04/02/2023
Hello ratty lovers!! So we have had a stressful few days here with our doe Pie.
I know I told a fair few people I'd be expecting babies around this time to be ready around the end of March but unfortunately alot of things can go wrong with pairings sometimes and we've hit several complications.
Our doe Apple reabsorbed her 2nd litter a week or so ago, I won't be trying to pair her again as it's likely just to happen again.
Our other paired doe, Pie, gave birth at round 7am on Tuesday the 31st. She had 5 very vocal little beans, but once I checked her I could feel she still had some in her tummy.
After a couple days of waiting for her body to sort it itself, we ended up down the vets Thursday night for an xray which confirmed babies still inside and we tried to help her body sort itself by providing anti biotics and pain relief to give her a chance to still be able to care for her beans. Unfortunately by the following afternoon it was clear her body was struggling and Pie was getting worse and agitated the more time went on.
This meant she ended up back at the vets Friday afternoon for an emergency csection and spay. This also means she no longer had the capacity to feed or look after the five little Beans that were still alive and eeping.
I found another rattery with 2 does who had recently had litters and arranged for one of her mummas to Foster my little Acies.
Thankfully Pie's surgery was successful, they found 3+ rats at various stages in her body but they had passed away inside and were starting to cause infection. Everything was cleared out and she woke up in recovery relatively fast considering how weak her body was previously. She's been at home recovering since, which treats, love and medication so🤞 she keeps on improving and getting better.
The Acies, providing all is well, will be returning to me when they are old enough to be apart from the nursing Doe, but as I said there are only 5. The 3 bucks and 2 does likely already have homes lined up if they are going anywhere but I will post about them if this changes at all.
If you've read this far, you deserve a medal or atleast a big drink!! I have cancelled my plans to re-pair Custard this month and will likely be waiting until June/July to do anymore pairings. I think I need a little break to recover! So keep your eyes peeled around Summer/Autumn to see any litters that may be coming up!!
Here are some pictures, 1 was the Acies at a few hours old, 2 is Pie's xray, incase anyone is interested (it's a photo of a screen so there are wiggles on it but if you look close enough you can see a tiny spine and ribcage down the bottom) and the 3 is of the Acies all bundled in my bonding pouch inside my jumper while I kept them warm between Pie going into the Vets and making it to their foster home 🐀❤️
