How to Care for Newborn Long Eared Rabbits

Sometimes, when raising a female pet lop-eared rabbit, she will refuse to care for her babies. Baby rabbits only nurse once a day, so not seeing her feed her young doesn't mean she isn't caring for them. But if the babies are cold, dehydrated, and not growing and thriving, it's time to step in and feed and nurture the little lops yourself. Even without their mother, domestic rabbits can learn everything they need to know from you. Your involvement also helps them to become well-socialized adults from all the extra handling at an early age.

Things You'll Need

  • Box
  • Towels
  • Heating pad (optional)
  • Kitten formula
  • Cream
  • Eye dropper or syringe
  • Acidophilus capsules
  • Cotton balls
  • Warm water
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the babies from the mother's cage and place them in a box with two towels in it -- one folded at the bottom and one crumpled on top for the young lops to nest on. A mother left with babies she is not caring for may hurt them.

    • 2

      Keep the environment warm. If the temperature regularly dips below 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the room, place a heating pad under the folded towel, covering half the bottom of the box only. This allows the babies to move between the cooler and warmer sides freely. Turn the heating pad to its lowest setting.

    • 3

      Feed the baby lops kitten formula. Add one tablespoon of real cream per can of formula -- rabbit milk is richer than commercial formula and the babies will need the extra calories from the cream. Feed them twice a day (morning and evening) to further compensate for the lack of rabbit milk. Hold the little lops upside down and allow them to suck the milk from an eyedropper or clean syringe. Newborns should consume at least 1 tsp. of formula/cream per day. Wipe their mouths clean when they are finished eating

    • 4

      Add acidophilus to their diet. Mix 1/2 tsp. of acidophilus, the bacteria found in yogurt and available in capsule form into each 1 tsp. of kitten formula. This extra "good" bacteria will keep the newborn lops' tummy bacteria balanced and healthy.

    • 5

      Be like the mother rabbit and help the newborns urinate and defecate. Wet a cotton ball with warm water and stroke the babies from between the front legs to the anal area, one at a time. Continue until each little one finishes eliminating. A mother rabbit would lick the babies until they "went." Warm water and a cotton ball is the next best thing.