Pregnancy
I've put this page together to help anyone who finds themself with a pregnancy that wasn't planned.
Signs of Pregnancy
•Weight gain
•Increased appetite.
•Change in energy levels (some girls sleep a lot more)
•Bulging abdomen, especially obvious a few days before birth
•Swollen, and sometimes wet, nipples
•Nesting behaviour
You can view the average weight gain of 5 month old does compared to pregnant girls of the same age at the following link
Weight gain can be a useful indication as to whether a doe is pregnant.
How Long?
Rat pregnancy lasts for 21 - 24 days.
Signs the Birth is Near
•frantic nesting
•change in behaviour eg. doe becomes nippy, unsettled, disagreeable with cagemates etc. She may be come restless and rebuild her nest over and over.
•clear or watery red discharge from the vagina
•contractions - you may notice your doe stretching out flat and/or sucking her sides in.
Birth
Mums often prefer peace and quiet to birth, so will wait until everyone is in bed or out of the house. The birth itself is usually over in around an hour or two, and they tend to be problem free.
Problems
Please seek medical attention as soon as possible if -
•your doe becomes distressed
•she has excessive blood loss
•birthing is prolonged, contractions stop and you can still feel/suspect babies inside
•blood loss is dark red, rather than fresh, bright and watery
Do not wait until the morning to see if she is okay; delaying medical treatment could put your rat's life at risk. Call your vet immediately. All vets in the UK provide 24 hour cover of some sort, and can give you advise over the telephone if they feel a visit is not needed.
Sexing Baby Rats
Note the space between penis and anus. This space is much greater than the space between urethra and anus in the female below.
As the rats get older the males' testicles descend and the difference is much more obvious.
Girls also have nipples. Boys do not. You can clearly see the nipples on the chest area between Niamh's arms. There are six down each side.
Additonal Information -
www.shunamiterats.co.uk/nutribreed.html
