Sarah,
Since I am a new breeder I have not really had any experience with raising
orphaned pups. However I have raised orphaned rabbits and I thought maybe
some of the same rules would apply. First it is really a good sign that they
are eating, and you are not having to force feed them. It was hard with
rabbits and I am sure it would be harder with gerbils. Second it sounds like
you are really trying to keep them warm, but try not to make them to hot.
You don't want them to be uncomferterable and the hot water bottle my ever
burn them. If you could just make sure they were in nice warm, thick bedding
(and keep them in the warm room) that might be enough, maybe something like
corn fluff and toilet paper. One other thing was (and I am not sure it would
work) one other person on the list put some young pups with another mother
when there mother got out. If you have another gerb mom that has pups close
to the same age as the orphans you could try putting them with her. But if I
were you I would figure out how the other person was and ask him/her how
he/she introduced them. Good Luck!
Jocie
P.S.
Keep trying to stimulate them to go to the bathroom. If they do not start it
does not matter how good they eat they will die.
----- Original Message -----
From: (Sarah) (Churchman) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 9:38 AM
Subject: Mother died, 10 day old orphans!
> Hi!
> A week ago I lost 3 , five week old Gerbil pups out of a litter of 4 to
what
> I think was Tyzzers disease.The symptoms were listlessness,low body
> temperature, ruffled coat, eyes closed, dihorreah and loss of weight.Two
of
> them actually died in my hand and were fitting as they died.
> Stupidly I didn't take them to the vet as the Parents and the remaining
pup
> were doing well.They all still are doing well.
> However yesterday an unrelated mother Gerbil who had 8 pups started
showing
> the same symptoms.The pups were trying to feed bvut she didn't have the
> energy.I took the whole family to the vet (including dad) and she said
that
> the Male looked fine (which he was he was still trying to mate with her)
so
> she didn't think it was contagious and said it was likely to be the stress
of
> having a large litter. she injected her with some warm fluid, Baytril and
> another antibiotic.She survived the night and I gave her another shot of
> Baytril by a dropper this morning.I went to work for 4 hours but when I
> returned she was dead:(
> The vet reccommended feeding the pups every hour with KMR and keeping
them
> as warm as possible.So they are in a room with a fire and also have a hot
> water bottle .I have seperated them from the father as I will need to
handle
> them a lot to feed them and he may not recognise their scent.Also a couple
of
> the pups have had their rear legs chewed at and I am not sure whether it
was
> the mother or the father.
> I am just looking for any advice really that anyone can give me to help
the
> little ones through it (there are only 7 now I think one must have been
eaten
> as no sign!).I am stimulating their stomachs with a cotton bud after
feeding
> to make them go to the toilet but I haven't seen anything pass yet.They
are
> taking to the KMR well though so at least thats something.
> Sorry it's so long and thanks for any help.
> Sarah
