Rabbit rescue

[clark5113]

I know this board is for squirrels but I couldn't locate a rabbit board and this little guy needs help and I need some direction.

I found a wild rabbit night before last that was hit by a car. He was writhing pitifully so I wrapped it in my coat and brought it home thinking it better to die warm than on a cold road. I put it in a box on a heating pad and next morn he looked better. I got it out to find the source of bleeding and had no luck until I put a saucer of water to it's mouth and a small amount of blood was in the water. The injury is to his mouth. I looked, best I could but really couldn't tell anything other than a raw bit of skin on the lower lip that is damaged. Yesterday it got out of the box and lay beside it then last night it moved to a place under a chair. It is a hurting unit and stays motionless with it's feet under it (but is 100% better than when found). I guess it needs some nutrition pumped in via syringe (orally) but I'm not sure what kind of nutrition. Any help would be appreciated. Also if anyone knows of a rehabber in this area (Chattanooga) that would be great.

[lukaslolamaus]

Thank you for caring for the rabbit. I had a pet rabbit as the child, but that has been a long time ago. . ... How old do you think is the rabbit?

[nchls_school]

I know this board is for squirrels but I couldn't locate a rabbit board and this little guy needs help and I need some direction.

I found a wild rabbit night before last that was hit by a car. He was writhing pitifully so I wrapped it in my coat and brought it home thinking it better to die warm than on a cold road. I put it in a box on a heating pad and next morn he looked better. I got it out to find the source of bleeding and had no luck until I put a saucer of water to it's mouth and a small amount of blood was in the water. The injury is to his mouth. I looked, best I could but really couldn't tell anything other than a raw bit of skin on the lower lip that is damaged. Yesterday it got out of the box and lay beside it then last night it moved to a place under a chair. It is a hurting unit and stays motionless with it's feet under it (but is 100% better than when found). I guess it needs some nutrition pumped in via syringe (orally) but I'm not sure what kind of nutrition. Any help would be appreciated. Also if anyone knows of a rehabber in this area (Chattanooga) that would be great.

I found this on the internet. Possibly it might help even if the rabbit is older.


Feeding Orphaned Wild Rabbits


(1) Kits are handled and tamed by a single caregiver only.
This is because feeding wild rabbits is difficult and dangerous to the kits if they are crazy with fear. Kits remain calm with handler, but fearful of anyone else. Upon release, they "wild out" without a problem, yet remain unafraid of their one single handler.

(2) Bunnies under 2 weeks old need a bunny incubator.
Normal bunny body temperature is 102F - 103F. You'll need a heat lamp or other source of heat to help the kits maintain their body temperature.

(3) All orphans are assumed to be at least somewhat dehydrated at the time they are discovered. Examine the baby orphan rabbits for degree of dehydration, plus, check it over for any life-threatening problems. Dehydration is seen as tenting of the skin. When you pull on it, it remains somewhat pulled away from its normal position against the rabbit's body.

(4) Hold the baby rabbit securely yet safely when you hold it.
Be alert - bunnies have an uncanny way of relaxing, tending to cause the handler to relax, and then they thrust madly with their large hind feet, attempting a super-bunny leap to freedom.

(5) For a formula, we recommend Goat's Milk Esbilac. Esbilac for Puppies is nearly identical and equally excellent. Both these formulas need additional fats when fed to baby cottontail or domestic rabbit kits. Add 1 part heavy cream to 8 parts of reconstituted formula.

(Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) can also be used; add 1 part heavy cream to 5 parts reconstituted KMR formula.)


(6) Feed a diluted formula for at least 9 feedings, before transitioning to a full strength formula. Here’s the dilute baby rabbit milk formula, and how to feed:

First 3 feedings: 1 part reconstituted Esbilac/heavy cream mixed with 3 parts Pedialyte® - Give enough to lightly fill stomach every 1/2 hour
Second 3 feedings: 1 part reconstituted Esbilac/heavy cream mixed with 1 part Pedialyte® - Give enough to lightly fill stomach every 1 hour
Third 3-4 feedings: 3 parts reconstituted Esbilac/heavy cream mixed with 1 part Pedialyte® - Give enough to lightly fill stomach every 2 hours
Going forward: No additional dilution needed

- See more at: http://www.raising-rabbits.com/feeding-wild-rabbits.html#sthash.A6zyupdC.dpuf

[Bravo]

Thank you for taking the time to ease this little one's suffering.

Wild rabbits can be difficult to diagnose. There are some here on the board who are familiar with issues, and you can also try searching this forum for past rabbit posts and potential contacts.

[Chickenlegs]

Wild rabbits are the definition of WILD. They stress horribly in captivity. Bed him down in a bin on some Timothy hay or orchard grass. Put paper under the hay. It needs to be changed daily as a rabbit pees a lot. If he can he'll nibble on that. He'll need a heavy dish with some water in it. An adult rabbit forages for food--dandilions, grass, dried grasses, flowers, garden greens. Give him a little of that. Handle him a little as possible. Don't pet or talk to him or sooth him--it scares him to death (sometimes literally) If the injury is minor, let him rest a couple of days--quiet, dark. Then let him out in a confined area, subdued lighting, quiet. If he moves normally he should be good to go. I am NOT the bunny whisperer but this has worked for the few older rabbits I've got in.

[clark5113]

Thank you for caring for the rabbit. I had a pet rabbit as the child, but that has been a long time ago. . ... How old do you think is the rabbit?

I don't know. It is a full grown adult though.

[clark5113]

Wild rabbits are the definition of WILD. They stress horribly in captivity. Bed him down in a bin on some Timothy hay or orchard grass. Put paper under the hay. It needs to be changed daily as a rabbit pees a lot. If he can he'll nibble on that. He'll need a heavy dish with some water in it. An adult rabbit forages for food--dandilions, grass, dried grasses, flowers, garden greens. Give him a little of that. Handle him a little as possible. Don't pet or talk to him or sooth him--it scares him to death (sometimes literally) If the injury is minor, let him rest a couple of days--quiet, dark. Then let him out in a confined area, subdued lighting, quiet. If he moves normally he should be good to go. I am NOT the bunny whisperer but this has worked for the few older rabbits I've got in.

That is what I thought. Keep it dark warm and leave it alone. I'm fairly certain it is unable to feed and my primary concern is getting some water in it. I don't want to stress it but I am going to have to determine the extent of injury to it's mouth and get some water in and it will soon need nutrition.
I think this is going to get complicated.No good deed goes unpunished:).

[lennysmom]

I am checking with a friend who is in your area and will hopefully know of a local rehabber who can help. Thank you for having the care and compassion to pick this little rabbit off the road and care for him. :)

[lukaslolamaus]

Chickenlegs gave you really good information. Praying rabbit will recover quickly and gets to roam freely soon.

[island rehabber]

Clark5113, here is a list I found of TN wildlife rehabilitators. Scroll down to your county and pick out the ones who list "small mammals" as their area of rehab. Start making calls -- this bunny may need sub-cutaneous fluids and other treatments you won't have on hand, but rehabbers do! :thumbsup

http://www.tn.gov/twra/pdfs/rehabdirectory.pdf

[lennysmom]

My friend told me she thinks that either Debra or Sheryl may be a bunny expert, so I would check with them first. :thumbsup Good luck and I hope you are able to find some help.

[island rehabber]

My friend told me she thinks that either Debra or Sheryl may be a bunny expert, so I would check with them first. :thumbsup Good luck and I hope you are able to find some help.

thanks, lennysmom -- always good to have local knowledge of the people listed!

[Baxied]

I believe that bunnies need to feed quite often or they can go into GI stasis which can be lethal. If you can get some Critical Care you can syringe it into his mouth. (I'm syringing it into my daughter's guinea pig as I type). I usually get it from Amazon but you may be able to find it locally. If it cannot eat on its own at all you could also get some rabbit pellets from the big pet stores, grind them and mix with water to make a mash. I know there are youtube videos on syringe feeding guinea pigs but not sure about rabbits. I would imagine that it is about the same.

Praying for the bunny.:grouphug

[clark5113]

I am checking with a friend who is in your area and will hopefully know of a local rehabber who can help. Thank you for having the care and compassion to pick this little rabbit off the road and care for him. :)

Thanks. That would be awesome.

[riefderrico]

I know this may sound a little hokey - but to help put him at ease, sit quietly with him and mentally tell him you are not going to hurt him and that you want him to get better so you can set him free. If you have help arriving tell him this new person has helped others like him. Then see him better and free with your imagination. For what ever reason many animals can and do respond to this kind of communication. Some people I know even get "visions" back. Most just think its their imagination but some think it is a thought form from the animal. Anyway it is worth a shot. :crazy1

[clark5113]

I know this may sound a little hokey - but to help put him at ease, sit quietly with him and mentally tell him you are not going to hurt him and that you want him to get better so you can set him free. If you have help arriving tell him this new person has helped others like him. Then see him better and free with your imagination. For what ever reason many animals can and do respond to this kind of communication. Some people I know even get "visions" back. Most just think its their imagination but some think it is a thought form from the animal. Anyway it is worth a shot. :crazy1

Yes it does sound hokey and I feel like a "hoke" when I do it but that has become second nature since I learned that animals are not soul less, pre-programmed, automatons put here for our amusement (and tasty snacks.) I did exactly as you advised prior to reading your post with the exception of receiving a vision back but maybe one day......

[island rehabber]

I know this may sound a little hokey - but to help put him at ease, sit quietly with him and mentally tell him you are not going to hurt him and that you want him to get better so you can set him free. If you have help arriving tell him this new person has helped others like him. Then see him better and free with your imagination. For what ever reason many animals can and do respond to this kind of communication. Some people I know even get "visions" back. Most just think its their imagination but some think it is a thought form from the animal. Anyway it is worth a shot. :crazy1

riefderrico :bowdown, this is such an important subject you've touched upon that I'd love to see you start a new thread about it. Telepathy, for lack of a better word, can be so effective in wildlife rescue and rehab. We don't have to say words in our minds as much as "think concepts".....pictures of safety, or freedom, concepts that the animal will pick up on and understand. It's not hokey....it's awesome.

My BF has rescued many waterbirds with more success than he "should" have had, including with large adult swans. I asked him how does he not get hurt, and he said that when he picks them up and carries them somewhere he thinks of flying. He envisions the bird in his arms soaring through the air, healed and free, and it calms them.

Great topic.

[Milo's Mom]

riefderrico :bowdown, this is such an important subject you've touched upon that I'd love to see you start a new thread about it. Telepathy, for lack of a better word, can be so effective in wildlife rescue and rehab. We don't have to say words in our minds as much as "think concepts".....pictures of safety, or freedom, concepts that the animal will pick up on and understand. It's not hokey....it's awesome.

My BF has rescued many waterbirds with more success than he "should" have had, including with large adult swans. I asked him how does he not get hurt, and he said that when he picks them up and carries them somewhere he thinks of flying. He envisions the bird in his arms soaring through the air, healed and free, and it calms them.

Great topic.


Wow! I thought I was crazy when I did this with MJ and I don't think I ever told anyone about. I spent countless hours with her, sometimes sitting next to her bin, sometimes holding her; but always in absolute silence thinking the most positive squirrely thoughts possible. I even went as far to envision myself running through the trees. Of course I did a very good amount of talking to her too, but she's a squirrel not a bun so the soft talking did not stress her. All this time I thought it was my way of dealing with the stress of her being so sick...just sitting quietly with her. I had no clue other people did/do it too. :thumbsup

[Annabelle's papa]

I know this may sound a little hokey - but to help put him at ease, sit quietly with him and mentally tell him you are not going to hurt him and that you want him to get better so you can set him free. If you have help arriving tell him this new person has helped others like him. Then see him better and free with your imagination. For what ever reason many animals can and do respond to this kind of communication. Some people I know even get "visions" back. Most just think its their imagination but some think it is a thought form from the animal. Anyway it is worth a shot. :crazy1


Yes it does sound hokey and I feel like a "hoke" when I do it but that has become second nature since I learned that animals are not soul less, pre-programmed, automatons put here for our amusement (and tasty snacks.) I did exactly as you advised prior to reading your post with the exception of receiving a vision back but maybe one day......


riefderrico :bowdown, this is such an important subject you've touched upon that I'd love to see you start a new thread about it. Telepathy, for lack of a better word, can be so effective in wildlife rescue and rehab. We don't have to say words in our minds as much as "think concepts".....pictures of safety, or freedom, concepts that the animal will pick up on and understand. It's not hokey....it's awesome.

My BF has rescued many waterbirds with more success than he "should" have had, including with large adult swans. I asked him how does he not get hurt, and he said that when he picks them up and carries them somewhere he thinks of flying. He envisions the bird in his arms soaring through the air, healed and free, and it calms them.

Great topic.


Wow! I thought I was crazy when I did this with MJ and I don't think I ever told anyone about. I spent countless hours with her, sometimes sitting next to her bin, sometimes holding her; but always in absolute silence thinking the most positive squirrely thoughts possible. I even went as far to envision myself running through the trees. Of course I did a very good amount of talking to her too, but she's a squirrel not a bun so the soft talking did not stress her. All this time I thought it was my way of dealing with the stress of her being so sick...just sitting quietly with her. I had no clue other people did/do it too. :thumbsup

:grouphug Amen, Amen, When Moses ascended Mt. Sinai/Horeb, He was simply retreating to a place that He was very familiar with, to get His head together, as a way to escape from the daily grind of His Messianic duties. (Most likely giving rise to phrases such as; "You can't please all of the People, all of the time", and "No Good Deed goes unpunished".) The results from One of these Meditative Retreats taken by Moses, created the Bedrock on which a System of Belief and Worship was established and is in fact followed by over One Third of our Earths population.
About 700 years later, a Very Rich and Prominent 29 year old Married Family man named Siddhartha Gautama, (I'm sure His friends called Him Sid, ha.), Left His Entire Life behind To go on a 6 year "Nature" Hike. During His Journey He Communed with Nature so well to the point He had to literally Brush Little Birds and other Wildlife off His Body, so He could Lay down to Sleep. And He Meditated for as long as 49 Days on one occasion. Almost a Half a Billion Folk's in the World today, Believe in Meditation as a Spiritual Faith thanks to His Becoming One with Animals and Nature.

Roughly 2000 years ago, a 33 year old Teacher/Part Time Carpenter is Known Around The World for Defeating Satan, with the use of Positive Thought Projection. The Old Dragon attempted to Use Psychological Projection, (Casting Your Own Negative Thoughts And Behavior), against "The Man" for 40 long Days nonstop, to no Avail. Therefore We use the same Practice of Positive Thought Projection to Overcome The Negative Energy's in Our Live's, and We can Use the same Technique to Promote Positive Energy's into the Live's of Other Being's, Especially Animals. Please start a Thread on this Subject as IR suggested riefderrico, because I'm sure Everyone would Enjoy Participating in this Conversation. :thumbsup

[Baxied]

Did you ever find a rehabber?

[clark5113]

I know this may sound a little hokey - but to help put him at ease, sit quietly with him and mentally tell him you are not going to hurt him and that you want him to get better so you can set him free. If you have help arriving tell him this new person has helped others like him. Then see him better and free with your imagination. For what ever reason many animals can and do respond to this kind of communication. Some people I know even get "visions" back. Most just think its their imagination but some think it is a thought form from the animal. Anyway it is worth a shot. :crazy1

It's not hokey..........to us:grin3. Shhhhhhhhhh.

[clark5113]

Did you ever find a rehabber?

Took him (she determined "it" is a "he") to rehabber last night. She is a sweet woman with a beautiful soul and is really into rabbits. She is very knowledgeable. I posted all this last night. I don't know where it went. I called her tonight for an update and it turns out "Harold" (my son named him [which is bad juju] is a rare subspecies of rabbit known as an Appalachian Cottontail. I guess he came down out of the mountains for some R and R. His jaw isn't broken (per the doc.) He is using a chewing motion. She got 30cc of nutrition in him as well as some aspirin. So, while Harold is out of the woods, he is not out of the woods yet but things are looking up. YAY! :dance

[lukaslolamaus]

Thank goodness you found help for Harold:Love_Icon! Sending prayers for complete healing:grouphug
Please keep us updated.

[Annabelle's papa]

It's not hokey..........to us:grin3. Shhhhhhhhhh.
Amen! :thumbsup

Took him (she determined "it" is a "he") to rehabber last night. She is a sweet woman with a beautiful soul and is really into rabbits. She is very knowledgeable. I posted all this last night. I don't know where it went. I called her tonight for an update and it turns out "Harold" (my son named him [which is bad juju] is a rare subspecies of rabbit known as an Appalachian Cottontail. I guess he came down out of the mountains for some R and R. His jaw isn't broken (per the doc.) He is using a chewing motion. She got 30cc of nutrition in him as well as some aspirin. So, while Harold is out of the woods, he is not out of the woods yet but things are looking up. YAY! :dance


Thank goodness you found help for Harold:Love_Icon! Sending prayers for complete healing:grouphug
Please keep us updated.

:grouphug:grouphug:grouphug

[lennysmom]

Oh, this is a great update!!! :dance I'm so glad you were able to find a local rehabber to help little Harold. :thumbsup That little bunny has another chance at life because of you. :)

[island rehabber]

clark5113, you are my hero of the day. Get well soon, Harold! :bunny

[riefderrico]

Oh how wonderful! I hope he is doing o.k.

I will start a thread this afternoon on the Hokey thing lol! I have several rescues actually "teach" me over the years and would to share! Have to go to work right now but will be back on soon :grouphug