sky-O said:
It's possible that there is something wrong with the kit, so getting a full vet check, with a rabbit savvy vet, is vital.

I would suggest a heat source (Snugglesafe or simmilar) and having it warm 24/7- this stops him having to use his energy to heat himself up and so can conserve energy. This should be done even if it's warm or he's inside.

It's great he is eating. What are you offering? Syringing may be fine if it doesn't stress him, but never use milk. At 4 weeks old he has an adult gut so doesn't need any milk so any milk you gave him would be detrimental. Equally though, if you can find a way for him to eat by himself, that would be preferable, so try a variety of hays, and also maybe try some fresh (maybe grass) but in a really tiny amount to start with and only as a last measure.

You could try a variety of pellets (but remember to introduce gradually) and also a tiny pinch of rolled oats (not quick, or instant or flavoured) which can also help.

Please keep asking questions. I've had a few kits who were away from mum too early for whatever reason, that have come in via rescues, and, with the right care, even the sickest one got through it. Not all can and will, but hopefully you are going to give him the best chance of doing so

Grayson used to sit in my dressing gown pocket and I would walk him around with me like a little kanagroo!

Sky-O · Oct 19, 2012

emmiiee said:
Grayson used to sit in my dressing gown pocket and I would walk him around with me like a little kanagroo!

:thumb:

Little used to do that with me too!

Didn't let him do it very often though. This is when he was growing. Think this was the last time he went in.

lovelybun · Oct 19, 2012

Sky-O said:
:thumb:

Oh how sweet!

emmiiee · Oct 19, 2012

Aww thats so cute, yh Grayson did it until he didn't fit tho tbh I think he would still do it, if he found a pocket big enough:lol::lol:

Off mum to early :(

DebbieLouise

Young Bun

Sky-O

Wise Old Thumper

emmiiee

Warren Veteran

Sky-O

Wise Old Thumper

Sky-O

Wise Old Thumper

lovelybun

Warren Scout

emmiiee

Warren Veteran

Sky-O

Wise Old Thumper

lovelybun

Warren Scout

emmiiee

Warren Veteran

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