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Post by Pollyblue on Jun 2, 2015 13:29:10 GMT -8
Hello, our momma gerbil is about 34 days postpartum and looks to be ready to birth the second litter any day. She has been all alone for a few days because she was bullying her girl pups, she seemed to be happier after we moved them out, as she had been very agitated.
I have just noticed today that her fur is a bit puffed up and she seems to be sneezing or sniffling every once in a while (no clicking noise), I also heard her make a few little squeaks. Is this indicative of a RI?
Should I get some antibiotics for her? She had been doing that "labor" stretching yesterday and I thought maybe we would wake up to babies. I have seen her doing it today also and she has been eating a lot. I feel like she will be having babies really soon and I am not sure if she is sick. She looks tired, has tired eyes, but there is no mucus or discharge from her eyes or nose.
Let me know what you think, or if there is anything else I can watch for to help pin point the problem.
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Post by Shooting Star on Jun 2, 2015 15:33:09 GMT -8
Most likely she's in labor. Most of the symptoms you've mentioned are also indicators of pain. I would start to worry if she's like this tomorrow and hasn't had her pups yet.
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Post by Pollyblue on Jun 2, 2015 15:51:17 GMT -8
Thank you, that's a relief. I will check on her in the morning.
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Post by Pollyblue on Jun 2, 2015 16:26:07 GMT -8
She just came out of her giant tp nest and looked fine, aside from being very pregnant! Look at that belly!  |
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Post by betty on Jun 3, 2015 0:55:49 GMT -8
So no more sniffles or stretching? All normal apart from the bump?
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Post by Pollyblue on Jun 3, 2015 5:24:57 GMT -8
She was still doing the stretching into the evening, but no more puffed fur. It is 6 am now, she usually wakes up around 7 or so for breakfast. I am going to keep an eye out for her and see how she looks.
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Post by betty on Jun 3, 2015 6:36:53 GMT -8
Hopefully she had them last night then. Fingers crossed.
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Post by Pollyblue on Jun 3, 2015 7:02:51 GMT -8
She came out for some breakfast, she is alert and active. Can labor for them, be a slow process? I think she had some kind of false labor about a week ago, then started getting bigger and in the last 2 days she is remarkably rounder in her belly and now more to the sides. Maybe she still isn't at her largest, this is my first time observing a pregnant rodent.
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Post by betty on Jun 3, 2015 8:19:45 GMT -8
Like I said, they can look round for up to a week - but if she looks uncomfortable or it goes on for longer than a week, then perhaps there is something not quite right.
So how long have you seen a bump for and we can plan out the days from there. Do you have a small animal vet near you or have you made contact with a breeder near you yet as it might be worth getting someone experienced to look at her if you are worried.
She didn't look too big from the image in the wheel - but they don't all get ginormous - I base it on the time fat rather than size.
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Post by Pollyblue on Jun 3, 2015 8:37:47 GMT -8
I am not worried now, I was concerned when she looked puffed up and then when she seemed to be sneezing. But I haven't seen her doing that again.
I emailed the two Oregon breeders listed on AGS, one message came back as undeliverable (M&N Gerbils). They are both 3-4 hours away. But again, I am not too concerned now.
I noticed her getting bigger a week ago, but my husband didn't believe me - he couldn't tell. It was very slight, I think I am pretty observant. She only looked obviously pregnant on Monday, and yesterday there was more of a ball in her belly, today she is a little bigger and it is more noticeable on the sides.
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Post by Pollyblue on Jun 3, 2015 8:49:56 GMT -8
Here she is this morning, I couldn't get a better angle.  |
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Post by betty on Jun 3, 2015 9:03:26 GMT -8
Oh ok - then. Well, we shall just wait for more news then...
I've got on who I an keeping an eye on - she's exactly 28 days today but I thought her tummy might be starting to get the 'tummy'. I shall watch closely from now on.
I took the dad and all but one of the pups out this morning to give her some peace and quiet to get ready for the next clutch!
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Post by Pollyblue on Jun 7, 2015 6:12:59 GMT -8
Just to update this thread for future references, Stella was not sick and 4 days after posting this she gave birth to 8 pups. She was 40 days postpartum from the first litter. She is perfectly healthy, and must have just been uncomfortable off and on due to the pregnancy  |
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Post by betty on Jun 7, 2015 6:49:55 GMT -8
Well with 8 in there - I'm not surprised she was uncomfortable... All good news.
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