Momma taking pup apart from litter mates?

[deguconvert]

Have any of you with experience with pups ever seen your mother goo take a pup away from the rest of the litter and then leave it there? I don't know for sure that it is Pumpkin that is doing this, because it could be that Apricot is doing it. But whoever it is, we've thrice found the runt of the new litter, way up top on the highest level, farthest from the litter which is down on the floor level. We've put her back with her litter mates, only to find her up top again and calling for her mother. The last time this happened, only minutes ago, once I put her beside Pumpkin, Apricot suddenly showed up and snuggled in right up again Pumpkin. I don't know if she is protecting Pumpkin, wanting the attention that Pumpkin gets, wanting Pumpkin's babies, or what . . . but she has been doing this behavior a lot since the delivery of the pups.

It has been WEIRD! But, since that is my favorite word to describe degus, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, should I? LOL!

[amie]

Problem here is, and I know rats do it too, that they might be trying to get rid of the weaker pups or the ones with health problems, either obviously or under lying. A mother rat (and most rodents) will SOMETIMES kill the unhealthy babies in the litter, push them out of the nest, or take them somewhere away from the rest of the group and leave them there.

I would keep an eye on this baby and make sure that her mother is allowing her feed.

[deguconvert]

I've been wondering about this myself. What can I feed her to augment her milk? She is calling her mom right now . . . I'm sure it is her I can hear. She can't tolerate cows milk can she?

[amie]

I wouldn't give her cows milk at all. How old is she? I'd suggest feeding her baby soy milk, but I'm not sure. If there's a vets anywhere near by you, they might be able to advise better?

[amie]

www.degutopia.co.uk/deguhandr.htm

Just by reading this, I'd be inclined to go for porridge oats mixed into baby soy milk, warmed up?

Dyzired has hand reared. Perhaps she can tell you what she fed her boy?

[deguconvert]

I've had a look at that, so am hoping to find some kitten milk today . . . not sure if I can . . . but phoning the vet sounds like a good idea. The pups are 7 days old today.

Pumpkin keeps transporting them all to various parts of the cage. We never know where we will find her, standing over top of her pups so that they can nurse. She has them all to the top level today, and one had wandered over the edge, falling to the next one down. We moved them all back down to the bottom, but I can hear tiny squeaks behind me, coming from different places in the cage again . . . will have to look and make sure they are in a safe place again!

[Karma]

we have kitten milk at pisces deguconvert. I wasn't there yesterday so not sure if we have some in stock (tis the season for it). We are up in the north so not sure if the store is too far north for you (corner mcknight and deerfoot).

Give the store a call 403-274-3314 and ask them to set some aside and you could pick it up later. I'll be there at 2pm.

But if your vet has some in stock and is close but all means go for that. Good luck with the pup!

[deguconvert]

Thanks everyone!!

I'm conflicted . . . what with having the funeral and everything . . . I can't be on hand to be giving additional nutrition. So . . . for now, I'm hoping that Pumpkin can addequately care for them all while we are gone.