Calling ATOT vets, baby bunnies found, need to know how to take care of them.

[funboy6942]

My son was in the back yard playing, said he say the local run around dog by our bushes and flowers, and then saw it have one of these in its mouth. When he got closer found 3 of them, and fur and blood around the area, so we can only assume the mother is no longer around.

They are pretty small, and have their eyes still shut. So what do we do with them, what to feed them as far as milk substitute would go. I read quickly not to give them cows milk, and all our vet places are closed. So any ideas?

Pics of course:
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Edit
Thanks to the reply below were going to rebuild the nest in hopes mom did not die, and the damn dog just found the nest. Hopefully the fur isn't dead mom bunny fur, and hopefully the damn dog wont find them again.

One baby bunny has a tick near its eye, you think I should try to remove it before putting it back into the remade nest, or will mom take care of it?

Had to take a few more shots since I will most likely never see baby bunnies again.
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[Brainonska511]

The first link on Google searching for (w/o quotes): "Feeding baby bunnies" brought up this site: http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/orphan.html

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

OMG OMG OMG ><

*asplodes*

 

[HN]

rubber baby bunny bumpers for sure

 

[michaels]

Rabbit..drools

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Definitely call the humane society?

 

[TecHNooB]

I want one T___T;

 

[Dogo]

rabbit stew?

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511
The first link on Google searching for (w/o quotes): "Feeding baby bunnies" brought up this site: http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/orphan.html

Thank you, my wife and my son are going outside and doing what that site says to do and rebuild the nest, no more then 10' from where the local dog found them.

Hopefully it wont come back and go after them again, as much as we would like to care for them, this seems like their best chance if the mothers fur around the site, isnt from her being dead. Were going to do also what they say about making the cross pattern on the nest and check back in the next few days, if mom hasn't come back, then we will go from there and see what we can do for them at that point.

 

[natto fire]

I think a veteran would kill them humanely, knowing they have little chance of survival.

However, if you were wondering what a veterinarian would do, my answer still applies. Unless you are planning on raising or giving them away, you do not have very many options. I think some pet shops will take creatures off your hands, if they have the proper immunizations ($$$). But hey if you want to pay money so some pet shop can sell them to some irresponsible twerp for a profit, who will probably kill them anyways, then by all means.

If you think you can handle all 3 of them in some sort of outdoor enclosure, that would be good too. How old is your son/children?

 

[KMurphy]

When I was younger, we would raise small mammals like this (rabbits, flying squirrels, etc.) when their eyes were still closed. At this stage, we used a large medicine dropper (the suction bulb type) and slowly let them nurse from that. Warmed whole milk up until it felt neutral by dropping a test droplet on your wrist. Fed until they stop eating every few hours; never had one die. After they get larger, you can use small animal nursing bottles with appropriate sized nipples.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

They're too young to survive in the wild.

If you want to try, pick up some KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement, the pet store/vet will know what this is) and feed them with an eyedropper.

- M4H

 

[Leros]

I would imagine rabbits raised by humans from that age would make very pets.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
I think a veteran would kill them humanely, knowing they have little chance of survival.

However, if you were wondering what a veterinarian would do, my answer still applies. Unless you are planning on raising or giving them away, you do not have very many options. I think some pet shops will take creatures off your hands, if they have the proper immunizations ($$$). But hey if you want to pay money so some pet shop can sell them to some irresponsible twerp for a profit, who will probably kill them anyways, then by all means.

If you think you can handle all 3 of them in some sort of outdoor enclosure, that would be good too. How old is your son/children?

6 and 13, in reading the link provided above it is against the law for me to take care of them, and I do agree with you 100% that a vet would kill them, then take care of them. Were going to remake the nest, and hope that mom comes back and does take care of them, if not, I may break the law and give them one last chance and do our best to give them a fighting chance to live on.

 

[Late4Dinner]

Carefully remove the tick, the mother wouldn't.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: funboy42

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
I think a veteran would kill them humanely, knowing they have little chance of survival.

However, if you were wondering what a veterinarian would do, my answer still applies. Unless you are planning on raising or giving them away, you do not have very many options. I think some pet shops will take creatures off your hands, if they have the proper immunizations ($$$). But hey if you want to pay money so some pet shop can sell them to some irresponsible twerp for a profit, who will probably kill them anyways, then by all means.

If you think you can handle all 3 of them in some sort of outdoor enclosure, that would be good too. How old is your son/children?

6 and 13, in reading the link provided above it is against the law for me to take care of them, and I do agree with you 100% that a vet would kill them, then take care of them. Were going to remake the nest, and hope that mom comes back and does take care of them, if not, I may break the law and give them one last chance and do our best to give them a fighting chance to live on.

:thumbsup:
That law wasn't made for a situation like this with a responsible, caring person like you.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
They're too young to survive in the wild.

If you want to try, pick up some KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement, the pet store/vet will know what this is) and feed them with an eyedropper.

- M4H

We bought the eye dropper alread, but didnt know about the milk. My wife got whipping cream that I asked here to get, thinking it would be high in fat content, but I read giving them cows milk could kill them. If mom doesnt come back over night, then I will try the KMR stuff and see if I cant do any good for them.

I think with their eyes shut, it actually increases their chances if I have to take care of then due to the fact they cat see, or understand all to well whos feeding them. But I just hope mom comes back, I already got 4 stray dogs, cat, and having 3 rabbits running around the house is going to drive me more insane.

 

[KMurphy]

Originally posted by: Leros
I would imagine rabbits raised by humans from that age would make very pets.

They do make very good pets. The flying squirrels we raised fell out of a hollow oak tree that was cut down. We took them and raised them from when they're eyes were closed. When their eyes opened and they could run around, they used us as landing and climbing stations around the living room. They were completely tame until the two males reached sexual maturity. They would naw furniture up and one finally killed the other over the female sister. Set them free not long after. I Can't remember exactly how long we had them, but it may have been a few months.

 

[meltdown75]

I found 3 dead baby squirrels burrowed into my FRONT LAWN this week.

Ninja squirrel spitting out babies FTL

OH SNAP they were rabbit babies!

Oh well. Dead & buried.

 

[Vonkhan]

Originally posted by: funboy42

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
They're too young to survive in the wild.

If you want to try, pick up some KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement, the pet store/vet will know what this is) and feed them with an eyedropper.

- M4H

We bought the eye dropper alread, but didnt know about the milk. My wife got whipping cream that I asked here to get, thinking it would be high in fat content, but I read giving them cows milk could kill them. If mom doesnt come back over night, then I will try the KMR stuff and see if I cant do any good for them.

I think with their eyes shut, it actually increases their chances if I have to take care of then due to the fact they cat see, or understand all to well whos feeding them. But I just hope mom comes back, I already got 4 stray dogs, cat, and having 3 rabbits running around the house is going to drive me more insane.

petting zoo on the weekends for disabled/sick kids :thumbsup:

 

[uhohs]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
OMG OMG OMG ><

*asplodes*

lol your reactions are great. :thumbsup:

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: funboy42

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
They're too young to survive in the wild.

If you want to try, pick up some KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement, the pet store/vet will know what this is) and feed them with an eyedropper.

- M4H

We bought the eye dropper alread, but didnt know about the milk. My wife got whipping cream that I asked here to get, thinking it would be high in fat content, but I read giving them cows milk could kill them. If mom doesnt come back over night, then I will try the KMR stuff and see if I cant do any good for them.

I think with their eyes shut, it actually increases their chances if I have to take care of then due to the fact they cat see, or understand all to well whos feeding them. But I just hope mom comes back, I already got 4 stray dogs, cat, and having 3 rabbits running around the house is going to drive me more insane.

The local animal rescue place might be able to help ... they may have a wildlife rescue place that will take them.

Sorry, but odds aren't good for them ... at that young (saw the pics, showed the wife who agrees) their odds of survival are very bad. Just be prepared for that.

And if they do survive, they will imprint on you. Just FYI.

- M4H

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: Late4Dinner
Carefully remove the tick, the mother wouldn't.

Tick has been removed.

I think in a way would be kinda cool if they did imprint on us, if it came down to us taking care of them. I wouldnt keep them in the house, and one site I read said once they are the size of a soft ball they can take care of themselves. At which point I would set them free, but if I imprinted on them and they stuck around, be cool to call their name, have them come out of the woods, to be fed a carrot, or what ever.

 

[natto fire]

Originally posted by: funboy42

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
I think a veteran would kill them humanely, knowing they have little chance of survival.

However, if you were wondering what a veterinarian would do, my answer still applies. Unless you are planning on raising or giving them away, you do not have very many options. I think some pet shops will take creatures off your hands, if they have the proper immunizations ($$$). But hey if you want to pay money so some pet shop can sell them to some irresponsible twerp for a profit, who will probably kill them anyways, then by all means.

If you think you can handle all 3 of them in some sort of outdoor enclosure, that would be good too. How old is your son/children?

6 and 13, in reading the link provided above it is against the law for me to take care of them, and I do agree with you 100% that a vet would kill them, then take care of them. Were going to remake the nest, and hope that mom comes back and does take care of them, if not, I may break the law and give them one last chance and do our best to give them a fighting chance to live on.

At 13, that is a perfect age to teach some responsibility, not to mention carpentry. I am a pacifist at heart and remember crying when I was really young and my dad ran over some baby bunnies with the riding mower in our field, so I might have a slight bias.

Obviously, you do not want to go ahead and build an enclosure before you are sure they will survive, but at 13 (these are both sons?) I was already learning some basic carpentry skills, and is a great age to learn pretty much anything. Children can learn so much when they have compassionate, eager parents around. I would definitely say it is a good idea to TRY to keep them alive. I guess it would be a good time for them to learn about death as well. I know I was pretty young when I learned.

Either way, you have already done a great job by providing an enviroment where your children can interact with young wildlife. The privilege of which many urban/possibly suburban children do not have the chance to experience.

 

[meltdown75]

Newborn rabbits and squirrels look quite a bit alike except for the long tail on the squirrels.