my pregger rat might be having problems

i have a female rat thats due any day. last night i opened up her tub to check on her and i saw a bit of blood so i thought she was going to have her rat pups but when i woke up this morning she still havent had her pups. here are some pics of the blood from last night, do u think somthing is wrong?
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k8...ro/rats001.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k8...ro/rats002.jpg
what do u all think?

I've had three litters so far so I'm not an expert.

However, that's a good deal of blood for the fact that she hasn't given birth. Once mine started to bleed they quickly began giving birth and were done in about an hour. I think you should take her to the vet asap.

Maybe Connie can chime in but I think the rats with the blazes on their faces, like your female, are prone to megacolon which I THINK can affect the birthing process.

Generally once they start bleeding pinks are a few hours away.

Not to say yours is the same but one of mine had a miscarrage, unlike some animals rats can reabsorb the babies w/o issues.

Yes there is most likely a problem and your rat needs vet care.

well im starting to think she reabsorbed them in her mouth lol. i found one lonely rat pink under her.... lets see if she has any more

First litter?

i dont know if it was her first or not, she wasnt one of my breeders but a feeder i bought off of someone, thanks for all the replies thou

ok so here is a update, i found 11 rat pups dead and were pushed away from her under some aspen. there are 3 left and they appear to be nursing. maybe this is a new mother.... i wish she would have fed the other pups cause i have some new hatchlings to feed, but o well i think she has it down by now. she does appear to be healthy and alot skinnier.

Are you feeding them rabbit food??

And yes, that's alot of blood for a normal birth. Should just be tiny spots, if that.

I would refrain from breeding her. She's high white, which means she has a high likelihood of carrying the megacolon gene. Megacolon kills, and not quickly. If any of her pinks survive and are marked, I wouldn't use them for breeding either. Just too much of a risk, especially if she had trouble birthing. Kind of like cattle, it seems to be one of those genetic things.

I have to back up what Becky said, it's a good idea to avoid the marked faces, as they are considered high white.

Also, when I have a female give a birth like that, I generally don't breed them again. I've never seen it work out. It's one thing to have a seasoned breeder have one bad birthing experience after many good ones to let her try again after a recovery time, but the girls that start bad, I have not seen them ever go on to being a good producer.

Just some food for thought.

no rabbit food, actually this http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k8...ro/rats006.jpg
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k8...ro/rats007.jpg
the "mark" is the white stripe down her face?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Are you feeding them rabbit food??

And yes, that's alot of blood for a normal birth. Should just be tiny spots, if that.

I would refrain from breeding her. She's high white, which means she has a high likelihood of carrying the megacolon gene. Megacolon kills, and not quickly. If any of her pinks survive and are marked, I wouldn't use them for breeding either. Just too much of a risk, especially if she had trouble birthing. Kind of like cattle, it seems to be one of those genetic things.

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If you are able to buy this then you should look into getting a more suitable food made for rodents by Mazuri





this is the label info of the product you mentioned you are using that includes the ingredients & break down

Mazuri® Mini Pig Active Adult 5Z91

Description
Mazuri® Mini Pig Active Adult is a moderate-energy, high-fiber diet for porcine species that helps
promote moderate growth rate while helping to satisfy hunger. This ration can be used as a
maintenance diet for active, adult animals. It can be fed in combination with Mazuri® Mini Pig
Youth to gestating/lactating females. This product was specially formulated to meet the needs of
exotic miniature pigs, such as the Vietnamese potbellied pig.

Features and Benefits
• Moderate-energy, high-fiber ratio – For controlled growth and consumption rates.
• Complete nutrition - Supplemental vitamins and minerals not required.
• Pellet form - Easy to feed; minimizes waste.
• Zinc methionine and natural vitamin E - Provides for better skin condition.
• Urine acidifier - To decrease urinary calculi.
• No meat products - To reduce ammonia in urine.
• Yucca extract - To reduce ammonia in urine.
• Contains mixed tocopherols - All natural antioxidant.

Product Form Catalog #0001502
• Pellet size: 5/32" diameter x 1/2" length. 25 lb. net weight paper sack.

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude protein not less than.......................16.0%
Lysine not less than...................................0.75%
Crude fat not less than................................3.0%
Crude fiber not more than.........................11.0%
Calcium (Ca) not less than........................0.80%
Calcium (Ca) not more than......................1.30%
Phosphorus (P) not less than....................0.80%
Salt (NaCl) not less than...........................0.25%
Salt (NaCl) not more than.........................0.75%
Selenium (Se) not less than.................0.30 ppm
Zinc (Zn) not less than...........................250 ppm

Ingredients
Wheat middlings, ground oats, ground corn, dehydrated alfalfa meal, dehulled soybean meal,
dried beet pulp, ground soybean hulls, dicalcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, soybean
oil, cane molasses, lignin sulfonate, calcium carbonate, ammonium chloride, salt, DL-methionine,
menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite (vitamin K), choline chloride, L-lysine, zinc methionine
complex, dried yucca shidigera extract, tocopherols (a preservative), pyridoxine hydrochloride,
biotin, calcium pantothenate, ferrous sulfate, d-alpha tocopheryl acetate (natural source of vitamin
E), cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, riboflavin, vitamin A acetate,
thiamin mononitrate, nicotinic acid, citric acid, manganese sulfate, manganous oxide, zinc oxidecopper sulfate, zinc sulfate, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, copper chloride, sodium selenite.

We use Mazuri 6f which is designed for rats.

Megacolon is USUALLY present by around the time babies are eating solid food. Make sure in the future that the area where they are giving birth is pretty quiet, if it wasn't... Mother rats determine live births by squeeking while they are cleaning them, so if they can't hear the squeeks, they frequently kill the babies.

Pretty much anything that looks like *husky* markings *Kind of like a high-berkshire, but more even edges* has been associated with megacolon, so breeding hoodies, berks, and selfs, without blazes, tends to be your best idea.

The Mazuri rat food is really good, you may even be able to find a feed store near you that stocks it or can order it for you. Not overly expensive either!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tonkatoyman

We use Mazuri 6f which is designed for rats.

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That is what we are using as well & I am quite happy with the results

can anyone post the nutrition content of the mazouri?? i think the ingredients are very close