Mama Bunny with mastitis

[CU2002]

Hi there.... new to the rabbit thing because I just happened to find a dumped bunny a couple of weeks ago. Long story short - she was pregnant and kits are now four days old. I discovered what I thought to be mastitis this morning, and after a trip to the vet, it is confirmed. She received a penicillin injection and is on oral antibiotics now as well.

The question I have is about the five kits. I've had one vet tell me to remove and bottle feed (which, from what I've read, is not usually successful). I've had a second, more experienced rabbit vet tell me to simply prevent the kits from nursing from the infected gland and that nursing from the other teats should be ok and better than attempting to bottle feed.

I also don't know what normal nursing looks like since I've never experienced this with rabbits before. As of now, each baby will nurse for 15-30 seconds before unlatching and frantically looking for another teat. Not sure if that's normal or if something is wrong with the milk so they're letting go.

At this point, I'm not sure what to believe or trust, and I just want to do whatever is more likely to save these little tykes (if that's even possible). Any help is appreciated.

 

[JBun]

Hand feeding kits does pose some risks. Aspiration is a high risk with hand feeding kits, which if it occurs will develop into pneumonia, so the feeding needs to be done with great care. I don't know what feeding instructions you were given, but I prefer 3 parts powdered kmr, 3 parts water, 1 part heavy cream(not whipped or sweetened), and a probiotic like bene bac plus. Or there is the fox valley formula that seems to be the preferred one, and you can get tiny squirrel nipples for feeding.
https://www.amazon.com/Henrys-Healthy-Pet-Foods-Squirrels/dp/B00EFJ6JJI/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2JW3NAMTSDH51&keywords=fox+valley+squirrel+formula&qid=1552940695&s=gateway&sprefix=fox+valley,aps,244&sr=8-2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFXSWM...&pd_rd_r=f69b109e-49bb-11e9-857a-6548f437e98b
https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Nipp...+nipples&qid=1552940859&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-1

If you can supervise feedings from the doe, where you place the kits only on the unaffected nipples and closely monitor them, then yes, feeding from the doe is the safer option. But you would have to be absolutely certain the nipples weren't infected. And it also has the benefit that once the infection is cleared up the kits could likely resume nursing normally. Also something else to consider is the penicillin injection given to the mother can possibly pose a risk to the kits, so maybe something to ask your vet about, if it's safe for the kits to continue to nurse with the mother having been given penicillin.
http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00dis/Bacterial/Bacterial_Mastitis_rabbits.htm

That sounds like normal nursing behavior to me.

 

[woahlookitsme]

Yes I was going to say first it depends on what antibiotics the mother was put on. Some drugs can be excreted in milk but you need to ask the vet that has the most experience with rabbits if they will be okay and they might not even be sure.

That’s a tough situation. If they can continue nursing that would be the best thing for the babies for sure. I do know with ours they didn’t really stay in one place. They do like to move around so it may be hard to let them all feed at once if you can’t keep track.

 

[Augustus&HazelGrace]

Yes, it is normal for them to move around like that. I don't know why they do it but all of the babies that I have seen do this.