We found a wild baby rabbit behind our doghouse today, and we have it in a cage separate from our other 2 rabbits. It is 3 and a half to 4 inches long, and seems to be in shock. The rabbit is not moving, eating, or drinking. But you can see it's nose moving. Is there anything I can do to help the little baby rabbit? What can I give to eat and drink? We already gave it some hay to hide in, water, lettuce, and carrots.
2007-06-19 14:17:32 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
you need to take it to a vet AS SOON AS YOU CAN! if its stomach is sunken in, put some jam in its mouth. the vet will probably get you to buy some milk replacer and give you instructions how to care for it. do NOT give it cows milk.
2007-06-19 14:22:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm sorry to say, but if you don't find it's mother, it will most likely die. Put some of the other rabbits poop in there. It needs it's mother's poop for nutrients, I had a baby rabbit my cat caught, and it only lasted 2 weeks in a nice cage. Do NOT HANDLE IT!!! Normal water and baby formula should help too. Give it a card board box to hide in the dark. That should help the shock, and if you can, go to your vet. But try your best to fins it's mother! :) good luck!
2007-06-27 08:26:51 · answer #2 · answered by Maggie R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Many people mean well when they contact HRS after discovering an "abandoned" nest of wild rabbits. Often they wish to "rehabilitate" them with some advice from others. The reality is fewer than 10% of orphaned rabbits survive a week, and the care that people attempt to provide can be illegal, unnecessary, and potentially harmful. The best thing you can do is put the bunny right back where you found him, in the general area, as the Mom will only come back at night to call and find him. Leave the area...Older baby bunnies who are found outside of the nest may not be orphaned or in need of assistance. Baby cottontails are born without fur but develop a full coat in a week. Their eyes open in 10 days, and in three to four weeks they are weaned. At this age, they may explore the world outside of the nest but return there to sleep. They are not ignored by the mother but stay with the family group until four or five weeks of age... If he is just out and about, leave him be. He is discovering his world, waiting for mom to return at night when we humans are asleep. "
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/orphan.html
2007-06-19 14:31:42 · answer #3 · answered by margecutter 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
unfortunately, very few wild baby rabbits actually make it under human care. rabbits are very sensitive, physically and mentally. just bare that in mind.
but you can try feeding it some kitten formula with a syringe. definitely keep it separate from your other rabbits. a baby rabbit probably won't do much with lettuce and carrots, but if it looks old enough, you can try some canned kitten food.
while it wouldnt' hurt to take it a wildlife rehabilitator, i don't know that many of them stay open this late....or wherever you are....a vet might take it if it survives until morning.
you can try releasing it, but do it away from the dogs and don't be surprised if it doesn't run away but lays there because it sounds like it's already in a state of shock.
2007-06-19 14:25:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If this animal has hair and its eyes are opened, it's about 4 weeks old and already weaned. Full grown cottontails only weigh a couple of pounds- the babies are SMALL! I know it's tiny but it can take care of itself. LET IT GO! I used to manage a pet store and I saw this all the time. Rabbits easily die from shock. If you try to keep it or handle it, the odds are it will die. If your yard is not acceptable, take it to a place where the grass is kept short with patches of brush around it. Cemetaries and golf courses are perfect. The resident rabbits will find it and take it into the warren. Trust me-I've been through this dozens of times!
2007-06-19 14:28:55 · answer #5 · answered by howldine 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I agree with howldine. Baby wild rabbits are extremely difficult to hand raise. They usually die of shock. If it is the size of a lemon, and the eyes are open, release it in a safe area. It can take care of itself. Really.
2007-06-19 14:34:38 · answer #6 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Rabbit isn't eating or drinking because it's wild it doesn't want to be in a cage it wants to go back home most likley. Wild rabbits don't want to be caged they need to be free.
2007-06-19 14:24:20 · answer #7 · answered by little_miss_chipmunk 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
awww! poor rabitt! if i were u i would take it to the vet IMMEDIATLY!!! try putting it in the cage with the other two bunnies.it might be lonely.just take it to the vet as soon as possible. oh yeah, if u have any other dogs or cats make sure it feels safe!
2007-06-19 14:35:44 · answer #8 · answered by thenamegame 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You shuold probably call the vet - rabbits (and always wander around) besides they will no how to take care of the rabbit - U also shouldn't just pick up random wild animals it could be dangerous and you could get a disease like rabies from them.
2007-06-25 11:19:20 · answer #9 · answered by angela l 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
you need to let it go, preferably back in the place that you found it in. it can fend for itself, believe it or not, its defense mechanism is to put on a shock-like fiscade so that you will leave it alone. i know it's tough but you have to let it go.
2007-06-19 14:32:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋