Post by RitzieAnn on Jul 3, 2007 22:24:31 GMT -8
*** 7/4 Update... I've added 3 pictures. 2 are a little graphic. So, if you cannot handle seeing blood- then don't keep looking***
So, we learn from our mistakes. We share them here on the forum... and I'm going to share mine with you now. (but please, if any of you have a snar remark, keep it to yourself).
Alright. So I've got some babies that are 4 1/2 weeks old. I wanted to keep one little girl who looked like Little B. (this litter is special because it's the last of my Ritzie/Keebler line) but anyway. I've NEVER had a problem with a new pup intro, male or female.
Well, I was proven wrong my my little Kandice. She jumped on the baby, and bit the poor little girl. I squished Kandice off with a cup, and took her and her pal (Nanimo) out, and the baby was gasping. Thought she was gonna have a fit, but she didn't. She died in my hand about 10 breaths later. A bulge of her insides were poking out. Apparently Kandice's tooth had punctured the abdoman wall, and some of the baby's intestine (??) had poked through. I guess if there is a good side to any of it... it's that she died pretty quick.
THE MORAL>>>>>
Even if you've NEVER had an issue with a very young pup intro... you should still use a split cage... even if it's just for a few hours. I think the part that threw Kandice off is that "all of a sudden" there was a baby. If I had used a divider, even just for a few minutes, so she could notice there was a baby BEFORE it was "right there" then I think we would have been ok.... but it's my fault she died... and so awfuly.... I wanted to share with you... please don't assume that this time will be like last time... because obviously it isnt.....
So, we learn from our mistakes. We share them here on the forum... and I'm going to share mine with you now. (but please, if any of you have a snar remark, keep it to yourself).
Alright. So I've got some babies that are 4 1/2 weeks old. I wanted to keep one little girl who looked like Little B. (this litter is special because it's the last of my Ritzie/Keebler line) but anyway. I've NEVER had a problem with a new pup intro, male or female.
Well, I was proven wrong my my little Kandice. She jumped on the baby, and bit the poor little girl. I squished Kandice off with a cup, and took her and her pal (Nanimo) out, and the baby was gasping. Thought she was gonna have a fit, but she didn't. She died in my hand about 10 breaths later. A bulge of her insides were poking out. Apparently Kandice's tooth had punctured the abdoman wall, and some of the baby's intestine (??) had poked through. I guess if there is a good side to any of it... it's that she died pretty quick.
THE MORAL>>>>>
Even if you've NEVER had an issue with a very young pup intro... you should still use a split cage... even if it's just for a few hours. I think the part that threw Kandice off is that "all of a sudden" there was a baby. If I had used a divider, even just for a few minutes, so she could notice there was a baby BEFORE it was "right there" then I think we would have been ok.... but it's my fault she died... and so awfuly.... I wanted to share with you... please don't assume that this time will be like last time... because obviously it isnt.....
you must be so upset.
I agree that it all should be seen--the good, the bad, and the ugly. Part of responsible pet guardianship is recognizing and accepting all three aspects of your animal(s), striving to maximize the good, minimize the bad, and avoid the ugly.
I've been looking for some pups for Fox--Tracy suggested I check out one of the Northeast shows, but a ten hour drive each way was just too much. I can't find any breeders in this region, and I'm not thrilled with the husbandry practices of the one pet shop in town that sells gerbils, so I'm sort of stuck. And Fox has gotten SO sweet and tame in his older age... last night he was begging to be picked up, and then he didn't want to go back in his tank! He has calmed down so much and I think he would benefit from gerbil company greatly. Ok done hijacking your thread 