At 12:19 AM 1/30/00 -0500, [Angela] [Hull] wrote:
>I've been trying to access that medical webpage that had information on
>handfeeding gerbil pups. I have one new pup the just isn't strong enough to
>wriggle in with the other pups and feed. I tried taking the others out
>tonight and just leaving it and one other pup..but it's too weak to push
>under her to feed. He looks dehydrated as well. There's a snow storm here
>and I don't know if I can go get something..but I'd be willing to try
>something. All we have here is whole milk and I really don't think that'd be
>good for it. I don't think it'll still be alive in the morning..so help
>asap!
>
>(she's not a very good mother and I might split up that pair if her skills
>don't get any better..but I'll ask some opinions about that later..I'm just
>concerned with the pup for now..it's about 4 days old)
Hi, Angie,
I'm no expert, but it seems like warmed cow's milk wouldn't actually hurt
the baby, and if it's dehydrated, any liquid would help at this point. Milk
would probably be better than water, too. The reason they tell you to use
kitten milk replacement is that it has more protein in it than cow milk or
dog milk.
I'm just posting this because it's late at night, and I'm not sure who else
is awake. If it was a kitten, the suggestion would be to mix egg yolk in
with the milk & warm it up, but cow's milk should work overnight.
I wonder if you have an emergency animal clinic in your area that could
give you advice over the phone? The ones in Houston won't give advice over
the phone, but maybe since you're snowed in....? (It snows once every 10
years in Houston. Floods are more of a problem.)
Good luck and best wishes,
Rebecca...
in Bryan, Texas
