Kaiser is Pregnant-[the litter ended up dying]

[SQ]

I am very very sorry for your loss ....

Please get Kaiser to a good vet asap.
If possible, you might consider getting her spayed even if it isn't essential.

 

[mamarat]

I'm so sorry.

 

[Moon]

What they all said ^^ It sounds like something could be very, very wrong and she should see a vet.

I'm sorry to hear about the loss.

 

[CookiesAndCream]

For an entire litter to be stillborn, there's something drastically wrong. Was she in labor for long? My rescue girl Beta's contractions stopped and she needed to be rushed to a vet, and even then most of the babies didn't make it because they didn't come out in time.

For her to still be lethargic, I'm very worried that something is still inside of her, whether it's more stillborn babies, or a placenta, or who knows what... She NEEDS a vet right away. SQ had a girl with dead pups inside of her, and had she not have gotten her spayed right away, her girl would have went into shock and died.

Also, I've never heard of a mom stepping on a baby and killing it. Another rescue litter I had here, Trapper, she would literally trample the babies and they'd all just squeak away. I have pictures of her standing on top of them, and nothing happened to them even so much as a scratch.

I hope you see now why it's so important not to breed rats of unknown health/genetics. I'm sorry for the losses, and I hope your girl will be okay.

Since you all seem to be agreeing to xxchelle, I'll just reply to her post:
Kaiser didn't labor that long. I read somewhere that it took anywhere from an hour to two for a rat to give birth to all of the babies. After Kaiser was done I talked to my sister about all except one were already dead and she did some research and she found that "It is common for a new mother rat to have still born babies." Was the site wrong? And then again, she didn't have a full still litter.

I don't know how the live one died because Kaiser and her nest bedding took up most of the visible space of the babies. But my mom (happened to be in the room and caught Kaiser contracting) heard a squeak (she even caught it on video) and she called me in and I saw the baby moving around, but when Kaiser started moving around a lot I lost sight of the baby for a while. By the time I caught a glimpse of it again it was next to a still born and had died itself.

She is becoming more active but I would agree that she probably still has babies inside of her. I'll try to get her to the vet as soon as I can (tomorrow at best). I'm glad I'm checking this now instead of next week or just any later than I am. I wish I had said something earlier because if this is a danger to her life I want to do what is needed to save her.

And yes, I understand completely. I think you guys had explained it pretty well before, but this was probably the worst way to find out than any of the comments I had received.

 

[victoria]

If you think she could still have babies inside her, it is an emergency. She needs a spay so that she does not die of an infection or sepsis. You need to call an experienced rat vet first thing tomorrow (and/or leave a voice mail now so the staff pick it up in the morning) so that you can get her into surgery tomorrow if at all possible. Most vets only do surgery in the mornings so they can monitor the patient throughout the day.

 

[CookiesAndCream]

If you think she could still have babies inside her, it is an emergency. She needs a spay so that she does not die of an infection or sepsis. You need to call an experienced rat vet first thing tomorrow (and/or leave a voice mail now so the staff pick it up in the morning) so that you can get her into surgery tomorrow if at all possible. Most vets only do surgery in the mornings so they can monitor the patient throughout the day.

Great idea! I'll go call them now and leave a voice message and with any luck we can drop Kaiser off before my appointment at 11:30. My mom's been trying to convince me that we should neuter Brazil instead because it's cheaper, but I think spaying Kaiser would be a smarter idea-Especially with this new found knowledge that she could quite possibly still have babies inside her.
As I have said before, thank you to all who give me such great advice. I've never been in this situation before so I am very grateful to have rat shack-ers(?). :hugs:

What exactly should be said on the message though? I've never been good with phone, nor have I ever called a vet before.


Edit: My dad just said if we take Kaiser to the vets I can't get any more rats. I don't know what to do. He's being selfish about our income and he doesn't see rats as being important enough to spend the money on (because their average life span is about two years).

 

[xxchelle]

I've rescued many a pregnant mom, and many with their first litters. The only rat I've had with more than one stillborn baby was the one I previously mentioned with the birthing complications, when I had to rush her to the vet. And that was *not* her first litter. I had a girl here just recently who I'm fairly sure it was her first litter, she had 10 babies, and all survived. There were no stillborns. It is somewhat "common" (though I wouldn't really use the world common) for one or two babies to be born stillborn, or have the runt pass away within the first 24 hours. It is not at all common for an entire litter (but one) to be born stillborn. That indicates a very serious problem. You need to get her in for a spay tomorrow, she could easily go into shock and die if she still has babies inside her.

I would call the vet and leave a message, as Victoria said. Say that you have a potential rat emergency, and your girl needs a spay tomorrow because you're worried about birthing complications.

This way, once she's spayed, she can live with your boy so that neither of them have to be alone.

 

[CookiesAndCream]

I just edited my last post... My dad won't let Kaiser go to the vet. I don't know what to do. I feel so angry and upset right now. I tried explaining things to him but he doesn't seem to understand. Is there anything I can do for Kaiser myself?

 

[xxchelle]

No, if she's got something wrong internally (which I'm 99% sure she does from your description) she will die without medical care.

Edit: Your dad said you can take her to the vet but that means you can't get any more rats? In my opinion her life is more important than potentially getting more rats in the future. :?

 

[CookiesAndCream]

I wish my mom was here. She normally can deal with that man better than I can. Plus she actually cares. I can't loose my baby. Not yet.

 

[xxchelle]

Then you'll have to get her to a vet tomorrow. Is there any way you can just take her yourself, take a bus or taxi or something?

 

[SQ]

Please take her to an experienced vet that knows how to spay rats tomorrow.
I think you would agree that it is important to take good care of the pets you have now.
The future will take care of itself ..... your father may change his mind and even if he doesn't, you can always get more rats when you get older and are on your own.
As previously said, once she is spayed your two rats can live together so that neither has to be alone.


Things to discuss before surgery: viewtopic.php?f=26&t=9640

 

[CookiesAndCream]

The only reason why I wouldn't be able to take her myself is because of my medication. And besides we would be going to my new therapist later that morning so it would make the most sense to bring her before or after my appointment.

Just had a huge fight with my dad and now I've been labeled as disrespectful. I have a little money from Christmas so I think I could pay for Kaiser's bill... How much would this likely be(granted you don't know how this vet charges)?
Ohhhh, I need a job and I need to move out...

Technically speaking, SQ, I am "older", but I just need a good income and to move out.

 

[xxchelle]

It really varies. I get a rescue spay price of $120, but others in this area pay up to $300 to have a rat spayed, so it could be around that much.

However I think vets might be a bit cheaper in the States, I've heard people paying $100 or thereabouts for a spay, so it might not be that high.

She HAS to get to the vet as soon as physically possible, which would be tomorrow morning.

 

[SQ]

sorry, no idea of your age ...

Cost varries from area to area and from vet to vet so no idea as to cost.
The range previously mentioned is what different people in different places have been charged.
Around here it is approx. $180 for a spay.

 

[victoria]

If your appointment is at 11:30 it will be to late for most vets to do a spay afterward. Get up early and take her before your appointment. We keep giving you advice, you don't listen to it, and then when things go wrong you come back and ask for more. You know what you need to do, it's up to you whether you do it.

 

[lizmo1221]

:yeah:

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Was the vet able to fit her in?

 

[CookiesAndCream]

Was the vet able to fit her in?

Yes they were and Kaiser is fine and was fine. She's a healthy rattie. There weren't any babies left in her uterus so there was no need to do an emergency spay on her.

As for her lethargic symptoms, she's getting more active each day-no real reasons to worry about her on that. I thought I had said that before but maybe I meant to but didn't on accident.

 

[crumbilina]

Glad to hear that she is doing ok!

In future, could you make sure that you are a bit more specific about the symptoms and how she is in general? The more information you give the people here, the more helpful they are... I know that from experience!

Still, really happy that she is ok