EMERGENCY, what to feed newborns?

[Kyle@theWintertime]

It looks like I'm gonna have to attempt to hand-raise Sparkles' kits...we lost one in the night and this morning, I realized they're all so wrinkly!!! Upset that she's not feeding them, I grabbed her and rolled her over...she's been trying. I stuck babies all over her, they nursed for about fifteen minutes...as wrinkly as ever. She has no milk!!!

What can I use as "formula" for her kits? There's three that are vigorous and trying desperately to nurse but I think the fourth one is fading too fast, I don't have a lot of hope for that one.

But I want to give these guys the best possible chance. Halp?

 

[Brody]

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/orphan.html

http://www.rabbit.org/care/babies.html# ... by_Rabbits

not something I'd be brave enough to tackle i fear


best of luck

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Here are a couple of threads from RT:

formula-feeding-baby-bunnies-pics-vids-t3691.html

tips-for-handraising-kits-t2486.html

Hopefully Sparkle's milk will come in soon and you can keep them going until then.

 

[Disney]

I've heard the mom's can and will hold the milk in when they are forced to turn over and feed the kits.
Though i read somewhere that she only will let go of the milk if you 'trance' her gently, and then put the kits on her and you will see them get fatter.

I've never put a rabbit in a hypnotic state myself but here it says how it has to be done, i would try this with your doe.
Would be great if we knew if it actually works.
http://www.hopperhome.com/trancing_rabbits.htm

 

[Miss M]

It does work, to a point. That point varies with the rabbit and the ability of the owner.

Those are good threads, Kyle... I hope they help! The most important thing when they are that small: GO SLOW.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Well, I made a bunny grocery list and took off for the morning...I had a few appointments I could not miss (how can I care for my critters if I don't take care of myself?) and when I got the formula mixed, the weak little runt was looking pretty bad. While I warmed the formula, the weak one died.

The other three are still pretty wiggley...there is apparently a learning curve with a tiny-baby-animal-bottle, and it took a while for us to all figure out how to do this. At first I was really worried they were too far gone to nurse...they kept trying and failing. Before long the kits and I were all pretty well soaked in formula. :shock: Then one kit grabbed the nipple and went crazy. !!!! I managed to get some formula into each of them, only a little but I figure, they're so weak they probably can't nurse for long. I grabbed a wad of Angora and made a new "nest" in a little box in a cat carrier and they're gonna live in my room. I'll periodically try to get them to nurse on mom (she seems really willinh) but I'm not holding my breath on her getting any milk in anytime soon.

Those three kits are now napping...I tucked a warm water bottle on the far side of the carrier to keep it kinda warm for 'em.

I'm gonna try to get some more formula in 'em tonight before bedtime, to try and "make up" for how depleted they are, after that a breakfast-and-bedtime feeding schedule shall commence. If they make it these will be the snuggliest human-tame bunnies ever.

To be honest I know their chances are slim but I have to try!<br /><br />__________ Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:11 pm __________<br /><br />Also before I TOTALLY forget...thanks for the info, guys, you may have literally helped save a trio of tiny lives. I'm really grateful, thank you!!!!

 

[fuzzy9]

Kyle, I didn't read through the whole post, so I don't know if this has been said, but I had a doe like this in spring. Her milk wasn't in, and the kits were dying. I fed her some alfalfa, BOSS, and kitchen oatmeal to help get her milk in. It did work.

 

[BunnyGirl]

Kitchen oatmeal? Like old fashioned rolled oats help?

 

[MaggieJ]

Yes, that is right, BunnyGirl. The old-fashioned, large-flake oatmeal is best.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Update. Sparkles never did get any milk in, and all of the kits have since passed. I got them along for a few days, one was really promising. He was starting to get "fuzzy" and soft and glossy looking.........but then he just died anyways.

On a slightly less depressing note, I had an idea the other day. My kitty Ember was pregnant when brought into the rescue she came from, and was hailed as a WONDERFUL mom who would nurse any kitten. I wondered if she'd maybe snuggle the bunnies so they'd have something warm and fuzzy to cuddle with. I showed her the bunnies, she didn't act like they were prey...so I held one out.

She chirped happily and sat up and "begged," asking me to deliver the "treat." She thought they were a present! Needless to say I decided the bunnies didn't need snuggling with the Emberkitty.

 

[3mina]

That might work if she had a litter but otherwise....
I've never had a cat that didn't look at the rabbits & not think 'lunch'

 

[dragonladyleanne]

Sorry the babies passed

 

[MaggieJ]

Sorry the kits didn't make it, Kyle. You gave it your best shot... Can't do more than that.

 

[ZRabbits]

So sorry to hear about the kits.

Karen

 

[fuzzy9]

Sorry you lost the kits.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Aww- sorry Kyle. It seems that it just isn't possible to raise them without at least some milk from their mothers.