J
jodie3
On Friday Freya gave birth to six babes who sadly all died. I assume they were premature as although perfectly formed they all only had hair on their heads and naked bodies. The day before I noticed she had sores by each elbow. I thought she had scratched herself on her igloo as being rather large she sometimes got stuck. I took the igloo away and put some savlon on the sores. Friday morning they were worse and I do wonder if my poking her about caused her to go into labour early. Saturday morning I was horrified to see she had scratched/chewed one back leg so it was really sore and the sores on her elbows were also worse. I put tea tree cream on them and they did seem to dry up a bit. Saturday afternoon her cagemate Tallullah had five babies, sadly one was dead. I had left her and Freya together as I thought it would be more stressful for poor Freya to be on her own. Everything seemed fine, Freya was 'helping' with the babies and I breathed a sigh of relief!
But, by the next morning Tallullah had done the same thing to one of her back legs and also had a sore on her back. I put tea tree on them both and kept a close eye on them. The sores did dry up a bit but both girls looked miserable and were eating but not with their usual gusto.
This morning one of the babes was looking very quiet and sadly later died. The other three just look puny, still with that newborn frog look. As the girls sores were still looking horrible I took all of them to the vet this afternoon. She didn't really know what it was so got one of the other vets to have a look. He didn't look too sure but decided it was probably a reaction to mites brought about by the stress of pregnancy and labour. I said they hadn't been scratching at all prior to this but he said they can have mites and not cause a problem but stress could cause them to react to the mites. They both had an antibiotic jab and I've got some wash for them and an antibiotic puffer. They have to go back next week for another jab. He wasn't bothered about the babies, he said that they can eat quite happily on their own and they wouldn't get the sores. BUT the girls are very subdued, eating a little bit but not much and won't be tempted by their favourite cucumber or grass. They aren't being horrible to the babies but equally aren't being maternal at all. Two of the babies are now looking hunched and subdued. I've offered them some finely chopped grass and cucumber but they aren't interested. The other babe is fine, running round happily.
So, any suggestions about how to make the girls more comfortable; what else can I do to help the babies; any ideas about what might have caused it in the first place? Just help really as I hate to see the girls suffering and I can't bear to lose any more babies.
(I've taken them off vetbed and back onto shavings, burnt the hay and put them back onto horsehage and washed the cages with virkon e just in case.)
Sorry to go on but I wanted to explain everything! Thanks in advance.
Jo
But, by the next morning Tallullah had done the same thing to one of her back legs and also had a sore on her back. I put tea tree on them both and kept a close eye on them. The sores did dry up a bit but both girls looked miserable and were eating but not with their usual gusto.
This morning one of the babes was looking very quiet and sadly later died. The other three just look puny, still with that newborn frog look. As the girls sores were still looking horrible I took all of them to the vet this afternoon. She didn't really know what it was so got one of the other vets to have a look. He didn't look too sure but decided it was probably a reaction to mites brought about by the stress of pregnancy and labour. I said they hadn't been scratching at all prior to this but he said they can have mites and not cause a problem but stress could cause them to react to the mites. They both had an antibiotic jab and I've got some wash for them and an antibiotic puffer. They have to go back next week for another jab. He wasn't bothered about the babies, he said that they can eat quite happily on their own and they wouldn't get the sores. BUT the girls are very subdued, eating a little bit but not much and won't be tempted by their favourite cucumber or grass. They aren't being horrible to the babies but equally aren't being maternal at all. Two of the babies are now looking hunched and subdued. I've offered them some finely chopped grass and cucumber but they aren't interested. The other babe is fine, running round happily.
So, any suggestions about how to make the girls more comfortable; what else can I do to help the babies; any ideas about what might have caused it in the first place? Just help really as I hate to see the girls suffering and I can't bear to lose any more babies.
(I've taken them off vetbed and back onto shavings, burnt the hay and put them back onto horsehage and washed the cages with virkon e just in case.)
Sorry to go on but I wanted to explain everything! Thanks in advance.
Jo
I'm so sorry for all those losses... its terribly sad 
