Ok list, I need help with this one. Approx. seven
years of past gerbil breeding experience but this is
something I do not recall seeing before. Warning,
their are some graphic things in this letter that any
who are faint of heart or rather young may wish to
avoid.
Another one of the gerbils I rescued just gave birth.
The first one had five healthy pups. Judging by the
behavior of this one though, it is her first litter.
She had Seven tiny babies. I have seen large litters
of tiny pups before so that is not new. I have seen
unhealthy pups be eaten before, so that is not new.
But one of the new things is that two of the pups were
born too under-developed to survive outside the womb.
They were alive at birth but did not even look
completely developed. They were bloated and their skin
was so thin it tore with stress from all the goings on
in the tank. One of them had limbs that were only half
developed. The other had a belly like a balloon full
of air and clear enough to see through. I knew these
pups would not survive.
Another thing I have never seen before is that one of
the apparently healthy babies got his nose bitten off
and yet he tries to cling to life. Just his nose, not
his mouth, it is all there top and bottom, and the
eyes are fine. I am completely at a loss, do I put
this pup out of his misery or give him a chance to
make it?
But the new thing that worries me most is this mother
is apparently frantic with a search for something. At
first she nurtured her pups and all seemed well. I
went to sleep around four this morning. I awoke at
seven and checked on them. Most of the five that are
left have milk in their tummies. But she is digging
them up and the nest with it, kicking them around and
not keeping them in a nest at all. I have seen that
type of behavior... a mother would dig and kick her
babies from the nest, but then put them back and
nurture them. This one doesn't seem to be doing that.
I thought she might be craving some certain food she
might need for nourishment. I offered her veggies and
cereal and all sorts of treats but all she will eat is
sunflower seeds. And only when I hand feed them to
her. Not from her bowl. Her water bottle is fine and
working fine. And I can't think of what could be
upsetting her.
Perhaps she will calm down in a while and nurture her
pups again, but I am worried this time out of all the
times I've had litters of pups, because it is so
different and these guys seem so tiny.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jade
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