Hello,
I just got a new breeding pair about three weeks ago and yesterday when
I took them out of their cage I noticed both the female's (Milky Way's)eyes
were stuck shut with a tiny bit of mucus (unusual but not unheard of). I
opened her eyes and took the pair into the next room to handle them. I no
sooner got there when I noticed red goo getting all over my thumb, my shirt
and her bottom! A closer inspection revealed that it was coming from Milky
Way's vagina! I quickly put the gerbils back in their cage thinking Milky
Way might be in labor! I was very surprised because when I had held her the
day before she had seemed somehow "slightly plumper" than usual but not even
close to how "fat" my past gerbil mothers have been just before giving birth
(unless there was only one baby in the litter). It also became apparent,
now that her excitement of being out of the cage was over, that she felt
awful. My mom and I talked about it and decided that Milky Way probably had
a miscarriage (she wasn't acting right to be in labor) and she was now
excreting the unrecognizable babies. We thought she would feel better the
next day.
Today she was the same except she had much more mucus around her eyes
and nose and she was breathing faster than normal (a sign of fever maybe).
My mom and I examined her vagina and it was enlarged like yesterday but
today It was tender and it looked like there might be some thing in there
(like the head of a baby maybe). We discussed our options and I finally got
brave and squeezing gently I managed to push out a very premature baby (it
was about the size of a normal baby's head) and the placenta. After that
Milky Way wasn't as tender, but she still feels terrible and is excreting
stuff from her vagina and breathing fast. I've put a warm water bottle in
her cage along with some pieces of fresh fruit (to encourage her to eat them
and get some moisture). I also put Ornacycline in her water in case it
would help her if she has any kind of infection. I think she is in danger of
dying so if anyone has ANY suggestions please tell me!!
I would also like to know what is wrong with her. We have some guesses,
but that is it. Also, if she makes it through this, should I breed her
again? She is a Pink Eyed White (I think) and her mate is spotted. Does
this have anything to do with it? I would love to know what your opinions
are so if you have any, please tell me!!
Thanks a lot, Sara
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