Indira's last litter - birth pics

[queenofthenile]

Well Indira had 6 pups early yesterday morning. I got as many pics as I could, but I was making her a bit uncomfortable so I just stopped with what I had. Sorry they're a bit blurry, but most were taken through the side of the tank.

Here are two pics of Indira a day before the birth.
Pregnant belly...


Do I look fat?


Here are some pictures of the older siblings helping mom.
One of the females helping groom the newborns.


The boys are not much help, they were having a huge brawl while mom was giving birth .


Now that Aris is neutered, he seemed to help Indira a lot more during the birth and immediately afterward.
Here is is helping to clean the pups. The pup to the right has just been born and has not "pinked up" yet.


Helping Indira eat the placenta - really blurry but I thought it was funny .


Dad went and slept with the older pups for a while during the birth.


Dad babysitting immediately after the birth.


Here's mom with her newborns - what you lookin' at?


Mom nursing the newborn pups.

[Ritzie/Admin]

Again amazing pics! You mentioned somewhere elso on this forum that you maybe will make a website on gerbil pregnancy, birth and development! I hope you do, and than I would really like to see it!

[queenofthenile]

I really want to start a website but I have no experience with making one . I figure I have to wait until I have the time and knowledge to do so .

I was wondering whether or not I should worry about a pup that is much smaller than the rest? They are only 2 days old now but s/he is considerable smaller. At what point would you give the pup additional nutrition (ie: KMR or condensed milk)? Is it best to give it by soaking a piece of bread or with an eyedropper? Do you think I should worry at this point?

[Ritzie/Admin]

I've never given my gerbils any KMR or other replacements for milk, so I don't really know what to do best. I think I would say an eyedroper or something like that.

Here some info I've found on this on the website of the American Gerbil Society:

My breeding emergency kit consists of three things: 1) powered kitten replacement milk and infant medicine dispenser or eye dropper; 2) A clamp lamp with 40 watt grow bulb. and thermometer; and 3) Ornyacycline (brand name for tetracycline) which is sold in pet stores in the bird section. Treat respiratory infection by warming one corner of the tank to no higher than 85 degrees F, kitten replacement milk feedings three times a day and Ornacycline (use the dosage for a small bird) in the waterbottle with drops placed from your finger directly onto the pups lips three times a day. Do not mix the milk and the medicated water as the milk will lessen the effectiveness of the medicine.

If a pup starts out as a runt or is losing ground, supplement feed with kitten milk replacement. It is difficult to supplement feed before the pup is two- three weeks old. Make sure to wipe off the excess milk with a warm damp paper towel; it dries like cement.

Picture:

[queenofthenile]

Thanks Peter but the little guy was nowhere to be found the next morning. I guess he passed on during the night. Unfortunately there is another pup that is very small too. He was slightly larger than the pup that died at 1 day old, but now at 4 days he is about 1/2 the size of the other pups. I don't think there is much I can do, but I have been giving him a dab of milk every hour. Just on his lips, then he sucks it off. I hope it works out, but he is a bit behind in development. His ear flaps are still closed and his is still more red than the others (as opposed to pink with peach fuzz). It's really odd that there were two in this litter, even though I've never dealt with runt pups before.

[Ritzie/Admin]

I usually wait when I have a very small pup in a litter. Sometimes it will die and sometimes not. It may sound harsh, but it is a good selection in order to get healthy strong pups! The natural way! It depends on how old they are for me!

When the mother dies it is something else of course! Than I would feed them, but luckely this has not yet happened!

[queenofthenile]

Well the little one is still alive, but s/he is quite behind in development. I this s/he is really cute though . I think it is a colourpoint slate. Here are some pics of her (?) with one of her brothers at 8 days old.





You can really tell that she doesn't have hair yet although her sibling is already fuzzy!

[gooda]

i also have had the same concerns. my females last litter had two runts and one died, but one also lived. the litter she has now has two gerbils that are a lot smaller that the other six, but all are living and seem to be doing well. just thought you might like to know that i've seen the exact same thing in my gerbil pups.

[Ritzie/Admin]

I'm curious if the development of the smaller pup will be the same for the rest, like with opening their eyes, etc. But great that it is still alive. If it is healthy, active, etc. I might indeed be liley that she/he will survive!

[queenofthenile]

I'll keep you guys updated! The little girl is getting fur but it has not yet covered her belly, it is still very pink. She is motoring around with the rest of the pups, although she is a bit less coordinated in her movements. I'll post more pics in awhile.