View Full Version : Rabbit in labor, has had 6 bunnies and is eating them..PLEASE HELP
ashe.white
02-15-2010, 08:38 PM
My brothers rabbit has had 6 babies so far and only 3 are alive. The Mom ate 2 and 1 died. There is another one that isnt doing well at all and the Mom is not taking care of them.
Im trying to see if my brother would be interested in finding someone to nurse them but I don't know what he wants to do. I feel terrible for them and hate seeing this happen.
Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!
PBluejay2
02-15-2010, 08:47 PM
I'm not a rabbit person, but they do sometimes eat their young. Some say they do so because they are inexperienced mothers who don't know what these "things" are coming out of them and/or they are reacting to the stress of childbirth. I wish I had more to offer, but I'd separate them from mom, put them on heat (heating pad set on low) until a more experinced person can give you further advice. Good luck.
lizharrell1
02-15-2010, 08:48 PM
Who is our Tampa area bunny person?:dono
4skwerlz
02-15-2010, 08:50 PM
For now, separate the babies from mom. Keep them on heat. We'll try to find you some expert help. Don't go away!
Ardilla
02-15-2010, 09:01 PM
How horrible! :(
Get the babies away from the mom and keep them warm. You can use a heating pad halfway under a plastic container (so they can scoot away from the heat if it's too warm), or you can fill socks with uncooked rice or beans and microwave for 30 seconds. You'll need to reheat them from time to time.
Hold tight...someone with bunny experience will be here soon.
ashe.white
02-15-2010, 09:22 PM
My brothers rabbit has had 6 babies so far and only 3 are alive. The Mom ate 2 and 1 died. There is another one that isnt doing well at all and the Mom is not taking care of them.
Im trying to see if my brother would be interested in finding someone to nurse them but I don't know what he wants to do. I feel terrible for them and hate seeing this happen.
Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!
I have them seperated now.....
Ardilla
02-15-2010, 09:23 PM
I sent a private message to squirrelsrule&bunniestoo. She rehabs bunnies.
Hopefully she or someone else with bunny experience will be in soon.
Thanks for starting this thread!
Legomom
02-15-2010, 09:36 PM
I have left voicemails for Loopy & SR&B2. Hopefully one of them will get on here soon. :grouphug
omg!!! I'm so sorry.
I've heard that they do eat their young when they're very stressed or they don't feel safe.
I'd contact a rabbit vet asap. Try the house rabbit society. and this link to a medical rabbit on line group.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/etherbun/
:grouphug
Try : www.squirrelworld.com/RabRehab.html.
Unless you can find someone local to take them, you will probably lose them. Baby bunnies need to be tube fed and with out the correct equipment and formula on hand it's going to be almost hopeless. You can keep them away from Momma rabbit until she gets over the labor progress and then try and reunite them.
ashe.white
02-15-2010, 10:15 PM
Try : www.squirrelworld.com/RabRehab.html.
Unless you can find someone local to take them, you will probably lose them. Baby bunnies need to be tube fed and with out the correct equipment and formula on hand it's going to be almost hopeless. You can keep them away from Momma rabbit until she gets over the labor progress and then try and reunite them.
What kind of formula can I feed them?
island rehabber
02-15-2010, 10:41 PM
KMR (for kittens) would be the best choice for buns. I've contacted a rehabber I know who does wild bunny rehab and will post her response as well....
msk5412
02-15-2010, 10:55 PM
hi, texas rehabber here. They have to have mothers milk to live. Also, mother rabbits do not stay with or cuddle with the babies. But they will die if you hand feed at this age. You have to get them back with mom and watch.
island rehabber
02-15-2010, 11:26 PM
I'm told also that they need colostrum from their mother's milk to live? Maybe mom will feed the remaining babies if she is put into a small carrier with them.....sorry I can't be of more help. :(
wheezer
02-16-2010, 12:33 AM
Check out this site for the best info on domestic rabbits.
http://www.rabbit.org/care/babies.html#Are_The_Babies_in_Danger?
squirrelsrule&bunniestoo
02-16-2010, 06:23 AM
I have no experience with birthing in domestic rabbits (or cottontails for that matter), but I to have read they will eat their young if stressed or it is their first litter. I do not think the mom is going to take to them. I do not think it is hopeless though, a friend of mine has rehabbed just born cottontails that were still wet when she got them. The mom was birthing and the dog scared her away. They did the stick test, but the mom didn't come back. She found a dead baby in the middle of the yard the next morning too, so the mom wasn't going to care for the babies. 2 out of 5 of them lived. I would think domestics would be easier because they are tame and are MUCH MUCH bigger at birth (like 3-4 times the size).
I always use Zoologic brand formula, but that has to be ordered and you do not have time to wait for it to get there, so I would go with KMR with heavy cream. You can mix 1 tbsp. KMR powder with 3 tbsp. water and 1 tbsp. heavy cream (make sure the heavy cream does NOT contain skim milk, it should just be cream) for today. Then tomorrow mix it 1 tbsp. KMR powder, 2 tbsp. water, and 1 tbsp. heavy cream. Then the following day 1 tbsp. KMR, 1 and a half tbsp. water, and 1 tbsp. heavy cream. That is full strength and you should stay there until weaned.
You should try to feed the bunnies 10% of their body weight (probably 6 ccs, but that is just a guess and could be way off because I haven't ever weighed domestic bunnies and there are all different kinds of rabbits which are different sizes) 3 times a day. If you have to feed more than 3 times to get them to take the full amount, then do that, but don't feed more than 10% of their body weight in a 4 hour window or that could cause bloat.
You will also need to give them cecotropes (special night time poop) from their mom (or another adult rabbit). Giving them this will be the key to their survival, without it they stand only a 1% chance of surviving, if you are lucky. With the number 2s I would say their chances are upwards of 60% if you take your time and don't aspirate them.
To collect cecotropes you need to put an elizebethan collar (the kind they give a dog or cat after surgery so they don't lick their stitches) on the adult bunny overnight while the bunny is in a wire bottom cage with newspaper underneath. In the morning, you should have the cecotropes, which are softer poop than the regular pellet poop that bunnies usually do. You have to put the collar on to get it because they usually eat it themselves because it contains the enzymes and bacteria they need to digest their food. I use the smallest sized dog elizebethan collar and it fits my donor bunny fine. I will give you more instructions if and when you collect the cecotropes.
The easiest thing to do may be to supervise and perhaps assist them in nursing from their mom. Keep the mom still and maybe they can get under and get some milk. They will certainly nurse better from their mom than from you. You shouldn't leave them unsupervised. If this plan works, you will still need to collect cecotropes and give them to the bunnies.
Good luck with the little tykes.
squirrelsrule&bunniestoo
02-16-2010, 05:03 PM
Any updates? How are the babies? Were you able to get KMR and Heavy cream plus an e-collar?
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