URGENT: 2 Day Old Kits Are Bloated

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

So... Kitty's milk is officially here. We lost the runt and it was VERY bloated. The others are alive, and various levels of bloated. One or two of them is so bloated that the skin is overly taut, painful looking, and see through.

I have noticed that Kitty spends a lot of time in the nest and I'm wondering if she's overfeeding them. Any suggestions about what to do? I figure that I'll try to potty them on my own per OBTB suggestion, but I'm thinking of removing the nest from her cage and only allowing her a few minutes a couple times a day to feed... and then have her help with Mama's kits since some of them are still being supplemented since she seems to have an overabundance of milk.

The pics are of two different kits from the litter... the worst of the 8 survivors. Sorry for the crummy pics, but they didn't want to stay still.



This pic is of the remaining runt, and what appears to be just a very well fed kit.

 

[Cottie]

They look good to me. One of Mrs Howell's kits had major mandolin belly going on from Day 2 to Day 5, but now she seems better.

 

[Flemishstar]

how many kits are there in total

 

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

Eight kits in total. We're pottying them all right now, and so far all of the 'bloated' looking kits are going lots. No poop, just pee.

 

[OwnedByTheBuns]

Good, that should make them a little less bloated. Everyone looks great except for the top, and she (looks like a doe so I'll say she) looks just really well fed.<br /><br />__________ Sat Aug 31, 2013 3:06 pm __________<br /><br />Now that I take a second look... number 1# actually looks a bit freaky.. I would efinitely try to stimulate her as much as you could, but you've got to be very gentle.

 

[Flemishstar]

I wonder if they are just REALLLLY well fed?...how does it feel when you touch the tummy?

 

[ladysown]

they look fine, just well fed. in fact, if you want them to skip a feeding it won't hurt them.

but if she's producing that well I'd use her on your other litter for a feeding rather than have you supplement. (better for the kits as well)

 

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

I wonder if they are just REALLLLY well fed?...how does it feel when you touch the tummy?

They feel squishy... airy almost. Kinda hard to explain.

they look fine, just well fed. in fact, if you want them to skip a feeding it won't hurt them.

but if she's producing that well I'd use her on your other litter for a feeding rather than have you supplement. (better for the kits as well)

Yeah, just brought Kitty in to feed two of her tiny guys who really needed to eat, and then put a couple of Mama's on her. Kitty wasn't too thrilled with the prospect and nicely let me know by raking my arm up pretty well.

We were able to potty all of Kitty's litter except for the two who hadn't eaten. Everyone went copious amounts and looked a little better after that. Figure I'll try to potty everyone again in a few hours and see if that helps at all.

Thanks everyone! Kinda a bit frustrating to have one doe who's too good of a mom and the other kinda slacking a bit! lol... wish they had kindled in opposite order!

 

[Flemishstar]

hahaha. JEEZ, im sure theyll be fine, as long as they pee and poop?

 

[ladysown]

may I make a suggestion...

rather than bringing kitty into to feed the smalls.

take HER litter away (put some place warm and dry) and then put the foster kits into HER nest. Just leave 'em there for an overnight feeding.

then in the morning switch the kits back.

That is by far the easiest way to foster or sneak an extra feeding into kits. If you did this every other day those fosterlings would get a good boost.

 

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

may I make a suggestion...

rather than bringing kitty into to feed the smalls.

take HER litter away (put some place warm and dry) and then put the foster kits into HER nest. Just leave 'em there for an overnight feeding.

then in the morning switch the kits back.

That is by far the easiest way to foster or sneak an extra feeding into kits. If you did this every other day those fosterlings would get a good boost.

Yeah... that idea crossed my mind as I watched the raking happen in slo-mo! lol... Then, it was the principle of the matter. Hahaha... Not sure who won!

 

[Miss M]

Good words from Ladysown, there. I hope it works out well.

 

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

UPDATE: So, I pottied all of Kitty's kits several times across the day and again just before bed. By morning, everyone was looking good. I put a few of Mama's kits in Kitty's nest along with two of Kitty's smaller kits who really needed to eat. Just before bed, I checked on everyone, and all of the fostered kits had been fed plus the two of her own that I'd left in the nest. I pulled those two, and put them in with their siblings after pottying them so that they didn't get too full like the others and left Mama's kits with Kitty overnight. Kitty's kits stayed with me in a basket on my nightstand so I could keep an eye on them.

Checked everyone this morning, Kitty had fed Mama's kits again, and they were nice and round but not overly plump so I put all of Mama's kits back in her nest and then returned Kitty's kits to the nest. All of hers were looking good, but the two smallest definitely need to eat more, so I think what I'm going to do is check on everyone again later, and pull all but the two tiniest from Kitty's litter, and put in the one or two scrawniest from Mama's litter and do another overnight feeding and to help keep the little guys warm.