Well, I think she really tried. She was obviously
confused. She would would run around the cage acting
strange then settle down onto to pups for five to ten
seconds, then run around again. Come back and clean
them and put them under her then take of immidiately
once again. The only time the pups got to nurse was
for a short time after birth and hours later when she
collapsed from exaustion for about 30 minutes or so. I
wound up having to foster the rest to the other mom.
They look much better now. Food in their tummies,
warm, and no longer dehydrated. Their adoptive mother,
called Biscuit, just took to them like they were her
own. She didn't even seem to mind that they have no
fur while her own pups are covered in a velvety white
coat. I followed the advice of taking out the parents
and putting the male back first. He was fine, and the
mother just found it neccessary to clean them
thouroughly before nursing. Plus she moved her nest
for the first time since the birth of her own pups.
I have been alternating her own pups in the nest
though, so the tiny babies have a chance to nurse
without her large healthy ones crowding them out. This
does not seem to disturb her anymore than me reaching
in to refresh the water or food. She has five pups and
the surviving four newborns makes nine. If it weren't
for the number and size of her pups I would leave them
all alone in the nest. But under the cicumstances I
think what I am doing is best.
I put two in the nest for a couple of hours while
three sleep cuddled in a small pet carrier with a part
of the nest in it. Then I switch them out, and the two
sleep in the carier while the three nurse. The older
babies are very robust. They will be fine. The
newborns will just have to do the best they can, I
hope they do make it. I guess the injured nose pup was
just unable to nurse. He did not make it through the
night. I will do the alternating thing for a couple of
days till the newborns are big enough to fend for
themselves.
I successfully reintroduced the distraught mother to
the other female gerbil she was with before and they
are sleeping cuddled in their tank, a few feet from my
computer.
I am excited about the dark eyed pups because this
tells me that the father was not the dove I brought
them home with, since she is a pink eyed white and
they could only have produced pink or red eyed. Right?
One is already turing dark, like dark fur. And the
other just barely. Unless I am lucky and get something
exotic, they may be black or agouti. The older pups
have all turned out white, unless one is a dove and I
just can't tell yet.
I guess that is all the news for now.
Is there anything besides KMR that would be helpful to
the mother and pups. Poor thing. Nine pups to raise
and Five of them half grown. But she is really doing
great so far.
Thanks for all the advice,
Jade
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