Oh crud, no milk!

[Secuono]

Well crud!!! My SF I've been waiting forever to raise a litter now has no milk, no teats at all, they are tiny, pale and clearly haven't grown to have milk!

Poor 7 kits didn't know what to do when a doe was over them. I tried to espress milk in the SF, no teats had anything and too small in general. Then I picked up the mutt doe and the first teat I tried had some milk. I put her in the SF nest and some of them got a little milk. I'm sure it won't do much good. The other doe hasn't had her kits yet, but she's a 1st timer, who knows what will happen.

Is there anyway to get the SF to have milk, plants or drugs to try?<br /><br />__________ Sun May 19, 2013 3:49 pm __________<br /><br />Here are the poor fellows. I'm going to keep trying Jasna, checking the SF and eventually try hand feeding any that live.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

Parsley is supposed to help milk come in. I have given it to all my does and they gobble it up like they are craving it. I have started giving it before their due date to help stimulate labor and milk production. Hope her milk comes in soon. It would be a shame to lose those babies you've been waiting for.

 

[ckcs]

I second the parsley. I give it to my does and they gobble it up as well. Whether it actually helps with the milk, I can't say.

 

[amandainohio24]

My does love the parsley also

 

[mystang89]

There are a few different herbs you can use. Just do a search (ctrl f) and type in "lactat".
http://rabbittalk.com/effects-of-herbs-for-rabbits-t14508.html

 

[DonnerSurvivor]

In the dairy cows we used to give them a small does of oxytocin and it made milk drop fast. I have no idea if the same thing could possibly be used for rabbits.

 

[Secuono]

Nothing from her still, will check her today again, but don't expect a change.
Looks like she tried to pull fur around her teats and ended up biting two or three of them. She's very ouchy on her belly, teats are still tiny and pale and I feel no milk around under the skin.
I've been putting Jasna into the nest to feed them and yesterday I put Panni, a Cali doe in the nest. Hoping that between the two, some will grow at least to weaning age, even if they stay small.<br /><br />__________ Wed May 22, 2013 5:09 pm __________<br /><br />And then there was one....
He's living with me on my belly and I'm flipping Panni for long periods of time. This one will be a house bun if it survives...but I doubt it.. =(

 

[Miss M]

Oh, I'm so sorry, CnB!

 

[Secuono]

Do rabbits have colostrum like other larger mammals??
Kind of hoping they don't or at least that this guy won't need it. Just came back from his second feeding, he's got to try all the teats to get a half full tummy. Looks like one of Panni's kits cut the tip of one of her teats clean in half! But that's healing fine. Separated her from them, she's fat as heck! She's eating all the food, it's disgusting and not good to be fat when the weather is getting real hot.<br /><br />__________ Wed May 22, 2013 7:38 pm __________<br /><br />Here he is after feeding, not terribly full, but enough for him to get back to his napping.

 

[Dood]

Rabbits don't need colostrum, the fetus receives immune antibodies through the placenta.

Newborn rabbits do not require colostrum because all passive immunity is received through the placenta.

from - http://www.nus.edu.sg/iacuc/files/The%2 ... Rabbit.pdf

 

[Secuono]

Thanks.
She/he sure is a squiggly sleeper...Not sure how I'll keep it warm now that it's alone...She/he's been sleeping on my tummy to keep warm all day, tickles like crazy!

 

[Miss M]

Aw... he's got such sleek and shiny fur! I'm glad he's managing to get some milk, poor thing.

 

[amandainohio24]

Sorry to hear the others did not make it. Sending lots of luck your way with keeping this little one alive. She is a cutie.

 

[Secuono]

He survived the night and was jumping up for milk! He found a good teat right away so the doe didn't flail around today. =)

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Sorry you lost the litter, but glad to hear that the lone survivor seems to be doing okay.

Maybe you could put it in a cloth bag or sock while you carry it around in your shirt so the claws can't tickle your belly.

 

[Miss M]

Wonderful!! :bouncy:

Maybe you could put it in a cloth bag or sock while you carry it around in your shirt so the claws can't tickle your belly.

I shall remember that the next time I have a bunny to warm. The little needle claws! :x

 

[Secuono]

Ah, I don't mind the tickling, means it's still alive and just dreaming about hopping around when it grows up!
I finally found where I put the saved fur, had moved it for the wedding so people wouldn't give us really weird looks, lol. If I hadn't found it last night, I don't think she/he would of made it through the night.
She/he's 6 days old now, will keep you guys posted!

__________ Thu May 23, 2013 6:21 pm __________

She/he had it's 2nd meal of the day, since the doe is separated from the kits, it was able to fill up on milk mush faster. =D<br /><br />__________ Fri May 24, 2013 10:07 am __________<br /><br />She/he's no longer boney. =D

 

[Dood]

Rabbit milk changes composition as the litter ages and gets more fatty so don't let the little one get too overweight.

 

[Secuono]

 

[Miss M]

Awwwwwww...