Birth issues

[Jkowens90]

I have a mini Dutch bunny. She started having babies at around 1pm yesterday. She had four but only two were alive. I got home from work at 11pm and she was trying to push out another one but it is now 1:30am almost and it's still just hanging halfway out. She's crying a lot and obviously really struggling with this baby. I can tell it's obviously dead. Someone on another site said to slowly pull at a 90 degree angle, well, I tried that and barely got more out of her but the head and front arms are still not out and I don't want to risk hurting her more. Should I just let it run course and see how she is in the morning and hopefully she will be able to get it out on her own?? I have to work in the morning and really need to get some sleep but I'm freaking out about what to do.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Hi Jk,

I'm sorry your doe is having so much trouble!

You can lubricate the kit with mineral oil or KY jelly. This link has a lot of in depth advice for helping does with retained kits:

http://www.thenaturetrail.com/rabbit-br ... kits-help/

Hopefully using their techniques you can help ease her delivery.

Please let us know how she is in the morning.

 

[Dood]

Don't remove it by force.

If she is still having contractions then you should gently pull every time she bears down.

If she isn't having contractions then a vet can give her a shot to get her started again.

I believe there are some plants that can help make her contractions stronger but I am not familiar with them. Perhaps post another topic specifically asking for help with contractions to get feed back.

 

[Peach]

Yep, a nice does of oxytocin will do the trick for retained kits. You just need to go to a vet and sometimes tell them exactly what you need I know a friend that raises JW had to because most rabbits don't really see vets, so sometimes they have to be guided. Vets are the only people that can carry this drug, that I know of. (if you planned to breed dwarfs in the future, maybe work out something with the vet so you can have it on hand [a mini dutch isn't a breed, so I'm not sure exactly what you have without pictures] )

You can also do what was stated above. Also very great ideas with patience.

Hope you can get this taken cared of soon and get some sleep Goodluck!

 

[skysthelimit]

I have pulled kits out, but as Dood said, it needs to be with the contractions. Offer her something with calcium, tums, cottage creese, something like that. Massaging her will stimulate contractions as well, jut be gentle. If you can afford it getting a shot from the vet will move things along. Hope it goes well.