I have some horribly terrible news. :( We came back this afternoon from dinner and I felt there was something strange going on in Evon and Quark's tank. I peeked in to find the black pup squeaking at Evon, who was laying on her side and breathing rather rapidly, nestled up against the glass in a little hollow. I knew immediately something wasn't right. She would twitch from time to time as if something was wrong with her right side. I thought at first she might be having a seizure. I honestly didn't know what to do! I went and carefully tried to pick her up. As I did her rapid breathing turned into an almost gasping for air. I got her out of the tank and sat with her on the bed, holding her oh so carefully, watching her struggle and not knowing what to do. She died there in my hands. My beautiful Evon! As she lay there, me wondering if perchance she was still alive, and just tired from the trauma, I could feel her belly move, obviously the little ones inside her. She was not near to labor as far as I could tell, she had at least another week or two. She seems to like to space them out. But my only assumption is that her death was caused by some kind of complication in her pregnancy. Her nose was rather wet though - not when I first picked her up, but after she died. Now I almost wonder if her little pup nose to nose with her was the only thing keeping her alive up until then, and I was the cause of her death by picking her up. Whatever the reason, I now have two pups without a mom, and just barely 5 weeks old. I will watch them carefully the next few days, but at least they have dad to keep them warm.
Does anyone have any ideas? I'm just at a complete loss. Though I love all my gerbils, I will admit she was my favorite. So tame, and knew exactly when her pumpkin seed treats were coming. She tolerated my daughter's attentions, and was a very kind soul from the day I rescued her. The Copper Dragon Clan will greatly miss her. She produced some wonderful pups in her short life, and I hope that in some way they will grow up to reflect her. I just hope this isn't something genetic, and that I won't have to worry about this happening in the future with her daughter. Thanks for any insight any of you may have. I know I could take her to a vet and have them figure it out, but I couldn't bare to think of my beautiful Evon taken apart to find the cause of her death! I miss her terribly. -Jackie
