Singleton kit and first-time doe problems! (Update 5/14)

[Miss M]

Got a question... did he ever grow? In the picture at 12 days, he looks newborn-size with long fuzz.

Our first litter after we moved, we had one baby that never grew. Had trouble getting fed, and we supplemented. When she died at 13 days, she was fuzzy, but still newborn-sized.

 

[Teddy2511]

He did grow a tiny bit since that picture, but he was still much smaller than any other 2 week old I have ever had.

Coincidence; maybe not... I wonder if something was wrong internally then?

 

[Miss M]

That's what I was wondering... mine may have grown a smidge, but at 13 days, she should have filled my hand. Instead, she was dwarfed by her brother (the only two survivors of a litter that started with a stuck kit). When I looked at her by herself, and disregarded the fur, she seriously still looked newborn-sized.

Since she was not growing, and seemed to be getting weak, I finally withheld a formula feeding on the 13th night. A normal baby would be ravenous in the morning after missing a feeding. A baby who hadn't been getting enough would be hungry and maybe a bit weak after missing a feeding. She was dead. I knew at that point that she was not going to make it anyway, so I withheld the feeding.

 

[Teddy2511]

*sigh* It is sad when those little ones have to die, but at least I know that there must have been something else wrong.

Thank you for sharing your story; I feel a little better about things now, and now that the doe is rebred I will hope for more success this time.

 

[Miss M]

I was hoping that my experience might make you feel a bit better. Not that the situation isn't sad, but at least you know that something else had to be wrong, like you said.

Good luck with your next litter!

 

[squidpop]

I'm glad you bred her again, hopefully she will do fine. Does she get lots of exercise when she is pregnant? I subscribe to the theory that if a doe gets lots of exercise while pregnant it keeps the blood flowing to the fetuses and makes the does female parts move more smoothly.

 

[Teddy2511]

Yes, I'm glad that I bred her back again as well; hopefully all goes well this time around! I palpated on the 28th (last month) and I would say she's positive, so the nest box goes in on Tuesday!

Well, with the last pregnancy, she actually got more exercise than with this one so we'll see what happens...
I kind of expected a problem litter last time though, since it was her first time and everything.