*last two have died* advice on Lily's new babies

[monkeymommy]

As some already know Lily came home pregnant from a petstore (within a few days of being home she had the babies)

She gave birth to six but now we are down to three, 2 died within hours of birth and I found the other one this morning dead.

The little babies all seem to have tiny milk bellies and are moving around alot.

Should Lily be nestled with them all the time or is it normal for them to be away from her.....she stays in her corner but the babies are around her, I do see them cosy up to her though I guess for feedings.

Her breathing seems really heavy, from nursing possibly?

I lined the bottom of the cage with a thin fleece blanket (hanging over the sides with the cage part keeping it secure (hated that they kept going on the plastic bottom.

Are there any signs I should be looking for that things could be going wrong...or right?

since this is my first experience I don't know what to expect....when will there eyes/ears open? Get fur?


Thanks again everyone for such wonderful advice!

Pics were added to my last post

 

[lilspaz68]

Your mom should not have laboured breathing right now. Can you listen to her lungs by lifting her side to your ear like a phone receiver? We call this rat phone...listen for any crackles/gurgles, wheezes etc. If your little mom is sick, then the babies might be too, and that's why the weakest ones are dying. She really does need a vet. You can use pediatric antibiotics such as zithromax, or amoxicillin and they are safe for nursing babies. Can you take a pic of the remaining babies so we can see if they are developing normally?

I handled my wee ones and cleaned out the cage very soon after the birth.

 

[Moon]

I too would recommend that you take some pics and post them so we can see what they're doing.

I'm going to move this to a more appropriate section so it gets the attention it needs.

 

[monkeymommy]

I too would recommend that you take some pics and post them so we can see what they're doing.

I'm going to move this to a more appropriate section so it gets the attention it needs.

Thanks, I didn't know where would be a good place to post and was hoping it would get moved to where it needs to be.
She was just nursing them...I will take a pic of them and take a listen to her. She was fine until she gave birth, after that her breathing became heavy.

I have amoxicillin here in my fridge from my daughter .....

 

[monkeymommy]

Ok so here are some pics I was able to take, one is of just one baby and the other is of Lily with a baby nursing.
I didn't want to pick her up to disturb the nursing babies.

 

[PitLuvs]

It might be just me, but the first baby pic doesn't look all to healthy to me. Hope someone can say otherwise!!

I am clueless on litters and nursing Moms, as I only have males

 

[lilspaz68]

Oh dear those babies don't look very good, they are scrawny and the black belly like that is not a good sign at all, means the milk is going toxic in its belly. Is mom licking their butts etc to encourage them to eliminate? :sad-P: I am sorry.

Sweetie's babies were very tiny but they were still chubby

And this is what mom's do, they lick their butts until they pee/poop. Its vital.

 

[SQ]

You can clean their butts with a soft warm damp cloth or Q-tip to stimulate them to pee and poop.
You can also try supplimenting moms feedings by hand feeding them to make them stronger and make sure they are getting enough milk. (Use soy infant formula) If you decide to do this they will still need their mama's milk.
This worked with Moses and it is possible it might help your babies.

 

[xxchelle]

I was thinking the same thing, but then I thought maybe it was just my monitor. But if their bellies really are dark that's a bad sign.

 

[Sharlees rattakisses]

It might be just me, but the first baby pic doesn't look all to healthy to me. Hope someone can say otherwise!!

I am clueless on litters and nursing Moms, as I only have males

They look nothing like my babies at the same age.
Any idea how old the Mom is?
I wonder if she was fed well.
They should be chubbier.
Poor babes. :heart:

 

[xxchelle]

How many days old are they now? Here are some pictures of a rescue litter that was born from Glinda here about two and a half months ago:

From Day 1:

Large milk bellies:

Day 2 or 3, see the chubby-ness and the milk bellies?:

Day 4 or 5, I think:

And from Delilah's litter, also born about two months ago.

Day 1, healthy chubby babies:

Day 5 or 6, I think:

And this is a good picture of momma Trapper cleaning bums (this was yet another rescue litter, but this was about a year ago):

 

[monkeymommy]

I have seen her clean their bums....I am going out today to buy the formula for them...I've already lost three I don't want to lose anymore. After seeing those pics I am going to try and rub their bellies. It's so hard...I only had Lily like two days before she gave birth....who knows how she was fed. I would have taken such good care of her and I am going to do everything in my power to try and save those babies!

Thank you so much everyone for the great advice, I am so glad to have found this place!

 

[lilspaz68]

I have seen her clean their bums....I am going out today to buy the formula for them...I've already lost three I don't want to lose anymore. After seeing those pics I am going to try and rub their bellies. It's so hard...I only had Lily like two days before she gave birth....who knows how she was fed. I would have taken such good care of her and I am going to do everything in my power to try and save those babies!

Thank you so much everyone for the great advice, I am so glad to have found this place!

If Lily is sick, then its possible the babies are sick too...try your best but be prepared okay? :cuddle:

 

[Sharlees rattakisses]

Sending you lots of :hugs:

 

[monkeymommy]

I've become so attached to them! They would be four days old today and look nothing like the ones in the pic. I just fed them some formula, they were so hungry! I rubbed their little tummys and got poop!

I put a bit of the milk on their bums in hopes that Lily would also help stimulate them....it worked a bit!

We are down to two now though, I found another one dead under her.

I am just so sad......

 

[crumbilina]

I don't really know anything about babies, but wanted to wish you luck!

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Did the babies have milk bellies before you gave them formula? If not and you want to hand feed xxchelle is a good person to contact but it's a lot of work, they would need to be fed and stimulated to poop every 3 hours I think it is.

 

[monkeymommy]

I contacted a vets office near my place but they don't deal with exotic pets....I was referred to to other places but one is in downtown toronto and the other is even further away....I have no way of getting to them

They had no milk bellies before starting them with formula.

She is not even staying with them now....I put her in the cage with Peaches in hopes that after a few hours she'll want them again.

 

[smmmiley]

Oh boy... my heart goes out to you and the little ones.
Wish I could be of help, but I would be just as lost as you if I were in your situation.
You are getting some great advice.
Hope things get better... if not, just know you did your best. :hugs:

 

[lilspaz68]

She may have stopped lactating or she has abandoned her babies Does she still have laboured breathing?