I'm losing hope. :(

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birdlover

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I guess I'm just looking for a little support as I'm thinking Tinkerbell is fading. I've been hand feeding her since Saturday and, everytime it's a struggle just to get two ml. in her. This morning she took 1 1/2 ml. and I just tried to feed her again and she kept refusing to eat. I didn't want to force her but should I? Her three sibling grow bigger and fatter each day and she seems to be shrinking and sleeping all the time. She CAN walk on all fours a little bit, she yawns, shakes her head, dreams she's suckling when she sleeps, etc. but I think I need to prepare myself. She's 11 days today and the size of a mouse!

Have any of you ever euthanized a bunny and if so, how? I've read about making a euthanization chamber with baking soda and vinegar. Is that something any of you have tried? I don't want to put her down but I don't want her to suffer either. I'm willing to wait but I've never dealt with babies before, let alone one who is like Tinky. I have to go out of town Fri. - Sun. and I guess I'll have to take her with me?! Please advise and TIA.
 
Hi, I'm guessing that Tinkerbell is a baby recently born? Is she not getting enough food from mom, and that's why you're feeding her?

What are you feeding her? Our wildlife rehab expert has raised a lot of bunnies, and it is very difficult to hand-feed them, but he recommends esbilac puppy milk replacer powder.

It is best to give her extra time to feed on mom. Take mom and hold her still somehow, put Tinkerbell on a nipple, and let her have some time to feed all by herself.
 
More questions: Is she possibly a peanut? How is her output (poo and pee)? It really is best to let them suckle on their own because it is just too easy to get milk into their lungs if you try to dropper feed them.

If you need to have her put to sleep, please have a vet do it. It is something that you don't want to do incorrectly as it could cause a lot of suffering if done wrong. I think only someone who is properly trained to do that by a vet or someone else who is properly trained should do that. I can tell you that asphyxiation by CO2, which is what baking soda and vinegar would do, is not considered to be the most humane way to euthanize an animal.
 
Ok, I read up on this. It sounds like you should be offering her more time to feed on mom, especially with her NOT on her back, but upright, so that you're sure the milk is flowing.
 
This is really, really hard for you to go through, especially with everything else going on in your life. I feel very bad for you.

I really do think that Tink is what breeders call a fader. Something is wrong, somewhere, and they "fail to thrive". It is not something that can be diagnosed or treated, they are just too small. You can not give them medications, they can not tolerate very much at this age.

I tried really hard to see if I could see any details of Tink in the photos. Because of her breeding, I do not think she is a "peanut" (double dwarf). But no matter what is fed to her, mothers milk or formula, she doesn't seem to get any nutrition, she doesn't grow. In the wild, mom would have pushed away from the nest by now. You have given her every opportunity to catch up, but she isn't growing. If she does survive, I would guess she will have serious immunity issues or other health problems. I wouldn't put her down. I do not think she is suffering in any way. She is warm and comfortable with her siblings. I would leave her there until she passes naturally and on her own. Check the nest at least twice a day. Remove her when she has passed.

And appreciate the other 3 babies. You will really enjoy them after the wedding! Wait til you see how delightful 2 week old babies are!

Edited to add: She was feeding Tink under Mom, (Photo's of her on her back were early on). Gave her plenty of extra time to nurse, supplemented because the baby was failing and not keeping up with the rest of the litter. She also consulted a vet.
 
Thanks, BlueGiants. I moved this back to the Rabbitry because the question you're asking isn't something most pet owners know about, plus it was a bit difficult trying to piece the whole story together without all the info.
 
Cathy (Blue giants) has put it really well its awful when you go through failure to thrive babies but unfortunately it happens.x
 
This is one of the saddest things to deal with. And my heart goes out especially because it's a first litter.

Keeping her warm with her brothers and sisters will make her comfortable. Let her go peacefully if that is what's going to happen. If you haven't seen any benefit to the formula, leave her be. Know that you did everything in your power to help her survive. Sometimes there is just a higher power that makes decisions for us.
 
Thank you ALL for your kind words and support. I just tried letting her nurse (which I haven't done in a couple of days) and she didn't even try to latch on. Whether she does so when mom goes in the box, I don't know but, judging from the way she acted tonight, I doubt it. Then, I tried feeding her myself and I think I may have done what you all have warned me about - aspirate her! Don't know for sure but she keeps breathing with her mouth open and she didn't want to eat. I put her back with the others and, Cathy, I will do as you say and check on her until she passes. Hopefully, you are right and she's not suffering although I may have pushed her in that direction. Cathy, you have been a super friend to me during all this and I thank you so much for helping me through a very difficult situation. I do intend to enjoy those other 3 babies as soon as I get home after the wedding on Sunday. Better days are ahead, right? Thank you again, everyone. I'll let you know when Tinky passes. :(
 
birdlover wrote:
Have any of you ever euthanized a bunny and if so, how? I've read about making a euthanization chamber with baking soda and vinegar. Is that something any of you have tried?
Click to expand...


This method of euthanizing is considered unacceptable by the AVMA.

Recommendations[font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"]—Carbon dioxide is acceptable for euthanasia in appropriate species ([/font][/font][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"]Appendices 1 and 2). [/font][/font][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"]Compressed CO[/font][/font][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"]2 [/font][/font][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"]gas in cylinders is the only recommended source of carbon dioxide because the inflow to the chamber can be regulated precisely.
Carbon dioxide generated by other methods such as from dry ice, fire extinguishers, or chemical means (eg, antacids) is unacceptable.
[/font][/font]

[font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"]http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf[/font][/font]

[font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][/font][/font]

[font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"][font="Times New Roman,Times New Roman"]Pam
[/font][/font]
 
Don't blame yourself, or feel you 'may have pushed her in that direction'. You have done absolutely everything you could for that little one. It's been a lucky baby to have been born with you and not where it was. It's warm, comfortable, surrounded by siblings, and mum. Some just can't live, but this one has had the best shot and that's all anyone can do.

Thinking of you.

How is Tink this morning?
 
Hello everyone,

For some reason I wasn't notified that you had posted me or I would have responded sooner. Poor little Tinkerbell was laying dead in a corner of the box when I got up this morning. I'm wondering if her mom pushed her there. I have been preparing myself mentally for this for days and so I'm not surprised by it. Nevertheless, it is so sad to see a little life just keep going downhill instead of keeping up with her siblings. :( I thank you for all your encouragement, support and information. I pray I never have to go through this again! I will now turn my attention to the three beautiful, healthy baby bunnies that are thriving and whose eyes began to open today. Can't wait to see what it's like to have baby bunnies around!!! Hugs and kisses,

P.S. I'll post pics of them next week when I've recovered from my daughter's wedding this Sat.


Ellen
 
I'm so sorry for your loss. :pray: You did everything you could.

:pink iris:Rest in peace Tinkerbell :pink iris:



:angelandbunny:
 
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