Hi.
I am working away and my partner has just contacted me saying that our 1 year old doe has suddenly died. He heard a loud bang in the hutch, went to check and she wouldn’t not stand up and was rolling around, after being on the phone with me for 5 minutes she had passed away
She has 4 kits that are 3 weeks and 1 day old. Obviously they were still nursing off mum but we had recently introduced them to junior pellets. I don’t want them to die too! We have a pets at home down the road, what can we buy to replace her milk??? And can we put it in a Bowl for them to drink from or will it have to be syringed??
Any help would be deeply appreciated!!!
Very sorry to hear of the tragic loss of the Doe.
With regards to her Kits are they all eating hay, a few pellets and drinking independently ? At 3 weeks they should have started to do so. But you will need to be 100% certain and also be 100% certain that they know how to use a water sipper bottle and that it is placed low enough for them to reach. If you are not certain that they know how to use the bottle then provide a small shallow bowl. Do not fill the bowl too deeply. If the bowl is too big and filled too deeply they will climb in it. Aspiration of water/drowning can occur
I would only supplement feed with a milk substitute if the kits are not eating and drinking independently. If they are not eating for themselves then first try offering a substitute milk from a small shallow bowl or dish rather than syringe feeding it.I have used Luke warm Full fat Goats Milk with an added probiotic in the past. Syringe feeding comes with risks of the kits aspirating the feed. They are unlikely to suckle from a feeding nipple at this age. But only give a milk substitute if they are not already eating and drinking independently. Substitute milk feeding is not without risks and there is the potential of it causing serious GI tract problems.
Do not feed any fresh veg,fruit or grass until they are at least 10-12 weeks of age. Grass at this time of year is going to be especially rich and if they gorge on it they are likely to get bloat. So if their accommodation includes a grass based run be mindful of this fact.
You will need to weigh each kit every couple of days to make sure they are gaining weight. Keep a very close eye on their poo output. The slightest sign of wet soft fecal poo, mucus and/or diarrhoea then this requires emergency Vet treatment.
You will need to provide additional warm bedding in their nest area, but leave some of the old bedding that will have their Mother’s scent on it. Try to keep their environment and routine consistent. This helps reduce additional stress.
Going back to the Doe, was she vaccinated ? If not and her death was sudden and unexpected then sadly RHD has to be a strong possibility. Even more sadly this would mean the kits are likely to succumb too over the next few days. They are two young to be vaccinated yet, the vaccine can be given from 5 weeks of age though.
If the Doe was with an entire Buck or a Buck who had only just been neutered (ie less than 6 weeks ago) when she gave birth she was likely to be carrying a second litter. So another possible cause of her sudden death is pregnancy toxaemia.
I hope the kits will all survive
RIP Mummy Bunny
