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About Dana Krempels, Ph.D.
Expertise
I've lived with companion rabbits for more than 35 years, and consider them members of my family. I can answer any questions about the biology and health of rabbits, from the commonplace to the unusual. But please note:
RULE #1:
THE INTERNET IS NOT THE PLACE TO SEEK HELP IN AN EMERGENCY.
- If your rabbits is LETHARGIC
- If your rabbit is NOT EATING
- If your rabbit is PHYSICALLY INJURED (including broken bones)
- If your baby rabbit has DIARRHEA
...it is an EMERGENCY.
Find a rabbit-savvy veterinarian at www.rabbit.org/vets for immediate help, and don't risk your bunny's life by spending time asking questions online!
RULE #2:
Help me help you! Please make your subject line informative if you have an urgent question.
- If you already have been to the vet and still need help
- if you can't find an available vet with the resources above
then LET ME KNOW IN THE SUBJECT LINE so I can give your question highest priority over non-urgent questions. If you don't do this, then I can't guarantee timely assistance!
For all the best, most accurate rabbit health, care and behavior information, visit The House Rabbit Society.
Experience
Publications
Exotic DVM
Warren Peace (Journal of the House Rabbit Society of Miami)
Various newsletters of the House Rabbit Society, nationwide
Education/Credentials
Ph.D - Biology
B.S. - Biology
B.A. - English
Awards and Honors
Lightspan Academic Excellence Award for web site on rabbit health and biology
(http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare)
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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Veterinary Medicine > Rabbits > rearing orphans
Rabbits - rearing orphans
Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 11/7/2009
Question
Hi Dana, I am currently hand rearing 6 dwarf lop babies after their mother tragically escaped from the cage (I suspect my 2 year old may have assisted!), and our dog caught her. They have been without their Mum since 10 days of age, are now 15 days old.
We are in a good routine of 8 hourly feeds, drinking about 5-8 mls each feed now, all appear healthy, vigorous, no diarrhoea, bright & alert. My question is about where to from here, I understand they need to eat healthy rabbit poo (not the correct term I'm sure!), I have 2 other rabbits, should I give the babies access to their poo?? Also, I have read about "probiotics", should I be giving them this in their formula, and how much? I am feeding them a formula called "divetelact", readily available in Australia from vets. When should I give them access to alternative food, they have started nibbling on nesting hay when they come out of their nest?
thanks for your interest & advice, Cathie
Answer
Dear Cathie,
I am sorry about the tragic loss of mama rabbit.
The babies can get the normal flora they need by just being around the other rabbits, or even their fresh droppings, which they will smell and nibble out of curiosity. If you can get cecotropes, all the better. You can stir the fresh cecotropes and/or fecal pellets into the babies' pelleted food bowl, and just leave them there. The babies won't eat the poops, but they will likely eat the pellets that have been somewhat inoculated with the normal GI flora. As long as the adults are healthy and free of parasites, this should work fine.
But don't put the babies with the adults unless you have a completely neutral territory, or there will be bloodshed and mayhem.
If you hope to get all the bunnies together, here are some tips:
http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-a=00062824-sp00000000&sp-q=bonding
But this will be successful only if everyone is spayed/neutered to reduce aggression and territoriality. Please also see:
www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html
Hope this helps. Good luck with the babies!
Dana
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