starving bunny

[brandibaby23]

I know not many people are fond of buying bunnies at auctions but I can not help myself. Tonight I was at the local auction and this poor rabbit looked terrible well no one wanted it and a guy yelled "nah no one wants him thats dog food" Well the auctioneer (an old farmer) yelled back "don't say that at my auction, some people really get mad when things like that are said you might just get chased down the road and get pegged" So anyway I bid on this skinny terrible looking rabbit. The auctioneer said well young lady you may have saved that rabbits life, looks to me like they just are straight up not feeding that group of rabbits, take special care of him when you get him home.
So I am trying but I don't have a whole lot of faith in this one but at the very least he will die loved and cuddled and warm. So anyway he is nothing but bones, he is dehydrated, he will not eat, his temp is low, he will not drink. I have syringe fed him some luke warm water, and moistened pellets, a little diluted natural honey, and he is here on my lap in a fresh from the dryer warm towel, Any thing else I could do to help him get an appetite back??

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Thank you for being so kind, I don't know what advice to give but thanks

 

[crosbygroup]

Have you tried a sliced grape, apple, carrot top, beet greens or anything else fresh and tempting?

 

[breezy]

I know diddly squat about bunnies but have done years of animal rescues of almost every other variety so all I can offer is general advice. I would try to rehydrate and bring the temperature up before trying to get much food into the bunny. Sometimes an animal just cant eat or process food if they are too dehydrated. I think the honey water mix is a good idea but I would add pedialyte to bring up the electrolyte levels. Once the dehydration and body temp are addressed try offering whatever food is good for weak bunnies.
Good luck and best wishes for your rescue.

 

[drumstick diva]

A vet would start an IV and get him hydrated. If you could get some sugar water in him by syringe (without choking Him), That might perk him up just enough to start drinking on his own. If he is as pathetic as it sounds, from the auction comments, he may be anemic, wormy, and or/downright sick, which all should be treated by a vet. I don't know what rabbits eat so I don't know what you can tempt him with. Animals don't eat when doing badly -their digestion slows down and they can't really handle food then.

 

[MissJenny]

Sounds like you are doing the very best possible for him... how do his teeth look -- are they very long?

I seem to recall that vitamin B-12 promotes hunger. Do you have any children's liquid poly-vi-sol? I would dilute it with water -- two drops of vitamin to a tablespoon of water. See if that doesn't help.

Also, look in his ears -- he may have ear canker. It can be soothed with warm olive oil. I forget what the real cure is...

Bless your kind and loving heart -- we are only as valuable as we treat the least of our creatures -- clearly you are a person of very high value.

♥ Jenny

 

[brandibaby23]

I syringe fed him honey and water, and I am sitting here with him on my lap got him warm eyes perked up I offered him and apple about 5 mins ago and he TORE it out of my hand, he also started to eat pellets he practically dove into them with his nose of course cuz he is layin on my lap. I am not sure what did it the honey maybe, the watery pellets but he is perkin up some. I can't really believe it, are the apples good, I know too many coiuld cause watery poo but wouldn't it help rehydrate?

 

[crosbygroup]

Limited amounts of fruit are fine. He should have fresh grass hay available all the time and rabbit pellets. I also give mine some fresh greens every day. There are lots of pet rabbit web sites out there. Try a google search for house rabbits or pet rabbits. Good luck.

 

[breezy]

Best thing to rehydrate is water and electrolytes. Giving the bunny something that will cause watery stools will further dehydrate him . So happy to hear he perked up some.

 

[Kittymomma]

The apples are good in moderation, but if he's willing to eat the pellets that will be better for him. Good job! I haven't kept rabbits for awhile, but http://www.barbibrownsbunnies.com/meds.htm used to be a pretty good resource and she was really good about responding to emails. She helped me get a youngster thru a really bad case of wry neck (different then what chickens get) years ago so you might see if her site is still up.