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Need help with a tiny fawn!!!

redwood_river_whitetails

redwood_river_whitetails

Joined Apr 2009
524 Posts | 0+
Russell, MN
We had a triplet fawn born yesterday....3lbs.....other 2 were 5+ lbs and are ok. I took him yesterday morning as he was very weak and it was very cold and windy here. I don't know if he got any colostrum.



I got him to take (suck) 1 1/2 oz of formula yesterday early afternoon and 2 1/2 oz at 8pm. He woke up at 1am and couldn't get him to take anything and has refused to suck at all. He was going down hill and made the decision to use a syringe to force some milk down him. I have since been force feeding him (with some degree of success) about 1 oz every 2 hours. I am mixing some electrolytes and First Fawn Colostrum powder with the formula.



I tried the baby bottle nipple yesterday but the nipple that he sucked on was the pritchard.



Anybody, please give me some help. Is there something I can give to jump start him?
 
I would be concerned (as you are) of what colostrum he was able to get early on. My thinking is if it is not enough it doesn't matter what you do. That still doesn't change trying to resort to every trick in the book to save the cute little bugers! Sounds like you are doing good with what he is eating considering circumstances.

I had a doe fawn under 4 last year and she slept inside for the first four days or so b/c of bad weather. She would fight feeding times but was still getting something in her. When I thought she was ready to stay all night outside I found out otherwise when she awoke the next morning the same temperature as the ground. We had a rough several hours before she passed and thought my wife was going to tell me no more deer after that but we all moved on.

Only suggestion I may have is make sure body temp is over 100 degrees before feeding. Sounds like you are doing all you can. Good luck in your rescue efforts.
 
He is on a heating pad and has been since we took him....to keep his temperature up. Don't know what else to do. I'm so frustrated with him....keeping hope though. He is just the cutest little thing....so tiny. They are all cute, but he gets your heart...you know. He's stretches when I get him up and I've been wiping for him to pee and he does pee so that tells me I'm getting the fluids in him.



I don't know..........
 
I don't "know it all" but I do agree with Rusty; make sure to keep his temperature stable. I would also make sure he's not dehydrated..administer fluids IV or SQ if you need to. For weakness...his blood glucose may be low...a little bit (1-2cc) of karo syrup orally should help pep him up. Keep working on him and offering the milk until you feel like he's gotten enough for a full belly. Mother nature will prevail, but lots of love and patience, which you seem to have plenty of, helps sometimes too! ; ) Good luck!
 
Susan,I would get some goats milk with colostrum to be sure he gets enough.Lack of

colostrum will show as a ring around his navel so check daily.I found 3 & 4 pounders cannot reach moms nipples when she is standing and feeding the other larger fawns.
 
You could try tube feeding him. I also give all my newborns Covexin-8 subcu.. Keep him warm and hydrated and offer him small frequent amounts of formula. Sounds like you are doing everything you can and patience is key... Give him lots of love and say a prayer. Best of luck.
 
Update......took Lisa's advice (thanks!!!) and gave him 1cc of Karo Syrup plus 1 oz of formula mixture that I have been feeding him. That was at 7pm. At 9pm, I could see a noticeable difference in him. He was even fighting me on feeding him (I did get accomplished though). I then put him down and he walked all the way across the living room and then some.



At 11pm, I fed him again and then at 2am and then he actually woke me up at 5am. I did try both nipples again, but he did not suck. He is definitely more alert and active right now than this time yesterday.



Has anyone ever had this happen and if so when/how long did it take the fawn to take the nipple?



My hopes are a lot higher right now than yesterday and I'm determined to make him live so any more help/info would be very appreciated right now!!



LISA-



CAN I GIVE HIM ANOTHER SHOT OF THE KARO SYRUP TODAY.....WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND AS FAR AS HOW MANY AND HOW MUCH??
 
Deer Whisperer-



Thanks for the info on the ring around the navel.....what do I do if I see it? When should I expect for it to appear if it does?
 
Give him 1/2cc B12 Sub Q, then Nutrical to boost his caloric intake. Electrolytes will help with hydration, but offer no nutritional value. Keep temp stable and if you have a dog you trust, let the fawn stay with it. This will promote the instinct to suckle as it will believe the larger animal is its mom. If you have access to a milk goat...even better! Good Luck
 
Unfortunately, I do not have a dog to do that job.....we have been discussing a great pyrennes for the last year. Wish I had one now. I will get some B12 and the Nutrical. I did cut out the electrolytes today as I figured that he is hydrated now and just need the formula for nourishment. Still have him on the heating pad in a kitty bed. He is very cozy in there.



Thanks as always, Scott, for your input.....very much appreciated!!
 
Glad to hear things are looking up, Scott is right - a little B12 never hurts! If you were closer I'd let you borrow Charleigh! LOL
 
I was under impression if colostrum not sufficient during first 24 hours than it won't help any if given a few days or weeks down the road. Anyone else know?
 
I had 4 tiny fawns like that. I asked an experienced bottle feeder if he ever had any luck with them. He said "not really." but he said if you do get them to live they will catch up. I didn't do anything special with mine. I just spent some extra time with them trying to teach them how to drink. They did, and now they are doing great! Here's a picture of one when they were born. They were quadruplets.
 

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Needing help on what kind of Dart Gun to purchase. I was looking at the Pnue-Dart Gun. Not sure what kind to get.
 
Susan, the ring looks like a small donut the diameter of a pencil and I gave her a antibotic to clear it up.My vet said it was caused from a lack of colostrum but was gone in a week.
 
I just wanted to tell everyone thanks again for everything. The little guy--aka Peanut--as the kids are calling him, is shaking his head trying to big a big bad buck!! He is on the go!! He already has picked out his spot in the house where he lays all the time so I put the heating pad there. Can't believe the difference in him today.
 
I didn't find it. I don't know how they did it, but I was cusing under my breath a little when they brought me the little girls! HAHA! but everything seems to be working out now. BTW congrats susan. I'm sure he'll be a great buck one day!
 
I would give it Poly Serum!

Brian...I can't tell how small it is ...Or if you have big hands...It looks real small.Mine was born May 19th and doing great... I hope the same for yours.
 

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