9mo old Netherland Dwarf doe not eating or drinking for days

[jimmywalt]

We have a 9 month old Netherland Dwarf doe that has not eaten or drank for at least 3 days. We got her 8 days ago and was told that she was 1 week pregnant.

We have plain rabbit pellets, white dry oatmeal, grass hay, dandilon greens and water for her to pick from..... and she's just not eating. Yet she doe urinate from time to time.

I even tried giving her a little piece of banana too..... and she isn't interested.

What can we do? What can we try to feed her?

Thank you.

 

[Tiny Buns]

If she hasn't consumed anything, I'd wrap her up in a towel on syringe feed her. We have Oxbow critical care that we mix up for our sick buns. It's nutrient dense for herbivores but can be mixed with water to make a thick liquid. I'd be worried after one day of not eating

Soon she'll be too weak to eat

 

[Zass]

When a bun goes off feed, offering very safe greens usually works for me. Plantain, rose family plant leaves: (blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, apple, or rose) and herbs like parsley, dill, mint, coriander, oregano, fennel, etc.

I suspend the no-sudden-introduction-of-greens rule in times of feed refusal, since it's more dangerous for a rabbit to not eat than it is to eat fresh greens.

If the bun absolutely will not eat on it's own, I prefer to use mashed pumpkin for syringe feeding or pumpkin with some overcooked oatmeal, since both foods are very high in soluble fiber which seems to be very easy on their digestive tracts and good for bulking up stool to increase gi motility.

 

[a7736100]

As a stab in the dark I would also give her simethicone, massage her stomach, make her run around. It's possible she's full of gas.

 

[jimmywalt]

We tried yogurt tonight with a eye dropper in he mouth.. she ate a small bit. Hopefully this will help. <br /><br /> -- Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:18 pm -- <br /><br />

As a stab in the dark I would also give her simethicone, massage her stomach, make her run around. It's possible she's full of gas.

What is simethicone?

 

[Tiny Buns]

simethecone is a medicine you can take or give to babies. It breaks gas bubbles up into tinier bits that are easier to pass. I used to have to give my youngest this every single meal when he was a newborn. He was a gulper and would be in gassy agony for hours without it.

We have some in the medicine cabinet for grown up tummies....it's Gas-X. Main ingredient is simethecone. <br /><br /> -- Sun Oct 04, 2015 5:42 pm -- <br /><br />

If the bun absolutely will not eat on it's own, I prefer to use mashed pumpkin for syringe feeding or pumpkin with some overcooked oatmeal, since both foods are very high in soluble fiber which seems to be very easy on their digestive tracts and good for bulking up stool to increase gi motility.

Zass, that's good to know for future reference. Thank you

 

[jimmywalt]

We force fed her again with yogurt. She did eat some. Then we tried a baby carrot and she ate 1/2 of it.

We just wish she would eat. She's due in 14 days, if she's pregnant, and the kits make it.

Thank you for any additional suggestions that you have.