6 week old?

Question
Hi there i have a 6 week old baby dwarf rabbit how often should i give him the colostrum capsule and how much. His mother was killed by a stray dog and i really want to help him. I have only had him for two days and he is doing fine so far but just incase.

Thanks Lisa

Answer
Dear Lisa,

Thank you for helping the baby.  If he's a wild rabbit, then the best chance for his survival would be to turn him over to a wildlife rehabilitator, whom you can find here:

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm

If this is a domestic bunny, then you probably don't need to give him colostrum, since he's well beyond the stage of first introductions to foreign bacteria.  But if you'd like to give him an extra protective "boost", then probably the contents of a capsule or two of lyophilized (freeze-dried) colostrum from the health food store, suspended in clean drinking water, would be fine.

For instructions on proper diet, please see:

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

The biggest danger for baby rabbits is runny stool/diarrhea.  If you see *any* sign of that, he needs to be gotten to an expert rabbit vet immediately:

www.rabbit.org/vets

for treatment.  Please see:

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

for a more complete explanation.

I hope this helps, and that your little guy will be fine.

Dana