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Post by michaeljack on Feb 12, 2021 8:18:29 GMT -8
When Skruffles (7 month-old agouti with third mate and litter) and Nutmeg (young adult male, unknown origin) produced this litter on 02.02.21, I noted that one of the babies was notably smaller at about 50%. In fact, I thought it was stillborn. I've watched with interest to see if this baby would survive. My most recent check is 02.12.21. I've noted that the babies are all furred...except the runt. It has very dark, naked skin. Ambulation resembles a newborn and the size difference is much greater than at birth. I'm surmising it will not live. Mom and Dad nurture it normally. imgur.com/8s4UJOoimgur.com/Yjkte2bimgur.com/hQUkqHI
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Post by betty on Feb 12, 2021 16:48:31 GMT -8
Oh dear - that really is one of the most delayed developements in a pup that I have seen - and there is only one female in the clan? I think I would defer to Shooting Star here - as I have had plenty of runts in gerbils - but not this delayed. I often hear the phrase Failute To Thrive (FTT) in rats and mice - I believe a specific metabolism issue (rather than just a pup that doesn't do well) - but I am not sure if gerbils have the same thing. Anyway - let's see what the expert says - as I can really only guess the reasons and the outcome.
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Post by Shooting Star on Feb 13, 2021 12:29:19 GMT -8
Yes unfortunately that's a case of FTT. FTT isn't one specific disorder, but is generally used to describe cases where there's something wrong internally causing the pup's Failure To Thrive. It has nothing to do with the pup not getting enough milk, as demonstrated by the healthy littermates. Instead, some inborn defect is preventing the pup from metabolizing the milk correctly and/or more directly preventing the pup from growing properly. There's really nothing you can do for the pup; if it survives, it will likely remain small and sickly for however long it does live. However, it will most likely die at weaning (if not before), as they often have trouble transitioning onto solid foods (and off of the antibodies present in mom's milk).
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Post by betty on Feb 13, 2021 15:20:34 GMT -8
Thanks there, again.
I never thought FTT was a single thing myself - but this is how they always seem to talk about on the rat groups I am on - and I never wanted to ask because they are all so mean to everyone on there!
What you said is much more likely - and makes total sense.
Do keep us updated on this little one michaeljack as rare cases like this are always interesting.
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Post by michaeljack on Mar 1, 2021 7:23:26 GMT -8
Hi betty , Here are pics of the FTT/Runt on March 1. Apparently he is transitioning at the moment and romaine lettuce is tasty. imgur.com/Dc5r7HWimgur.com/LfZdAOximgur.com/9xcMMdPThe bald spot appears to be located at a hump on the spine. Although the prognosis of his future thriving is negative, it has been enlightening to watch his belated development. It's interesting, too, that his fur is clearly defined compared to the previous photos.
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Post by betty on Mar 1, 2021 14:36:18 GMT -8
Bless him. I have had tinies that small come through in their teens - but never had any with a bald spot?
Well, we can only watch and wait I suppose - thanks for the updates - always a good reference point for future runts too.
Have you need feeding them anything special to help him catch up or just hte normal stuff? Do you have a wheel in there - is it a giant tank or a smaller nursing set up?
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Post by tanzanyte on Mar 2, 2021 5:19:07 GMT -8
It's lovely to see him with the others holding his own. I can't believe he's changed so much! Out of interest I presume he hasn't had any ailments show up yet?
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Post by michaeljack on Mar 3, 2021 6:34:29 GMT -8
betty, Nothing out of the normal is provided. It's a 10-gallon "nursing" tank. No wheel. However, I have seen the runt "digging" in the corner as is typical behavior of the gerbils, though at a slower speed. tanzanyte, so far, no ailments are detected.
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Post by betty on Mar 3, 2021 9:41:16 GMT -8
I never tried the nursing tank with mine - have you ever tried the full normal set up for pups to compare - and if so - did you notice any difference in behaviours, mortality, growth rates, character?
How old are they normally before you pop a wheel back in? And when you do - do you pop in two more more wheels or let them battle it out with mum?
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Post by michaeljack on Mar 5, 2021 11:44:16 GMT -8
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Post by tanzanyte on Mar 5, 2021 13:56:37 GMT -8
He's such a little cutie! All of them look like they are having the best meal.
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Post by michaeljack on Mar 7, 2021 13:48:02 GMT -8
He's such a little cutie! All of them look like they are having the best meal. tanzanyteRomaine lettuce tops are part of their veggie rotation.
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Post by Markpd on Mar 8, 2021 11:14:49 GMT -8
He's very cute! , and he makes his siblings look like giants! lol Also, makes me think I'm feeding nowhere near enough veggies for my boys, how much do you give your gerbils?
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Post by michaeljack on Mar 8, 2021 11:54:15 GMT -8
He's very cute! , and he makes his siblings look like giants! lol Also, makes me think I'm feeding nowhere near enough veggies for my boys, how much do you give your gerbils? Thanks for asking, MarkpdApprox 3gr daily per 2 gerbils In spite of how some heart-felt-gerbil-rearing hobbyists may feel, I use a rotation of vegetables in place of water. The fresh rotation includes various leafy vegs, e.g., romaine lettuce, and prepackaged salad mixes (generally a kale blend because the blends that include onions are repulsed by the gerbils). Other ingredients include carrots (frozen or raw), celery stalks (the leafy ends given first to litters with youngsters), broccoli (fresh or frozen with/without cauliflower), cucumbers, zucchini and yellow quash (when in season, which is nearly 6-8 months here in central Florida). To maintain turgidity, the items are enclosed in a zip bag of water. I don't feed "head" (iceberg) lettuce due to its lack of nutrition, though full of water.) During southern dandelion and strawberry seasons, I occasionally add the well-cleaned dandelion leaves and top fruit leaves to the rotation. (I don't share my delicious strawberries!) I have a papaya tree that produces remarkably infrequently; however, the rare fruits are diced, frozen, and added to the rotation. When I shop at an Asian market, I'll pick up various choys, and other leafy-type greens. I've eaten most varieties during my teaching days in Taiwan and China, so know to avoid the bitter ones. I have provided green beans, and although the gerbils eat them, my observation concludes a lackluster interest. Once in a great while, I'll treat them to apple and pineapple chucks for thirsty bliss, although I haven't given those for about a year. (The fruits were part of my now suspended mouse projects and inherently given to gerbils.)
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Post by Markpd on Mar 8, 2021 12:01:45 GMT -8
Interesting to read, your gerbils have a fantastic choice of veggies! For my boys it doesn't help that their aren't many veggies I like, but I do share the ones I have, it looks like I could give them much more. Btw, don't you have a water bottle in the cage just in case they do want water?
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