Bottle feed buck fawn died, couldn't pee???

We decided to bottle feed 4 of our buck fawns this year and has been going great, they are all about 8 weeks old. Last Sunday was the first issue, one fawn didn't finish his bottle and tried to pee and could not. Monday morning he would not take the bottle so we called the vet and took him in. He confirmed the fawn was blocked. The vet gassed the fawn and put a needle directly into the bladder and drew out 2 full syringes. The vet did everything he could and we brought the fawn back home. The fawn did ok Tuesday drinking only water and apple cider vinegar. Our fawn died Wednesday.

We just started feeding the Calf Manna about two weeks ago after each bottle. we were down to 2 bottles a day, the other fawns are still doing very well on the very same feeding schedule.

So frustrating and very disappointing. I guess my question is, Is it possible to give the fawns to much Calf Manna? The vet said the feed was definitely the problem and blocked the fawn with many stones in his bladder. Has anyone else ever had this cant pee, blocking issue?

Just feed them straight red cap. That's what a lot of ppl including myself use. I had 0 loss this year and it was my first year using it red cap. I'm sure jack will chime in and give you a better answer. Good luck

Many years ago we ran into this also. The problem is the urinary tract on the buck fawns is so tiny and makes a couple of extra sharp turns before passing out. The sharp turns are located basically below the anus in the area close to where a female would pee.
Those sharp turns will not allow any crystals in the urine to pass through. Crystals can form from several things. However reading your post it is the calf manna causing the problem. With doe fawns calf manna is an excellent choice to feed as you have. However with bucks it can cause the crystals to form.
Another culprit is the water if it is high in mineral content. Water ran through a conditioner typically will not cause the problem.

To save the rest a possible issue, I would immediately remove calf manna from the buck fawns. And try to flush them out by feeding a couple extra bottles of plain water if they will drink it.
Once they block up you have already lost the fight. They will blow up like a water bottle ready to burst and die. It is a very painful and agonizing way to go.
I even spent the money and had surgery done once to make the buck pee like a doe fawn and that still didn't work.

Good luck.

How are the other buck fawns doing now?

I had the same problem years ago and lost a couple. I checked my local water supply and it was way out of line. Fed em with bottled or well water after that , no problems. Water company idiots said the problem was in my pipes and not their water.

quit the calf manna and have your water checked.

Thanks for the info guys. The other 3 buck fawns are doing very well and have not had any issues. We are feeding red cap and our water is from a well and we do have a softner on it. The vet was very sure when he pushed out the syringes into the clear tray that it was the calf manna creating the problem. He said that it is very rare for this to happen. Just like Independence Ranch said, once they block its pretty much over.
I did take out the calf manna as soon as we got home from the vet. I started giving them my regular feed mix, the same as the older deer get.

Any other suggestions on what type of "starter grain" to use on these buck fawns to wean them off the bottle? We are definitely done with the calf manna.

ANTS Whitetails said:

Thanks for the info guys. The other 3 buck fawns are doing very well and have not had any issues. We are feeding red cap and our water is from a well and we do have a softner on it. The vet was very sure when he pushed out the syringes into the clear tray that it was the calf manna creating the problem. He said that it is very rare for this to happen. Just like Independence Ranch said, once they block its pretty much over.
I did take out the calf manna as soon as we got home from the vet. I started giving them my regular feed mix, the same as the older deer get.

Any other suggestions on what type of "starter grain" to use on these buck fawns to wean them off the bottle? We are definitely done with the calf manna.

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Like I said, calf manna is excellent for the doe fawns. With buck fawns stick to a simple loose grain mix. What you feed the adults is fine. But ground up is best. Whole corn and such is too hard for them to eat. Also provide clover. And a nice little secret item is if you can pull some berry brush out of the ground roots and all and throw it in their area.
Glad the others are doing well.