possible runt?

Question
My rabbit (1 yr old lionhead) had a surprise litter. My roommate has a dwarf hotot (1 yr couple months) who is the father.

this is her first litter and had 5 babies. they all looked super good/healthy first couple of days, then i noticed one of them started looking a bit skinnier, and as of today day 10 this one looks a lot smaller and skinnier.

Should I try giving it a bit of formula? and what kind would be best?

I also believe that while at my parents house (where my rabbit had the babies) my rabbit got ear mites from the cats and passed it on to the babies.
is there a safe product or alternative to use on the mom and babies?

thank you!

Answer
Dear Aimee,

Oops.  I hope the father hasn't been near the mother since the birth, or she is pregnant again, and you will have a big problem when the new babies arrive four weeks after the first ones.  The first litter will not yet be ready to wean.  Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html

and this one for supplemental feeding instructions for the little runty one:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/orphan.html

It might not hurt to try and feed him, but do this with caution.  If he's growing at all, and doesn't look sick, then maybe let him have "first crack" at mama, by letting him eat first, and then when he's full, let the other babies have their turn.  He needs that mama's milk to stay healthy, so any supplemental feeding you do should be just that.

For mites, Revolution (selamectin) is safe for mama and babies.  You must get it from your vet, and--under the vet's supervision--apply only a tiny drop to each baby.  Mama can get 0.1cc of the cat solution per kg of body weight, applied to the back of the neck.  Your vet will give you the proper dose and information for your bunny.

Apply the Revolution to the babies only when mama isn't around, so she won't immediately groom it off them.

You can find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Hope this helps.

Dana