Tummy full of cotton

phillinley · Apr 18, 2013

We usually put pulled apart cotton balls in a does cage if she has a history of not pulling for until after birth. We put the cotton mixed in with the straw in the next boxlast night since she was acting the same way as she did the last time she had babies on the wire. Come out this morning and she had picked clean all of the cotton in the next box. It was probably 8 pulled apart balls.

Are these going to pass? Do I need to go out and get some pineapple, or is this a call for the vet. She's two days max from delivering kits.

MaggieJ · Apr 18, 2013

Was it natural cotton or synthetic? Could make a difference. I'd give her a big handful or two of wet dandelions, if you can find them this early. It might help things move along, so to speak. Never, ever heard of a doe doing such a thing! Sure hope she is okay!

MamaSheepdog · Apr 18, 2013

Oh, wow! That is a new one on me too.

I would syringe mineral oil into her mouth- one or two 3cc syringes full.

But I would not worry overmuch- I have heard that when people or animals ingest glass, they make them eat cotton.<br /><br />__________ Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:37 am __________<br /><br />I just did a quick search, and it is cotton not synthetic puffs that are recommended for this purpose.

However, from my time working in veterinary hospitals, it was long strips of fabric that would cause blockages. I think that unless she already has wool block, the small strips will likely pass.

phillinley · Apr 18, 2013

It was 100% cotton. Was able to find dandelions plus passed her along some carrots. Replaced the plastic tray to see if she is still regular, although I'm not quite sure what regular would be at this stage of pregnancy.

MamaSheepdog · Apr 18, 2013

phillinley":2jfrq3a0 said:
It was 100% cotton.

No worries, then. You can probably skip the mineral oil treatment in that case.

Frosted Rabbits · Apr 18, 2013

Actually, mineral oil is always a help in moving anything along...even cotton balls!

phillinley · Apr 18, 2013

False alarm, she had lifted up her nest box and stuffed them underneath the box, she pulled them back out later tonight when I came back to her cage and she had them strewn around the nest.