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Post by queenofthenile on Aug 29, 2004 17:23:35 GMT -8
When I brought her home a week ago, I thought she was a bit stocky. Today, I observed some abdominal movement.  What the humane society really needs is more animals. I'm just posting to whine. I hope noone minds  . |
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RW
Member
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Puppy 6/6/07
Posts: 530
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Post by RW on Aug 29, 2004 19:09:46 GMT -8
Sorry. In this case, I guess congratulations aren't in order? Which foster gerbil is it, Caramel or Brandee? RW |
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Post by blackie on Aug 29, 2004 23:37:24 GMT -8
Oh dear. And you don't know who the father is? Hope you'll find homes for the new pups. Well, good luck anyway with her and the babies.  |
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Post by queenofthenile on Aug 30, 2004 5:16:19 GMT -8
It's Caramel. I'm still hoping that I'm wrong. If she is pregnant, then the previous owner must have kept her with a male and that's how it would have happened. I'm assuming that the animal shelter will just have me bring the whole lot back in once they are weaned. On a more positive note, I think their introduction is going very well. Each time I tried to introduce them, they got along fine for awhile, and then Brandee would start a fight. The last time, they were together for 1 1/2 hours, and then Brandee bit Caramel  . Today, however, Brandee is actually grooming Caramel ;D. I'm very happy, because if Caramel *is* pregnant, then Brandee can help her raise them. |
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Post by queenofthenile on Aug 30, 2004 6:08:06 GMT -8
I think the introduction is successful ;D. Here are some pictures: Brandee is the agouti and Caramel is the argente golden:    |
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Post by sweetie on Aug 30, 2004 12:26:31 GMT -8
Wow  I am glad that they are getting along well now. Brandee is a big girl too. I am not sure what to say about the pregnancy thing though. In other situations it would be okay. I am amazed that the shelters don't get more info on the intake application. You might have been for warned. What a shocker . At least they have you to offer guidance and make sure that the pups are well taken care of then separated in time and adopted out in pairs!! Are you going to keep them? How many do you have now? |
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Post by blackie on Aug 30, 2004 13:32:50 GMT -8
I don't see why people who are caring for gerbils can't just avoid unwanted pregnancy...they should not own a gerbil if they can't tell the genders apart.I've heard that if two females are kept together and one has pups, the other one will get jealous and kill the pups? But maybe that was just if a male was present and they were fighting over him. Anyway, you're great with gerbils, Queenie so I guess it will be alright. Don't get too attached to the pups! |
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Post by queenofthenile on Aug 30, 2004 19:07:16 GMT -8
Okay, today I'm not sure if she's pregant. So much for being experienced . I didn't see any abdominal movement today, so now I'm unsure  . It did look like she was having mini-contractions today though. I could see her kind of twitching her back end and it looks suspiciously like the contractions that my gerb had 1-2 days before birth. The thing is that she really isn't pear-shaped, so if she is pregnant, I think the litter will be small (I'm guessing/hoping for less than 4). She does have a fairly large bump underneath her sternum that I've never seen in a gerbil before . I'm not sure whether it's a large pup poking out there or a genetic abnormality (she has a slightly kinked tail as well). Arrggghh! You would think that me, of all people, would be sure of pregnancy!! Anyway, I'm going to keep her for a few more days just to make sure. Blackie, I think you have to worry about canabilization of the litter when there is 2 females with a male. Regardless, I will be watching them very closely. I'm hoping that Brandee will help Caramel out with all the chores. When the pups are weaned, they will be going back to the humane society, and I'll make sure that they are in pairs. Now all I need to do is warn all the staff that they *must* push that they go in pairs. Technically, the adopter can just buy one, they can't *guarantee* that they'll go in pairs. So all I can do is really stress that gerbils need a mate. The shelter vet was trying to tell me that gerbils don't actually *need* a mate. She says it would be nice, but not necessary. She told me that degus need a mate, whereas gerbils do not. Why doesn't anyone trust my opinion? I guess I haven't been confirmed as a reliable source of information yet. I can't wait until I'm a vet and people will have to respect my opinion more! |
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Post by blackie on Aug 31, 2004 5:02:40 GMT -8
Well, sorry for not sticking to the subject. but gerbils most definitely need a mate. From my own experience: My gerbil Oscar was alone for about 3 months, and he became overweight because he was just eating too much sunflower seeds and he was very lonely. When he was paried up with Rasmus,who was 5 weeks old, he accepted Rasmus but he was a bit aggressive towards him. So don't ever keep gerbils alone, maybe unless it's a very old gerbil and its mate has died (?)
From the picture of Caramel I would say she is a bit bulgy around the stomach...I guess you just have to wait and see.
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Post by queenofthenile on Aug 31, 2004 5:50:44 GMT -8
I really like the shelter vet and she is very knowledgeable. Unfortunately, most vets don't know squat about the exotics. It really sucks that I don't have some letters behind my name that will verify that I'm a gerbil 'expert'. How about - Leah, GI - Gerbil Investigator. hee hee
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Post by sweetie on Aug 31, 2004 6:02:40 GMT -8
Queenie, If it is any consolation, many if not all members respect you and your input!!! You are very knowledgeable about gerbils and your input has helped many owners and gerbils live happier healthier lives. The letters either before or after your name won't change the information you have!!! Besides after 5 knee surgeries cause the 1st doctor screwed up, I know that not every doctor knows what he /she is doing!!!! If it makes people respect you more than they loose out. Look how much info we are getting from our members that save us from going or prevents a trip to the vet!! We actually benefit since we save money and time!! Besides what do people at the shelters know about gerbils??? Ask Squeaky, April, and myself (read the post ARRG). As for that matter even the pet stores don't know squat about Gerbils. That's why when I found the Forum, I was elated and I still am!! ;D ;D On a side note, I believe that the movement of the pups slow if not come to a halt prior to birth. At least in many animal, the movement slows near labor. You may be correct. Remember when I thought Blackie was pregnant and I did not separate soon enough after finding out I had opposite sexed gerbils? Well I think that for some reason, they have thier FAT days. I can't explain it scientifically but I know that on some days, Blackie looks fatter than normal. Have you thought of referring your co-workers to this site to "brush up" on thier knowledge? I always do!!! |
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Post by queenofthenile on Aug 31, 2004 6:37:00 GMT -8
I don't think the vet would like my telling her she has some "brushing-up" to do ;D. I've accepted the fact that she doesn't know *everything* about gerbils, and so I'll just have to make changes myself. As for 'fat days', it is entirely possible. The problem is that Caramel is exhibiting many of the behaviours that my last gerbil did when pregnant. She's been making a nest, saw what I thought were contractions/abdominal movement, and she is lying down in the same way that my pregnant gerb did. I'm just going to wait a few days and see. I'd hate to send a pregnant gerb home with an unsuspecting adopter! Abdominal movement actually becomes very pronounced on the day of birth for gerbils. That's why I'm so confused. The movement should be increasing, not disappearing! I'm thinking that maybe Caramel just had some gas and that's what I saw . |
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Post by sweetie on Aug 31, 2004 6:50:29 GMT -8
I hope you can make the changes necessary but with out getting the person who makes the decisions on board with your thoughtsit will be hard! Please don't give up. "Don't go gentle in to that dark night"
I hope you are right about Caramel. I hope things are fine. I actually loved reading the "I don't want to adopt out a pregnant gerbils to an unsuspecting person" (I still don't know how to quote.... in time). I wish every one who worked there had the same ethics.
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RW
Member
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Puppy 6/6/07
Posts: 530
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Post by RW on Sept 5, 2004 13:06:18 GMT -8
Queen, your post about Caramel still enjoying being groomed in "Behavior" made me think of this one.
So, is she pregnant?
RW
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Post by queenofthenile on Sept 5, 2004 16:40:25 GMT -8
No, she's not. Isn't that great ;D. I'm thinking she just had a bit of gas . Serves me right for being over observant. I'm just glad there we no babies. |
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What the humane society really needs is more animals.
.
. Today, however, Brandee is actually grooming Caramel ;D. I'm very happy, because if Caramel *is* pregnant, then Brandee can help her raise them.
. It did look like she was having mini-contractions today though. I could see her kind of twitching her back end and it looks suspiciously like the contractions that my gerb had 1-2 days before birth.