HELP !! My 3 day old bunny is clicking when it breaths and is opening it mouth like its asperating !

[Sam091599]

I have a litter of bunnies (holland lops ) that was born Saturday and the mom had five baby's . 3 of the baby's are doing great and are really fat And healthy but 2 of the a baby's are clicking when they breathe and open there mouths and act like they are getting stiff . HELP I don't knew what to do has anyone had any simalar problems ????? My doe seems to be. Pretty good mom but here's baby's don't look fed eaither they look like she hasn't cleaned these 2 up eaither . I don't understand what is happing ??? They are very warm and she pulled a ton of fur ! They seem to be opening ether mouths when they breathe and if you listened they are clicking in the throat area !?!?!? I haven't had any thing like this to me before and I have raised lots and lots of successfull litters . The mom seems to be just taking care if 3 and 1 of the 3 seems better fed then the rest . They were doing fine last night and yesterday I just don't know why they seem to be asperating !!!! Any one that can help or answer I greatly appreacheate it !!!! Thanks

 

[Sam091599]

Anyone ???

 

[Bunnylady]

Holland Lops require the dwarfing gene to get the compact animal described in the breed standard - might these two be peanuts? A peanut is a baby that got two copies of the dwarfing gene; one from the mother, one from the father. At birth, the peanut is significantly smaller than the normal babies in the litter, with an oddly shaped head and an underdeveloped look to its back end/hind legs. Peanuts generally don't have complete digestive systems, so they usually starve to death at about day 3 (though I have had a couple that lasted a week or more). Peanuts often have a sticky, yellowish discharge that sticks to their hind parts which the doe usually doesn't clean off of them.

I believe you said somewhere else that you've been breeding Lionheads? If so, you probably know about the dwarfing gene/peanut thing already, since most dwarf breeds have to deal with it.

. If the rest of the litter is doing well, the doe is obviously feeding her litter; if these are peanuts, I'm sorry, but there is nothing you can do to save them.

 

[Sam091599]

Hey , I'm sorry I just saw you had replyed to me ! Which I really apprecheate ! No they are definitely not peanuts they are usally really lively . And they are sthe same size as the rest of the baby's ! Al of them are really really well fed no problems with feeding - it did ok the day I posted it and eventually quit breathing out of its mouth and did fine but now today when I went to check it it was doing it again and is breathing out if it's mouth like it can't catch it breath I tryed rubbing on its chest area to try to help and it helped some I just don't know why it can't get its breath and it's little body is jumping any other ideas that could help ?? Thanks so much for answering me !!

 

[cassie]

I am no expert on rabbits but it sounds like your bunny has pneumonia. I don't know what you can or should do about it.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

It's possible these babies aspirated some milk when they were drinking from the mother. Unfortunately, I haven't had good results with baby mammals who have done the same while I was hand rearing them, but hopefully someone else will come along with an answer!

 

[chiklee]

I had this problem The mom does not want to take care of the sick and weak. It's sad but I'm sure its to sick and she will not feed the ILL . Or just don't have enough milk for them all You can try to put powered milk or get some chicory dandelions greens .in a dish for mom and build up here Milk . I've been raising rabbits for many yrs. I hope this works for you if not it may be a sad ending for them.
Wish you luck

 

[Sam091599]

I think it may have something to do with her not licking or cleaning them has that happen to anyone ?? She feed them all none of them are skinny it's just she hops in and out of the box she Feeds them and them and she hops out without licking or cleaning them at all ? What should I do ? Will this hurt them ? What should I do to clean them or help ? Thanks so much for all of the other answers I have gotten )

 

[chiklee]

Just let mother nature its course I am sure the kits will be fine. I only seen my kits bottoms being cleaned. I have 9 breeding rabbits and get plenty of litters a year. Hope I am not missing something . I got new kits today just in time for Easter.

 

[Sam091599]

Just let mother nature its course I am sure the kits will be fine. I only seen my kits bottoms being cleaned. I have 9 breeding rabbits and get plenty of litters a year. Hope I am not missing something . I got new kits today just in time for Easter.

Aww new kits are always exciting ! I have been raising them for a while too I just haven't had a problem similar to this ...... What types of rabbits do you raise ?