Been given a leveret - feeding

Hope this link is useful;

http://cottontails-rescue.org.uk/mo...-the-successful-hand-rearing-of-a-brown-hare/

Very best of luck.

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You can order it online or order it via a vet. If your vet is an exotics specialist they may have a stock in.

I have given more info direct to the OP by email on equipment, bottle and syringe sizes etc etc.

I went to the vets and the nurse who has hand reared rabbits, pups, kittens, hedgehogs and attempted squirrels has given me some Cimicat. And he's had 7mls of that just now (I know it's not much). He's keen to take it but only from a 2ml syringe currently and he is nibbling on the syringe as I feed - is this him trying to suckle/get flow faster? I am very aware of him inhaling it - I try to do about 0.3ml at a time to give him a chance to swallow it but the first few mouthfuls he doesn't appear to swallow/nibble/suckle/lap. Is that normal?

Here's hoping that he takes another 7+ mls later tonight.

*As for my wild rabbit - she was raised on Recovery via syringe. Her first solid food was apple (her favourite, perhaps because it was soft). It was always touch and go with her because she had been caught by a cat.

Thanks to everyone who has given helpful advice and links etc.

Well done for contacting the vet nurse. Has she ever raised hares? If not you probably still want to actually speak to Moongazers - try ringing her.

What fat content is Cimicat? Fats and proteins are really really important for him. It has to be the right fat content to mimic mothers milk. That is why people are recommending certain varieties..

Yes he is trying to get more of it if he is nibbling. He is hungry.

He will get bored if the syringe runs out and will then stop taking it.

I have had this happen before I took advice from Moongazers and realised that you have to use larger syringes so they can take it all down 'in one' so to speak. Unlike baby rabbits that move from one nipple to the next over quite a period of time, baby hares just sit there and gulp . Its a totally different feeding habit.

Have you looked at the feed guide on Moongazer - this shows videos of hares feeding. Note how they just start and gulp and gulp and gulp . . . its because they are born in twos or singly and suckle like that- rabbits have so many that they are busy pushing each other out of the way.

What does he weigh now??

I have never heard of raising a baby rabbit on recovery food they need milk for the first 21 days as it has the fat and protein although they will nibble fibre from about 14 days. Did she have her eyes open when you got her?

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Don't think she's raised hares. It was just pure luck she was working really. I went into to ask if they had any milk but thought I'd ask her advice. I'll have a vet around from tonight so access to additional food will be easy.
33% protein, 22% fat which is probably lower than other brands but it's what they had on hand.
So when he nibbles I can afford to push the liquid out faster. That's good to know
I had 4 syringes on hand ready to whip the next one in but he didn't seem keen on the large 15ml syringe. I'll keep trying with that one though as it obviously doesn't run out as quickly. I'm guessing him nibbling probably means he is also swallowing and he hopefully isn't inhaling it?

I didn't see the videos - I will look now though.

I weighed him before feeding and he was back to 327g (same as last night). I haven't had a chance to weigh him after his feed because he panicked and shot back into his box so I thought I'd give him some chill out time and try again later this evenig

*Yes, I think she did have her eyes open - she's probably a complete on off! Survives being caught by a cat, survives hand rearing and outlived all her companions.

Hope you can get some advice from an experienced rehabber. Leverets are notoriously hard to hand rear.

You may find that he will not be keen on being tried again - they are used to only being offered feed opportunity once or twice a day -

Try calling Moongazers to check on the fat percentage they prefer. If its a powder you are using you then adjust the proportions to get it up to the fat content you need.

Have you got the feed at the right temperature? that will also affect his feeding.

Hopefully you will be lucky with him and he will be able to switch to part solids soon - at 350gms he is several weeks old - both the ones we have raised have been literally a day or two old when they have arrived with us.

Sounds like your wildie was older as well - their eyes open at 9-10 days and they start nibbling fibre at c14 days. Ours have had eyes closed.

I'm not getting my hopes up but since he is larger than most "rescued" hares start off as, I hope he has a better chance.

I'll ry contacting Moongazers as the website was quite helpful as well.

I'm trying to get it sort of baby milk warm - not hot but not cold. What solid food should be offered (plan is still to release ultimately) when he is ready?

If you get a baby feed bottle warmer that will get it right. It is important it is the right temperature as it will encourage him to drink and also not upset his stomach.

We offered pellets but if you have somewhere to release him then Moongazers says not to offer pellets.

By the way when it gets nearer the time you may want to look at the very low percentage of survivals from released hares. I would suggest a very large garden with access to meadow as suitable not just dumped in a field away from where he knows. Do you live in the country?

If you are still having problems getting sufficient into him tmw and start to really worry (ie if his weight does not go up) I would be willing to take him to help out on the understanding that for you it felt like it was his best chance. I would worry otherwise that the journey and yet another change might do more harm than good - but it is essential he starts to take in a lot of suitable fats and proteins asap. His weight needs to return to where it was asap and start steadily gaining. If he looses again by tmw then really you need to worry.

I do have rabbit pellets (Burgess) which I may offer at a later date if necessary.

Apparently there is a place in Norfolk that does a sort of semi-release. Live in the "wild" but in a fenced off area - so if he makes it that far I may contact them to take him on. If not, we live right next to a field and a wood (main road one 1 side only though).

I will bear that in mind but I do agree that additional stress may not be best for him. But thanks for the offer. If it gets urgent I will contact you directly again.

Thanks so much for all your help