Newborn dwarf rabbits need a considerable amount of attention and care. When first born, these baby rabbits are defenceless with no fur and eyesight. They must be provided with warmth and food in order to survive. There is less care to provide if the dwarf bunnies are in the care of their mother rabbit, but occasionally the mother rabbit neglects her young.
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Things you need
- Clean cardboard box
- 2 Towels
- Nesting wool (available at pet stores)
- Kitten milk replacer
- Eye dropper
- Rabbit food pellets
Prepare for the birth of the baby rabbits by lining a clean cardboard box with a fresh towel.
Lay a second towel, slightly bunched, over the first towel and allow the mother rabbit to nest in the box.
For extra warmth, place small bunches of nesting fur into the box.
Cover most of the box with a towel, leaving enough open space for fresh air flow.
Keep the box, and mother bunny, in a quiet, room-temperature location.
Remove the mother rabbit from the newborns and feed them separately if the mother rabbit is neglecting her young.
Break feedings into two per day. A baby newborn can eat up to five millilitres of kitten milk replacer (available at pet stores) per day.
Roll a newborn over onto its back, and feed with an eye dropper.
Allow the newborn to suckle as much as it wants. Remember to never force-feed the rabbit as this can be dangerous to its health.
Increase the amount of milk to 10 to 15 millilitres after the first week.
Increase the amount of milk to 26 to 30 millilitres after the second week.
Feed the baby rabbits pellets after three and four weeks. Leave a small handful of pellets in the box each day, and allow the babies to feed themselves.
Introduce a rabbit feeder shortly after.
Fill an eye dropped with water, and allow the bunnies to drink a small amount each day. They do not need much, because they are also getting water in their daily feedings.
Introduce a shallow water dish -- to prevent drowning -- into the nest or rabbit cage, after several weeks.
Clean the water dish, and refill a couple times a day.
Assist baby bunnies in going to the bathroom by gently stroking the bunny's underbelly region with a moist cloth.
Stroking the underbelly region stimulates the baby's bowel and urinary tract movements.
Clean the bunny gently with a towel when done.
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