proud mama of Rocky
05-16-2017, 11:46 AM
On Sunday evening (around 36 hours ago), an acquaintance of mine accidentally ran over a bunny nest with his law mower. Several of the bunnies died immediately, but two survived. The two survivors were crying pretty badly and were clearly stressed. He tried putting them in longer grass for their mother to find, but noticed that their ongoing cries were attracting neighborhood cats. He could also not tell for certain if there were injuries to the two, so he called and asked if I would take them. I agreed and asked him to ensure they were warm, but not to handle them etc. I then called my vet, who immediately prescribed bactrim in case of injury.
When the bunnies arrived, they were still crying and clearly stressed, but I did not find any injuries. They are tiny, but big than I was expecting--old enough to regulate their own body temperature (fully furred, eyes open, etc.) and to pee and poo on their own. I placed them in a dark, quiet area of the house (my walk-in closet), set water in both a dish and bottle in their cage (bedding is grass, fleece and a few organic wood chips), a blanket over the top of the cage, and offered things like rodent block, greens, dandelions, small bits of carrot and avocado to them--also liquid probiotic. Since I did not observe injuries, I have not administered the bactrim at all.
I also offered fox valley formula in both a syringe (catac nipple) and in a dish, just in case they were still taking formula, but neither displayed any interest in it. One of the two is eating well, startles appropriately when I approach the cage and appears to be doing well in general. The other has been sitting in a trance since he arrived and won't touch the food or water. I even tried giving him water with the syringe, but he refuses and it drips down his chin.
I just want to get these two well and big enough that I can safely release them into my woods as soon as possible. Over the years, I have rehabbed and released over a dozen squirrels and have never lost one, but I am really worried that I am going to lose this bunny. I have also not done bunnies before. Please, anyone with knowledge of bunnies, advise me as to what else I should be doing, or am doing wrong.
Thank you so much in advance!
When the bunnies arrived, they were still crying and clearly stressed, but I did not find any injuries. They are tiny, but big than I was expecting--old enough to regulate their own body temperature (fully furred, eyes open, etc.) and to pee and poo on their own. I placed them in a dark, quiet area of the house (my walk-in closet), set water in both a dish and bottle in their cage (bedding is grass, fleece and a few organic wood chips), a blanket over the top of the cage, and offered things like rodent block, greens, dandelions, small bits of carrot and avocado to them--also liquid probiotic. Since I did not observe injuries, I have not administered the bactrim at all.
I also offered fox valley formula in both a syringe (catac nipple) and in a dish, just in case they were still taking formula, but neither displayed any interest in it. One of the two is eating well, startles appropriately when I approach the cage and appears to be doing well in general. The other has been sitting in a trance since he arrived and won't touch the food or water. I even tried giving him water with the syringe, but he refuses and it drips down his chin.
I just want to get these two well and big enough that I can safely release them into my woods as soon as possible. Over the years, I have rehabbed and released over a dozen squirrels and have never lost one, but I am really worried that I am going to lose this bunny. I have also not done bunnies before. Please, anyone with knowledge of bunnies, advise me as to what else I should be doing, or am doing wrong.
Thank you so much in advance!