Baby bunny underweight

[KHoward]

Hi,

I have a baby bunny about 3 weeks old that is underweight. The 3 siblings are fine. It has been oppressively hot in Boston (90's) and they are in the shade with plenty of ventilation.

Its skin is too big for its body now (wrinkly) and it has a bald patch on its head. Pretty lethargic. It has a big belly so I think it's still getting milk from the Doe but the siblings are little doughballs.

Earlier today I held the Doe so that the baby could latch on and it seems that it did. Then tonight I held the doe again but the baby had no interest in latching.

Any suggestions?

 

[cassie]

It is a sad fact of life that not all babies, of any species, are going to make it. In my experience, fooling with poor doers just isn't worth it. With very few exceptions, they are never thrifty and they never do well. There is no telling what is wrong with the bunny. It could be a birth defect, a poor immune system, or a metabolic disorder and chances are you can't fix it.

 

[KHoward]

Thanks for the reply, unfortunately she died (which I expected).

 

[Bunnylady]

Sorry for your loss, but sadly, my experience has been much like cassie's. Occasionally you may get one that just isn't keeping up with the siblings due to poor timing and simple bad luck, but usually, there is something wrong with it, and no amount of 'help" will change that. If it makes you feel better, hey, you tried.