Need Urgent Help - 5 wk old fawn quit eating

Once again need to ask everyone here for emergency advice.



We have a 5 1/2 week old bottle-fed that has been doing very well, and has been a VERY aggressive eater. Really just obsessed. Last night he was totally normal, drank, ate some leaves. This morning he kind of quit eating the last two ounces, just playing with the nipple. He probably would have drank it, but I didn't want him to overeat so I took it away. At mid-day feeding he drank, but stopped every 3-4 ounces. He acted hungry, so I let him have all but 1.5 ounce of his regular feeding. Tonight he would only suck for about 5 seconds at a time. Only got about 4 ounces in. He took maybe another two by licking it off the end of nipple. He acts hungry, but won't suck. I think there is something wrong with his mouth but I can't see anything or feel anything unusual. Maybe this will sound stupid, but could he be having problems teething? Tried giving him milk in a bowl but he doesn't get that. He will still eat leaves readily.



I'm very concerned because we are having very hot humid weather, and I'm worried about keeping him hydrated if he won't drink. Also because it is just so unlike him. His only other symptom is that he seems less energetic than normal. Otherwise he has good solid poop, and has been drinking 13 ounces of zoologic three times a day. He is in with one other fawn, two weeks younger, and has small amounts of greens, some grain mix, and water in the pen.



Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated. Nothing harder than seeing one of these little buggers struggle.

Thanks for the feedback. I had suspected it was just the heat/humidity until he still acted that way last night, although it never got under 75 degrees with 100% humidity. I am getting some in him today. I have been watering down the zoologic, and giving him half feedings every four hours. He used to suck so hard on the bottle, I also thought maybe he has a blister somewhere in his mouth, because he eats leaves fine but the nipple seems to bother him. I can't see anything, but can't get a great look, with him jumping around and trying to find food.

Just to update:

He's back to normal now. Not sure what did the trick but we did the following:

1) Watered down milk by 50% for two feedings, then gradually back to full strength

2) Fed half feedings every four hours for 2 days so he didn't have to suck as long

3) Held him down to 10 oz. 3x/day, instead of 13 oz.

4) Pinch of baking soda in bottle for 2 days

Also, temps have been down into low 70's.

Thanks for all the advice. Its hard not to over-react, because sometimes you don't get very much time to get them well.