Baby rabbit weaned too young

Question
QUESTION: I got a Holland Lop from a breeder last week. The baby was 4 weeks old. The breeder told me that babies are weaned from their mom at 4 weeks and that after 4 weeks the mom wants nothing more to do with them. After doing research online, it appears that what she said is not the case. Now I am worried about my baby and how to keep her healthy. What can I do to take care of her and make sure that she won't have any problems? Thank you so much for any help you can give.

ANSWER: Dear Susan,

First, let me give you a word of comfort and say that it's possible your baby will be just fine.  However, because he was weaned too young, he is at risk of potentially life-threatening intestinal infection, characterized by runny stool.  At the first sign of that, it's trouble.  I have outlined below what you must do in that situation.

But now let me address what that breeder told you.

Breeders like that are the type that give all of them a bad name with people who really care about animals.  He was either lying to you intentionally, or is a moron who should not be raising animals about which he knows little or nothing.  Sorry to be so harsh, but those people just make me crazy, victimizing kind people like you who will buy an unweaned baby, often to have it die of diarrhea, and then go buy another one.  That man is a predator.

No mammal should be weaned before the age of eight weeks, and in many states it is illegal to sell any mammal younger than that.  For good reason.

Now that I've vented, let me help you keep your baby safe.

The main problem in babies weaned too young is fatal diarrhea, usually due to infection with human intestinal bacteria that we always have on our hands.  To prevent this danger, always wash your hands with hot water and disinfectant soap (and direct anyone else touching the baby to do so, too).  It would actually not hurt to get some colostrum capsules (containing colostrum powder) from a good health food store, suspend the powder in a little bit of *very* clean drinking water, and give him a little bit every day.  The antibodies will help him fight off intestinal pathogens, such as foreign bacteria, since his own immune system is not fully developed.

Once he's about eight weeks old, you can be a bit less cautious about the hand-washing, as he'll be developing his intestinal flora as he grows, and this will give him protection.  He will develop it better and more quickly if he's around other rabbits (another reason not to separate a baby that young), but he'll be okay as long as you can keep him healthy in his tender youngest weeks.

If you do see any sign of runny stool or diarrhea, please read this immediately:

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

(In fact, it might be wise to read it now.), and find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Many babies die of diarrhea, but ever since I have been using the protocol described in this outline (soon to be an online article), I have not lost one to this problem, so please bring this with you to the vet, if your baby does get runny stool:

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

I hope you won't need any of that, and that your baby will be just fine in your care.  But you're a wise bunny mom to find out in advance what can happen, so you'll be ready if there is a problem.

Take care,

Dana



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What exactly are colostrum capsules? I want to make sure I get the right thing. I should also probably tell you that we have another rabbit, I am not sure how old she is but she is also young although she isn't as young as the baby. If I had to guess, I would say shes a few months old. They live in the same cage but we let them out quite a few times a day to play. With the baby, I have noticed that her poop is not quite as hard and dry as the older rabbits is. It isnt runny or very wet either though, just a bit soft. I will stop picking her up alot, right away or washing my hands beforehand. Thanks so much.

Answer
Dear Susan,

It's great that your little baby is living with another rabbit.  As long as your other bunny is free of parasites, this will probably make it easier for your little baby to develop a normal intestinal flora.

Colostrum is derived from the first three days of a mammal's milk, and it's loaded with protective antibodies that bind to harmful foreign things (e.g., bacteria) in the baby's intestine and prevent them from reproducing and doing harm.  Most commercial colostrum capsules are from cow milk, but you can also get goat or sheep colostrum.

As long as the baby stays healthy and is with another rabbits, you might hold off on the colostrum (it's not cheap
!).  But it's good to know about, since you can administer it if the baby *does* get runny stool.

Softer, moister pellets than your big bunny are normal, as long as they're not mushy/runny.  So don't worry about those.  As she gets older and eats more hay, her poops will become drier and more like the older bunny's.  

For info on safe, correct rabbit diet, please see:

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

and for all the best rabbit info:

www.rabbit.org/

Hope that helps, and that both your bunnies give you many years of love and friendship!

Dana