Orphan Hare

[MilosMum]

Hi

Im just new here but it looks like a very interesting forum!

Im looking for some advice, we live in a pretty rural area and last weekend my hubby rescued a leveret from one of the neighbours cats. The little one was in shock and we didnt think he was going to make it, but we kept him warm and quiet and he seemed to pep up just fine. Ive hand reared rabbits and other small animals inthe past including hedgehogs so thought Id give it a go. We'd phoned the SSPCA and were told to "put him back" - Where??? We have acres of farm land round about us and Ive seen more than one hare in the fields over the years.

He is very very tiny but has the classic ruffled coat and typical hare eyes and the black patches on his ears. Our vet gave him an antibiotic shot to make sure the bacteria from the cats mouth didnt make him ill and he seems to be fine at the minute. He is eating (taking milk substitute) very well and goes at the bottle with really vigour (started at 3-5 mls and is now up to almost 10-15 mls per feed, 2-3 times per day) when Im feeding him. He is getting bigger and seems to be very bright and well in himself. I havent weighed him but he appears to be putting on weight, and doesnt have any upset stomach at all

My question is this - Im offering him a little fresh greens every day - dandelions, grass, clover etc but he isnt at all interested and hasnt eaten any of it - is this usual or is there something I can do to make it easier or more tempting for him? Im very careful not to handle the parts he will be eating and keep any contact with the base of the shoots/leaves I pull up for him to a minimum.

[Kymba]

Dont know if this link will be of any help to you,it has a contact number of people that can help or give you advice on what to do... As baby hares can seem ok but die suddenly after several weeks..

Helping Hares, Tiggywinkles

[Tursiops2]

Hallo MilosMum, just wanted to welcome you to the forum, and wish you good luck in your new role as HaresMum

Tursiops2

[martin s]

A friend tried to rear an orphan hare but it was in a bad way when she got it and it sadly died. However, she found out how to look after it by searching Google for advice on feeding hares. Sorry can't be of more use.

[Bunster]

Hello

Hope the little leveret is still doing ok.
I mostly rear rabbits, but I have reared a few leverets over the years, some successfully through to release, and unfortunately some not, as yes, they can suddenly just die for no obvious reason.
It might be a good idea to weigh him/her every morning before the 1st feed just to keep a check on progress, and thats also a way of judging how old they are. Don't worry if he is not interested in eating any greenfoods yet, they normally will not start eating on their own until they are older. I would normally not start offering any fresh greens until they are about 250g and then very very gradually.

Hope that helps a bit, and Good luck

[MilosMum]

Hi everyone

Thanks for your advice - much appreciated

I am now a bit worried, (...mind you Im paranoid about anything Im looking after anyway) after reading the bit about them dying after a few weeks for no apparent reason...I so hope he makes it - he is such a beautiful little guy - and quite the personality already.

I am trying not to handle him too much but he is only a baby and I like to keep a close eye on them if I can. He goes at his bottle with a will and now seems to understand that its feeding time when I pick him up, wrapped in a soft towel so I dont hurt him. Last night he had his front paws thrown out forward like a cat while he was feeding then managed to get milk all down his chin when he pulled away from the bottle so I had to get hubby to fetch a bit of tissue to clean the wee monkey up - while I was waiting he sat up and started cleaning himself - now I know he is a wee wild thing but it was as cute as anything, Im only human and a girl so I cant help it....I just sat there and didnt move but when hubby opened the door again he cowered down under his towel...

he is taking about 25mls now - up to 4 times in a day so keep your fingers crossed for us.

Ive called him Milo (hence Milosmum) so I dont have to keep saying the "hare" or the "leveret" or the "little fella"

[angelina]

hi milosmum.
i ve just been reading your post.i hope hes doing ok.ive had quite alot of experience rearing leverets as worked for a large wildlife hospital for 15yrs.we very often found that they would be doing very well and start eating well for selves and then for no particular reason just die.very sad.so dont get too attached.just do your best thats all you can do.
if i were you i wouldnt give him greens until hes been weaned off milk for a couple off days.we usually found this causes upset tum and bloating.then introduce gradually.
our protocol is: under 140g bodywt feed 10-15ml milk 4 times a day.then when reaches 200g go down to 20ml 3 times a day then when reaches 300g 25ml twice a day and then start decreasing by 5mls each feed each day until weaned off.we would offer rabbit pellets in bowl whilst having milk (some dampened with a little water is good)
i hope this may be of some help.pls ask if i need any othern info.leverets are great!best of luck

[Hez]

Hi Milo's Mum! Good for you - I'm glad you and your hubby ignored the stupid advice to put little Milo back. Back where - in the cat's clutches? Sorry I don't know enough about hares to offer any advice, but they are lovely creatures!

It sounds to me as though you are doing a really great job already. I hope you get the weaning bit sorted out and the introduction to fresh food, when he is ready. Try to copy what happens in the wild as closely as possible. I have no idea how young leverets are weaned by their furry mums, but they know best!

No one seems to know why rescued leverets can die suddenly either - I wonder if anyone has recorded the circumstances leading to these mysterious deaths to see if there's a common link? For example if they had all been injured, maybe a blood clot caused the deaths. Or maybe they were sensitive to an ingredient in their food, or they didn't drink enough water. It could have been acute and sudden renal failure due to any number of things they may not encounter in the wild. It's possible even in the wild, that some just die suddenly without a known cause. It happens in human babies after all.

So take comfort from knowing that you are doing your best. He has a better chance of survival with you than he would have had if left to the tender mercies of the cat! I wish you success with your new baby - how's Milo's Dad coping?

Hez

[paulinemiller10]

Originally Posted by MilosMum

Hi

Im just new here but it looks like a very interesting forum!

Im looking for some advice, we live in a pretty rural area and last weekend my hubby rescued a leveret from one of the neighbours cats. The little one was in shock and we didnt think he was going to make it, but we kept him warm and quiet and he seemed to pep up just fine. Ive hand reared rabbits and other small animals inthe past including hedgehogs so thought Id give it a go. We'd phoned the SSPCA and were told to "put him back" - Where??? We have acres of farm land round about us and Ive seen more than one hare in the fields over the years.

He is very very tiny but has the classic ruffled coat and typical hare eyes and the black patches on his ears. Our vet gave him an antibiotic shot to make sure the bacteria from the cats mouth didnt make him ill and he seems to be fine at the minute. He is eating (taking milk substitute) very well and goes at the bottle with really vigour (started at 3-5 mls and is now up to almost 10-15 mls per feed, 2-3 times per day) when Im feeding him. He is getting bigger and seems to be very bright and well in himself. I havent weighed him but he appears to be putting on weight, and doesnt have any upset stomach at all

My question is this - Im offering him a little fresh greens every day - dandelions, grass, clover etc but he isnt at all interested and hasnt eaten any of it - is this usual or is there something I can do to make it easier or more tempting for him? Im very careful not to handle the parts he will be eating and keep any contact with the base of the shoots/leaves I pull up for him to a minimum.

Hi there, I 've never looked after a leveret, but I expect they are very much like rabbits, I did once find some baby bunnies cold and almost dead, and brought them back to life, more that 20 years ago now, you can read their story here.

http://www.geocities.com/paulinemill...?1113413033406

I would nt give him greens yet, sounds like he's not ready for food yet, but when he is, I would offer fresh smelling hay, and pellets, and no greens, thats what pet rabbits would be given, greens often kill young bunnies, people don't know not to give them, and bunnies will chew on anything, let us know how you get on. Pauline.

[MilosMum]

Hi

Milo is still doing fine, really eating very well - a bit more than we were expecting - he is having about 30mls 3 or 4 times a day. He "drums" inside his box and we've found thats when he is most likely to be keen to eat! I dont know if thats usual but it certainly what we are finding.

So today I offered him a little sweet hay - he seems to like it as he starting munching the minute I put it in the box beside him. I also put a very small, shallow bowl of water in to see if he wants that.

Ive had him since the 22nd of May - so he will be about 3 weeks old now......Hopefully we can get him past the danger zone! Keep your fingers crossed for us!