I am in dire need of some advice. I have a fawn that is 3 days old and the mother has completely abandoned him. She will come up there and sniff it then walk away. She is a second time mother and took good care of her fawn last year. Not sure what is wrong this year. The fawn is starting to get weaker and I am have decided I needed to start bottle feeding him. The problem is he wants nothing to do with the bottle. I have been trying for the past 24 hours with no luck at all. Does anyone have any advice on how to get him to start on the bottle. I am fearing he will not last much longer. Thanks again.
Joined Oct 2009
3,165 Posts | 1+
upstate ny
Stupid question first. Are you sure its the right mom? Either way. I would get him in the house,in a playpen. You may have to tube him fast if he is that weak. Its not to hard but if in doubt maybe a quick call to the vet. You need to get fluids in him asap. Dont know what you are going to feed but if your in a pinch go to the fridge and grab 3 ounces of milk, in the micfowave for 30 seconds or so and try to feed him. If he fights ya you may have to rub him like mom would. If he will not take any milk at all put the nipple in the corner of his mouth and he will chew and nature will make him swallow. Get fluids in him asap. Pedalyte will work in a pinch also
Agree with mike! I would think colostrum from a local dairy should help aswell. Mixed with some red cap milk for a few days. Get a syringe,no needle and shoot some milk down his throat slowly. The fawn should drink even if he dont want to
Joined Apr 2014
1,245 Posts | 0+
Greensburg, IN
If the fawn is getting weak it may be necessary to tube the fawn with colostrum. If you haven't done it before. I would find someone who knows how to help you. Be sure to put a mark on the tube to indicate how much the tube should be inserted. You will get milk in its lungs very easily if it is weak with the syringe. Mike that's not a stupid question about making sure its in the pen with the right mom. It happens here every year a time or two a fawn squeezes through under a gate or through a place in the wire.
Joined Oct 2009
3,165 Posts | 1+
upstate ny
With tjis guy 3 days old colostrum will not help him. His gut is closed at about 18 hours. It wont hurt him for sure but now its all about fluids in that little guy and fast! Then you cant take your time and work with him but fluids first asap!!
Thanks for the advice. I got him to take...as in force feeding about 1 cup down him of milk replacer a few hours ago. I will try again here in a little while. He does not seem to be improving though. Maybe I am just being impatient. Does it usually get him up and back to normal pretty quick once i get some fluids in him? Also...should I be getting him something for scours? He did not have any originally at all, but not appears he may have just a touch of them. Thanks again!
Joined Oct 2009
3,165 Posts | 1+
upstate ny
dwalker95923431400968050
Thanks for the advice. I got him to take...as in force feeding about 1 cup down him of milk replacer a few hours ago. I will try again here in a little while. He does not seem to be improving though. Maybe I am just being impatient. Does it usually get him up and back to normal pretty quick once i get some fluids in him? Also...should I be getting him something for scours? He did not have any originally at all, but not appears he may have just a touch of them. Thanks again!
You will have to be easy and work with him. Rub him,pet him, get him to accept you as a good thing. You may want to try just red cap milk with a cup of milk replacer added instead of replacer and water You can add a spoon full of pumpkin to the milk if he is not full blown scours.
Thanks for the advice. I got him to take...as in force feeding about 1 cup down him of milk replacer a few hours ago. I will try again here in a little while. He does not seem to be improving though. Maybe I am just being impatient. Does it usually get him up and back to normal pretty quick once i get some fluids in him? Also...should I be getting him something for scours? He did not have any originally at all, but not appears he may have just a touch of them. Thanks again!
You will have to be easy and work with him. Rub him,pet him, get him to accept you as a good thing. You may want to try just red cap milk with a cup of milk replacer added instead of replacer and water You can add a spoon full of pumpkin to the milk if he is not full blown scours.
Joined Jul 2009
1,215 Posts | 0+
Deer Park, Alabama
I usually have to force feed all of mine the first few times. I would definitely put him on red cap.
Joined Apr 2009
1,562 Posts | 0+
cental Pennsylvania
I agree with bell. Get lactated ringers, or "ringers solution" in to him. You can do it yourself if needed. Go to tractor supply, get the IV kit and a clean sterile bottle. Google ringers solution, you should be able to mix up a batch( it's basically sugar water) put the IV hose over your bottle, stick the other end under the fawns skin with a 14 gauge needle and give him a bottle full. I have given little fawns 500cc at a time before, you can't over do it on a dehydrated fawn. You can do it at one or two injections sights. Probably seems like a lot of info for you to take in, so If you have any questions your welcome to call me 814 329 1449.
Antlershed923671400986963
I agree with bell. Get lactated ringers, or "ringers solution" in to him. You can do it yourself if needed. Go to tractor supply, get the IV kit and a clean sterile bottle. Google ringers solution, you should be able to mix up a batch( it's basically sugar water) put the IV hose over your bottle, stick the other end under the fawns skin with a 14 gauge needle and give him a bottle full. I have given little fawns 500cc at a time before, you can't over do it on a dehydrated fawn. You can do it at one or two injections sights. Probably seems like a lot of info for you to take in, so If you have any questions your welcome to call me 814 329 1449.
I have a question .. On the ringers I have a case but in exp. date. How long should I keep them? How do I now if they are bad?
I agree with bell. Get lactated ringers, or "ringers solution" in to him. You can do it yourself if needed. Go to tractor supply, get the IV kit and a clean sterile bottle. Google ringers solution, you should be able to mix up a batch( it's basically sugar water) put the IV hose over your bottle, stick the other end under the fawns skin with a 14 gauge needle and give him a bottle full. I have given little fawns 500cc at a time before, you can't over do it on a dehydrated fawn. You can do it at one or two injections sights. Probably seems like a lot of info for you to take in, so If you have any questions your welcome to call me 814 329 1449.
I have a question .. On the ringers I have a case but in exp. date. How long should I keep them? How do I now if they are bad?
Joined Apr 2014
1,245 Posts | 0+
Greensburg, IN
Remi,
If ringers were kept in a stable environment I think they would be good long after expiration date. Ringers are a very helpful tool in the medicine chest of the deer farmer.another example would be after a buck is sedated for semen collection or any other necessary reason a bag of ringers may save him from capture myopathy or death. Ringers are very helpful to the kidneys and liver by moving on the anesthetics from the body.
If ringers were kept in a stable environment I think they would be good long after expiration date. Ringers are a very helpful tool in the medicine chest of the deer farmer.another example would be after a buck is sedated for semen collection or any other necessary reason a bag of ringers may save him from capture myopathy or death. Ringers are very helpful to the kidneys and liver by moving on the anesthetics from the body.
Joined Apr 2009
1,562 Posts | 0+
cental Pennsylvania
Bell, awesome advice on using it during sedation. I was not aware it was helpful in those different ways when used during sedation. I learn something new quite often on these forums. I am going to use it each time I sedate now, it's cheap to buy anyhow.
Less active and less hungry
I have fawn that seems to be regressing. She started eating real well at 4 oz every 3-4 hours. Now she barely eats 3 oz every 5-6 hours. She used to trot up to me, now I have to go get her. Should I "force" feed her?
I have fawn that seems to be regressing. She started eating real well at 4 oz every 3-4 hours. Now she barely eats 3 oz every 5-6 hours. She used to trot up to me, now I have to go get her. Should I "force" feed her?