> I have a very sad situation here, the mother of 5 pups, only 4 weeks old, > were being attacked by their mother :o( who is ready to have another > litter any day!!!!! They have a very large tank (40 gallon) with plenty of > room so that shouldn't be a problem. It's not the first time it's happened > either, she did the same thing last litter to at 4 weeks :o( But her first > 4 litters she was really a great mother and loved all her pups the times > before. > > I'm really confused as to why she is doing this ?????? We've taken them out > and they are all okay except for the one she attacked :o( and as soon as > Shelley pulled the mother off and grabed the injured pup, the mother went > after the first other pup she saw !!!!!! > > Why is this happening ???? and can anyone tell me why I shouldn't have her > put down ???? she seems to have gone nuts for some reason.
Stress. What you describe is an older female not able to handle the stress of the litter underfoot and another imminent anymore. If the pups were about three weeks older, they would have just hid in the far corner and she probably would stay in her corner, and you could have removed them. They are too young to be driven off and are confused, so they sit confused and shocked as MOM brutally attacks them instead of running. > The injured pup is in shock, I think, and we are keeping it warm and keep > giving it water but seems a little too weak to eat right now. It isn't > moving allot but tries to and is fighting so we are giving it everything we > can so if it's will stays it will survive :o( > > Any and all suggestions are welcome to help us help our baby pup :o( Keep the injured one with at least one littermate. I would suggest you take out Dad and all the pups and put them in one cage. Rig a warm corner for the injured one, keep giving him KMR with an eyedropper every few hours to keep him hydrated. Whether he wants to eat or not, give him the feedings, be very patient and keep at it. If the others are not picking on him (dad will probably clean him) leave them together. Mom should chill if she's solo. And she should raise the litter imminent just fine. Keep an eye on her when they reach about four weeks, if you've taken Dad out before she delivers then this will be her last litter so she should not hype again when the litter due reaches that age. Keep a female pup with her, and remove the others as normal, unless she decides to try to drive these off too. In which case remove them all; and find a female at least her size and try split caging. Or leave her as an only, but put her cage by others. Don't get them so close that the animals can bite off toes stuck through bars or mesh though. If you need further instructions on caring for the injured one, let us know. Deb Rebel's Rodent Ranch
