Mom rejected one of the Kits

[cclastchange]

I work at a pet store, and no one knew how to sex a chinchilla and they had a male and female housed together, Well one day I came into work and found 3 kits in the cage, 1 was on the bottom of the cage and the other 2 were in the dusting bowl. We moved them to a clean cage and got mom and babies situated. They were born the day before mothers day. So they are almost a week old. I been keeping my eye on them, and noticed the last 2 days that the male isnt gaining any weight compared to his 2 sisters who are double his size. So I noticed mom wasnt cleaning him or feeding him. So I decided to take him home and start nursing him. I want to make sure that I am doing everything right. I have kitten milk, and I am using a syringe and a bottle to feed him. I have him in a box next to my bed on a heating blanket. While I am sitting I am watching tv I let him rest on my breasts where its nice and warm for him. He falls asleep quickly there. I stimulate him to use the bathroom.

If anyone has any advice please let me know.

Thank you

New Chinchilla Owner and Mom...

 

[tunes]

http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21

There is a formula mix in there that pretty much everybody uses for chins. Also, read that FAQ and it should walk you through hand feeding and pretty much anything else you need for now.

Good luck! If you have more questions after reading that, fire away.

 

[cclastchange]

I think I got to him too late. His breathing has shortened and isnt moving as much...

 

[eroomlorac]

Good luck. Let us know how he progresses.

 

[rcr]

Welcome and congratulations on your new "inherited" baby. Hope he starts to gain weight quickly. Please keep us updated and we always love pics too!

 

[tunes]

CC - I'm sorry to hear that, but despite our best efforts, sometimes it just happens. Even with hand feeding and rotating, sometimes certain kits in the litter just don't make it.

From your description, I would guess he is getting ready to pass. If he hasn't already, one thing I always try and do is provide them with a warm, caring passing. They go really quick once they start, and I make sure they are being held and "groomed" by me gently around the ears and neck, like they would by mom if she was doing her job. I put them on my skin, inside of my shirt so that they feel warm and comforted. I think at some point they stop feeling outside stimuli, but for me, I like them to know someone is there until the very end.

You tried your best, and that's all you can do.

 

[cclastchange]

Well last night between 2-3 am MoMo, thats what everyone at the store named him, passed on to a better place. I wish I had gotten him sooner, I feel I could have helped if I had gotten him sooner. But his 2 sisters are doing perfectly well. So Thank you for all your help. I will post some pictures of the girls and their mom soon. I am definatly adopting one of the females.

THanks again

 

[Sue]

Sometimes the mom will get pregnant and then a few weeks or even a month later her second uterine horn will open and she'll get pregnant again. But when the first litter delivers the uterine contractions will cause a premature birth of the second litter. He may not have been fully developed and had some problems other than being rejected by mom. You did what you could, we all go through this and it's hard to accept. It makes the ones you win all the more sweet.

 

[alli713]

I'm so sorry the little guy passed on last night. Sometimes no matter what you do, it just wasn't meant to be. Sometimes the mom knows that there is something wrong with the kit and hence the reason for not caring for it.
Good luck with the other girls, and good luck with the one that you decide to get!