I don't have that much experience, but I would assume the pups are
that way because you did rescue this mama, and who knows what she was
exposed to while she was pregnant. Any kind of malnourishment or
disease that she had while not in your care would affect the growth
and health of the babies. There are many other factors, such as the
quality of the father's sperm, the quality of the air she was
breathing, but I don't think the size of your pups is the main
problem you're addressing here.
You say one has had its nose bitten off, but the other two sickly
ones have yet to be destroyed by the mother? I'm assuming from your
email that they did die later, just from the condition they were in.
Did you remove the pups before she had a chance to burry them/ get
rid of them/ etc? Maybe she's looking for those two pups. Obviously
she's new to this mothering thing, and perhaps the stress of not
knowing what to do is starting to drive her a little batty.
As far as the pup with no nose, I would look at it like this: If he
is living, and breathing without problems - I know most animals
breath out of their noses, unless they have sinus problems like us
weak humans. :) - , still able to nurse, and the wound is not
infected, I would say let him have his chance at life. With your
experience, I'm guessing I don't have to recommend putting some
antibiotics in her water, just to help the pup in case of possible
infection. :)
Also, perhaps the fact that she is a first time mother, and her
litter was 7 pups (now 5?) has something to do with her behavior as
well.
I do hope she comes around, and settles down. The only other thing I
could think to do is perhaps make sure there's nothing too exciting
going on around the tank, and perhaps during the day when everyone is
up, throw a blanket or something around the sides of the cage, so
mama has some privacy and peace and quiet.
Good luck.
-Jackie & The Copper Dragon Clan
>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.
>
