Found a wild baby rabbit. Can't hop but eats like a hog!

[briernichole]

I found a baby rabbit under a car in the driveway. He was on his back, spinning, like he couldn't get back up. He was pretty limp and very underweight. I didn't have a lot of hope for his survival given the state I found him in, but my heart couldn't take leaving him out there. I filled up a shoe box with clover and he immediately started munching down. The first night I had him, he could barely move. I didn't think he would make it thru the night, so I gave him a fresh bed of clover and left him be. Much to my surprise, when I woke up, not only had he eaten ALL OF IT. He was also sitting up! This gave me hope for a quick release. It's now been 4 days and he has no issue with constantly munching(or pooping). As he is close to a month old, he should be on his own pretty soon anyhow. The issue is, he can't exactly hop around like he should. It's not a specific injury but almost like he lost partial control of his legs? I'm thinking it may be some sort of brain damage because he is WAY too comfortable when I pick him up to change his bedding. I will NOT be releasing this rabbit until I know he won't be left defenseless. I know the basics about rabbits but not a lot and I would love any pointers on how to keep this guy healthy. Or any help at all that could lead to his recovery. My neighbor is a wildlife rehabber so I'm getting some good advice but I would like more information about rabbits specifically. Please help!

 

[Mariam+Theo]

Thank you for taking him in! It would be best to take him to a rabbit-savvy vet and they will be able to figure out what is wrong with him. Can you send a picture? It sounds like he has E cuniculi, but I'm not sure if wild rabbits can get it. Here is a link I found: E. cuniculi in Rabbits, treatment available at Pet Care Veterinary Hospital.

 

[briernichole]

Thank you! I would love to get a professional's opinion but with everything surrounding COVID-19, wild rabbit care isn't exactly essential. I also live in a very rural area without a lot of specialists. I know it's very hard to keep wild rabbits alive but I have hope for him. I tried attaching a video of him hopping but I couldn't get it trimmed down enough( Can't do technology)

 

[Mariam+Theo]

It is okay about the vet. What do his poops look like? We really need a video of him hopping to be able to tell what is wrong. To upload a video you will have to put it on youtube, and then put the link here. He looks very young. I would offer him some Timothy Hay instead of clover because he will really like that.

 

[briernichole]

He nibbled on it but only after all of his clover was gone. His poops are good! Mostly pellets and a few softer (I am assuming hes eating the soft). He isn't interested in hay but is OBSESSED with the clover. I wonder if there are any pointers on keeping him in my duplex until he is well enough to release

 

[Mariam+Theo]

He didn't like the hay? That is fine, but make sure he has some available. He will eat the soft poops (those are called cecotropes). If you are going to keep him in your duplex you will need to rabbit-proof because he will destroy everything. Here is a link on rabbit-proofing: Bunny Proofing.

 

[briernichole]

Thank you! Super helpful link

 

[briernichole]

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Preitler]

Hay isn't a natural food, it's a good and convinient replacement or addition to fresh forage, like food for humans mostly can't be found in the wild but has it's merits anyway. Offering it never hurts, should be in every rabbit enclosure, it has good effects on digestion etc..
My rabbits barly touch hay when I find enough forage (too dry now ), only when they think they need it.
Single spieces hay like Timothy that is intensivly farmed like crops is pretty much unheard of here, so any hay will do.

So a wild rabbit has never seen it and will go for the good, yummy stuff, but I would add grass as it's their staple food, and different weeds to his diet. With some diversity he'll be able to pick what is right for him at the moment. Clover is great for kits still growing, and lots of other weeds are fine too.

You would need to upload the video somewhere else, like youtube, facebook - dunno, anywhere, and link it here.

Good luck with the little one