Bad Rex Momma babies are starved and dying

[tm_bunnyloft]

my Rex Doe seemed to be doing a good job with her kits. Then last night I noticed they seemed a little thin. Well, no big deal, she must not have fed them yet. Pulled the nest box to take some pics this afternoon. And they are all very thin. Still not fed. I fed them all but one is in rough shape. It is the thinnest one and it is chilled. I managed to get a little in it and now it is warming on my belly. It was stiff and I thought it was dead. I startwd rubbing it and then it started to scream. It is now quiet and relaxed. I hope thats a good sign. It is one of the two red rex my husband is wanting to keep. They are one week old now.

Any ideas or advice to save this little one would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I would swap nests with another doe for one feeding per day. If you can provide additional heat to the nest that will also help them conserve what calories they have available. A reptile heating pad would work well, or possibly a heating pad set on low. You can also make a hot water bottle out of a screw top jar or bottle wrapped in a sock or fabric.

You can also sprinkle goat milk replacer on the doe's feed and give her various herbs and plants that stimulate lactation.

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[tm_bunnyloft]

I don't think she is even trying to feed them. :evil: She done quit her job and now expects me to take care of her kids. :evil:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Hmm. Stew, anyone?

 

[LindseysWoolies]

Does she have the milk to feed them?

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I'm going to check her in a bit. I finally got this little one doing pretty well. It was so starved and completely stiff. The others were thin but not as bad off. I thought this one was dead when I found it. Now it is snuggling up on my belly all nice and warm. I got .7 cc of KMR into his little belly and he is doing surprisingly well. I am shocked.

At this age I wonder how much a standard rex kit should be eating? And can they go potty on their own yet?

Each one ate at least 7 cc of the KMR and are now all snuggled up in some warm wash cloths in a big plastic bowl.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Good save!

If you can get goatmilk replacer that would be better for them. Even kittens get diarrhea on straight KMR. Make sure to mix it at twice the normal dilution rate. I would also recommend letting them nurse from a doe at least once a day.

I would try to get them to potty by wiping their nether regions with a cotton ball soaked in warm water.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

Will do. Thank you. I think its going to make it and I'm super excited. I checked the doe and she has milk. She may just not have enough. I will put the kits back with her once Im sure they are ok. And then supplement them once a day from here on until they are eating solid foods. I don't have any goats milk right now and hubs has the van. But will be able to pick some up tomorrow. In the mean time it will keep them alive.<br /><br />__________ Fri Nov 09, 2012 8:50 pm __________<br /><br />The little red is not going to make it. I am so bummed. It is having seizures and so probably wouldn't have made it even if she were feeding them better. It is in with its siblings but I don't forsee it to be alive by morning.

 

[Bad Habit]

I'm sorry tm you tried so hard, it must suck to lose it now.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Aww. Sorry about the red- it always seems to be the ones we want to keep that don't make it.

I hope the rest of them continue to improve. :clover:

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I do to but I don't think I will keep any of them. I think it best to buy a pedigreed pair for Hubs. We are working with our Flemish Giant projects and keep at least two of those as it is.

 

[Miss M]

Make sure to mix it at twice the normal dilution rate.

Do you mean use half the water, or twice the water? I would figure half the water, so it's double strength?

I use 1/2 Cup evaporated (double-strength) goat's milk, 1/2 Tablespoon corn syrup, and one egg yolk. It has worked very well for me in the past. I am facing my first failure with it... a baby that at 13 days old, has not grown at all. She is still newborn-sized, though furred. She seems to have some other issues, so we are not going to supplement her anymore. We'll see what she continues to get from Mama.

At any rate, this is the first baby that hasn't thrived on it.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I fed this baby and he warmed up but keeps having seizures or at least that is what it looks like. I think it is best to not continue to try and feed him. I am bummed that I didn't do something sooner but he seems small compared to the rest as well so there probably isn't much I could have done either way. I wont be breeding this doe again.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Do you mean use half the water, or twice the water?

Half the water, so you are doing it right. You want it to be very concentrated. The added egg yolk and syrup is a good touch. I bet some probiotics would make it even better.

Have you tried giving her any probios? Maybe that will give her the boost she needs.

 

[skysthelimit]

I fed this baby and he warmed up but keeps having seizures or at least that is what it looks like. I think it is best to not continue to try and feed him. I am bummed that I didn't do something sooner but he seems small compared to the rest as well so there probably isn't much I could have done either way. I wont be breeding this doe again.

They say it's common for first time does not to have successful litters.

 

[AnnClaire]

Also, while it might be too little too late, I have seen folks recommend that you warm a kit before feeding it ... a cold kit with a full belly is a recipe for a dead/bloated kit.

However, you probably didn't do anything that has caused his decline ... too cold is too cold at that age So sorry to hear it isn't doing as well as the others.

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

It wouldn't eat when it was chilled so was actually warm before it ate much of anything. It is having seizures and was when I found it. It is smaller than the others as well. I don't believe there was much to be done for it either way. It is sad but just one of those things.

 

[Miss M]

Right, if it's having seizures, there's more wrong than food.

Have you tried giving her any probios? Maybe that will give her the boost she needs.

No... but she hasn't even grown at all... would that have anything to do with probios?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

she hasn't even grown at all... would that have anything to do with probios?

Probiotics provide beneficial gut flora which aid in digestion, so it is worth a try. I still wouldn't keep her as a breeding animal, but you may be able to raise her to a good weight for <cough> "other purposes". :dinner:

 

[SelfFueled]

Sorry to hear about the troubles.

On the bright side of things, you (and us) are getting some experience on how
to care for unfed kits.
Plus you now know you cant bred this mama anymore.

Maybe you will be able to save the others!