Hi Tana, thanks so much for your reply. I re-read the pup count and noted how many
singles had died, plus my level-headed 7 year old was insisting we do the fostering,
and then a list member just recently lost a single pup, so I came to think fostering
was the way to go. I
waited until the next morning because I wanted to be home and awake to keep a close
eye. And I read some web accounts on how to foster.
I put foster mom (Promise) and dad in a tub (with towels and boxes - no water) and
mixed in the new pup with bedding and the pups. Then I put dad in. He groomed her
behind (to stimulate a stool, it seemed) and kicked bedding on top of her. Then I
added in mom, she handled and
mouthed her quite a lot with the pup squeaking. I even made her stop a couple of
times (wondering if this was grooming or tasting going on), but Promise has seemed to
accept her. She's moved the nest twice since this morning including the newcomer so I
am thinking this is a good
sign. Also it has been 12 hours and the new pup is still active. So wish her luck.
I felt so bad for the mom Blossom who is constantly attentive to her pups, and have
given her tons of cardboard which she's chewing avidly.
So far so good, and thanks again for your note -- Donna
T L wrote:
> On Tue, 14 November 2000, Donna Anastasi wrote:
>
> >
> > Blossom had two pups tonight: one healthy born at 5:00pm and a stillborn
> > pup at 8:00pm.
> >
> > I think she is done with the birth so...
> > that leaves just one pup. Even though he's been nursing since 5:00 I do
> > not see the white milk belly, does that mean no milk flow?
> >
> > Should I foster this pup? Promise has a week old litter of three so I
> > could put this pup with them or give one of the three to Blossom (there
> > is a runt not much bigger than this new pup).
> >
> > Please answer quick, and thanks!! Donna
>
> Donna,
>
> I've never experienced this personally, but it is my understanding that a single pup
>rarely survives, because one pup isn't enough to stimulate milk flow. If it were my
>pup and I could foster it, I would do that ASAP. Someone should be able to tell you
>how to do that safely.
>
> --Tana and The Little Rascals
> http://gerbils.freehosting.net
>
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