Hi all i really need you advice for a friend of mine she took on a rabbit last week who she was told was pregnant my friend was happy to take in the bun sort it out and rehome the baby buns and then keep the mom she already has eight buns so was happy to take a bun in need, the bun went into labour saturday night and gave birth to 7 babies sadly though mom died shortly after giving birth, my friend is desparatly trying to save the babies she is giving them kitten milk and feeding them with a seringe, if anyone out there has any advice that may help we would be very greatful my friend is very aware that they wont make make it but she really wants to try as she feels if she can save one life it will all be worth it, thank you in advance for any help.
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urgent help mom has died and babies need help
- Thread starter blue
- Start date
when i hand reared some mice ( I know not quite the same) the vet told me to rub their bottoms to stimulate them to poo otherwise they get constapated and can die.
I fed them on watered down kitten milk via tiny syringe every 2-4 hours.they were kept in the airing cupboard.
I would speak to a vet and see what they recommend
I fed them on watered down kitten milk via tiny syringe every 2-4 hours.they were kept in the airing cupboard.
I would speak to a vet and see what they recommend
Jack's-Jane
Wise Old Thumper
Oh dear how sad 
It is important the kits are fed very carefully (the diluted replacement milk for kittens is ok) Its best to use a giver set rather than a syringe as aspiration pneumonia is a risk if the milk is squirted into the kits mouth from the syringe and it accidently goes into the lungs.
As the milk wont contain an essential ingredient found in Mums milk to protect the kits from gut bacterial inbalance it is essential all equipment used for feeding is sterilised and water used to dilute the milk is pre-boiled. Each feed should be made up as needed and not stored for later use.
The Kits will need to be stimulated to poo and wee. This can be done by massaging around their 'bits'. They will need feeding 2-3 times a day and an estimate of 2-30ml each feed. It is better to UNDERFEED than overfeed.
I got most of this info from Frances Harcourt-Browns Book 'Textbook of Rabbit Medicine'
The outlook for the Kits is not that hopefully but at least your friend can try.
Janex
It is important the kits are fed very carefully (the diluted replacement milk for kittens is ok) Its best to use a giver set rather than a syringe as aspiration pneumonia is a risk if the milk is squirted into the kits mouth from the syringe and it accidently goes into the lungs.
As the milk wont contain an essential ingredient found in Mums milk to protect the kits from gut bacterial inbalance it is essential all equipment used for feeding is sterilised and water used to dilute the milk is pre-boiled. Each feed should be made up as needed and not stored for later use.
The Kits will need to be stimulated to poo and wee. This can be done by massaging around their 'bits'. They will need feeding 2-3 times a day and an estimate of 2-30ml each feed. It is better to UNDERFEED than overfeed.
I got most of this info from Frances Harcourt-Browns Book 'Textbook of Rabbit Medicine'
The outlook for the Kits is not that hopefully but at least your friend can try.
Janex
raven_guest
Mama Doe
Just warn her that the success rate isn't great for hand rearing rabbits, she needs to realise this so that she won't balme herself if any die. She's doing the best she can but unfortunately it's a very low success rate.
Cottontails has quite a detailed article on handrearing that might help: http://cottontails-rescue.org.uk/handrear.asp
i had to rear a litter of 6 kits last year. (from 3 weeks of age) feeding average 3-4 5ml syringes 4 times daily.
out of the 6 two survived.....until they were nearly 5 months....then both passed away, one suddenly over night, the other in spite of everything we and the vets did for him. Apparently because he was hand reared the mothers immunity was not passed along to the kits hence they both had a lowered immune system.
i strongly recomend asking your vet about probiotics (i know these are surpossed to aid the immune system but im not sure from what age you could give them to the kits :? ) or if they could surgest some other immunity surport?
out of the 6 two survived.....until they were nearly 5 months....then both passed away, one suddenly over night, the other in spite of everything we and the vets did for him. Apparently because he was hand reared the mothers immunity was not passed along to the kits hence they both had a lowered immune system.
i strongly recomend asking your vet about probiotics (i know these are surpossed to aid the immune system but im not sure from what age you could give them to the kits :? ) or if they could surgest some other immunity surport?
raven_guest
Mama Doe
I'm pretty sure probitiocs can be given from very young as my 6/7 week old baby was given them.
Happy Hopping
Wise Old Thumper
maxxev is right. syringe feed w/ baby food (no meat contents inside the baby food), pick 4 different favors for 4 meals.
Heat up a cup of hot water.
Use the syringe to suck up the baby food
dump the syringe under the hot water for 2 min.
Now it's nice and warm from the original cold temperature of the fridge
slowly feed 0.5 cc at a time w/ a 5 sec. delay per 0.5 cc, remember if you go too fast, the food ends up in their lungs and can cause bacteria infection
Oh...if they can't drink water on their own, do the above w/ cool water
Heat up a cup of hot water.
Use the syringe to suck up the baby food
dump the syringe under the hot water for 2 min.
Now it's nice and warm from the original cold temperature of the fridge
slowly feed 0.5 cc at a time w/ a 5 sec. delay per 0.5 cc, remember if you go too fast, the food ends up in their lungs and can cause bacteria infection
Oh...if they can't drink water on their own, do the above w/ cool water
just to let you all know that the babies are doing well, my friend had rescued another bunny a few months ago who was also pregnant and her litter are now 7 weeks old so she managed to put these babies in with that mom and she is now looking after them althought my friend is doing the feeding the foster mom has taken them in and seems to be doing every thing else for them she has also become quite defensive of them the vet has also recommend some suppliments so she has got to go and get them so we are hoping that they may have a chance, i will keep you all posted on how they are doing and i hope it will be good news.
thanks again for all you advice.
thanks again for all you advice.
ladystardust
Alpha Buck
That must be incredibly worrisome, I am relieved to hear things are on the up now. Thoughts and prayers to your babies
hi all i will start with the bad news first sadly one of the babies passed away last night but the good news is the rest are all doing well (6 in all) they now over a week old and all the rest seem to be doing well we know there is a very long way to go but there is hope every day that passes, and if they keep on doing well i hope to be able to post some pictures so please keep thinking of them and i will keep you updated.
loulouembers
Warren Scout
Sending the little ones some love from my clan of furries
