baby bunny needs help

[Chickenlegs]

Woman brought a little bunny to me this afternoon. It's furred but eyes are closed and his little ears are still against it's body. She's been feeding it heavy cream--and no stimulation--no warmth--just heavy cream. I have Fox Valley and am trying to get in touch with my mentor--the bunny guru--but so far no luck. I have a short gavage tube and likely he should be tube fed but I'm not very experienced with bunnies and am trying to get some fluids in the little guy via a nipple used for baby possums. Guy is 45 grams. Any suggestions are really appreciated. I'm going to contact the "wildbuns" group too. Hopefully amongst and between I won't do more damage and maybe can help.

[Unikorngrrl]

Here's a link that might get you started. Gives age and care instructions...
http://www.2ndchance.info/bunnies.htmhttp://www.2ndchance.info/bunnies.htm

I'll see what else I can find...

[Unikorngrrl]

According to the link, he's about 4-7 days old. Kept at 99.5-101.5 degrees F. Keep it warm like with squirrels: rice buddy or heating pad under half of box. They can jump out, make sure container is high or has a lid.

found this on another site, remember it is the internet...not necessarily expert advice...

*Feeding them before they are thoroughly rehydrated will kill them.
*You cannot use water, milk, or Pedialyte to rehydrate or feed a bunny.
*You run the risk of aspirating the bunny (filling the lungs with fluid and drowning it) if you do not know how to feed it.
*Baby rabbits are incredibly fragile and do not take handling by humans well at all. Keep wild rabbits away from children, household noise (such as vacuum cleaner and so forth), domestic pets and bright light.
*Do not carry the rabbits around or show them to your friends, etc. A rabbit that seems “calm” is usually too scared to move or is in shock as a result of trauma (cat, dog, lawnmower, or even simply being picked up from its nest). *Wild rabbits do not know you are just trying to help. They think you are going to kill them. This fear, as well as improper feeding/rehydration, will make their stomachs shut down, which will lead to an extremely protracted, painful, and unnecessary death.

[Unikorngrrl]

Honestly, I've raised many sets of baby cottontails. They were all fed with a syringe and will start sucking on it. They were all also fed Esbilac. They haven't always had the Goats Milk formula...

Here is the in a pinch emergency formula they posted. It states no Esbilac, that it's too dilute for them to drink enough to get their nutrition:

There are only a few suppliers of the Zoologic line in the US. In a pinch, 1 part heavy whipping cream can be added to 3 parts powdered KMR and 3-4 parts water until you can get your hands on a can of Zoologic, UPS overnite.

Another site also said Fox Valley has a formula for them. Hope this helps until you can get ahold of your mentor!! :)

[Rhapsody]

Mother rabbit only feed their babies about 3 times in a 24 time span (the babies hide in the nest alone rest of time) --when calculating the formula amount use 8-10% of their body weight per feeding. All baby rabbits must be potty at each feeding or death can occur easily. Their urine can be dark and diarrhea should be taken care of ASAP as it can be fatal........ Stress can kill a rabbit, so please keep it calm and in a quite place. (you can try using a 1cc syringe to feed with) --Feed Fox Valley 32/40.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

45 grams is a healthy weight for a baby bunny at that age :thumbsup. Bunnies are incredibly tough little tykes, just sensitive. Heavy whipping cream is a million times better than them having fed cows milk. Most likely they didn't get much into the bunny, either, so it's probably just fine. I've gotten a newborn cottontail in after it sat in a box with no blanket, no heat, and no food for over 24 hours. It was just fine. Not saying that should be done, but cottontails are very resilient.

I'd feed 3 times a day if you can get at least 5% into the bunny per feeding, more often if you need to to get that amount into him.

Good luck. Take a deep breath, cottontails aren't nearly as scary as people make them out to be. Do you have cecotropes? I'd start him on that right away.

[Chickenlegs]

Thanks so much. Sorry I didn't reply, It was bunny time. He seems a little brighter this morning so maybe he's past one crisis. Now to get him through all the others he'll face before he can be free. :thankyou :thankyou :thankyou

ps--I don't have a source of cecotropes tho I'm friendly with a pet store they only have young rabbits. Would Benibac be helpful? I've heard/read pros and cons

[pappy1264]

I use Peter's for the probiotic, as it is made specifically for rabbits. I try to feed 20% of their body weight for the day, broken down into 3 or 4 feedings (I have even done 5 when I have had any that really won't take enough). I stimulate before I feed and again after. Good luck! They can be squirmy little things, so be sure to wrap in fleece and make sure you have a good grip!

[Chickenlegs]

Went to check on the little guy and he's dead. Poor little tyke. If only he had fallen into more experienced hands. Sweet sleep little Guy :Love_Icon Thanks everybody for your help.

[squirrelsrule&bunniestoo]

Aww, so sorry he didn't make it :sad

[pappy1264]

Awww, I am so sorry. Don't beat yourself up, they can be tricky and are heartbreakers for sure. RIP little one.

[Chickenlegs]

If he'd just been brought to me earlier. She'd had him since Saturday. If I'd been able to get him to my sponsor I bet she would have saved him. Little bunny is ready for his next turn on the wheel. I'll see him next time around.

[Nancy in New York]

I'm so very sorry Chickenlegs. Bunnies are so difficult unless you know exactly what you're doing.

[skippy]

:grouphug Hop along little one. :Love_Icon

[kastillo]

Sorry Chickenlegs, bunny's can be difficult.
I had a cat caught one for five days recently, an older one, was finally eating good and gaining weight, then all of a sudden croaked one morning, I guess the antibiotics weren't enough.

RIP little rabbit