PSA: Labor

╔═══════▣◎▣═══════╗

Signs

Prior to labor, you may notice your rat rabidly making nests in her cage. Many owners like to give her nesting material such as paper towels to allow her to do this. Keep in mind your rat will likely give birth at night, usually about 21-23 days after she's been impregnated. The female will discharge blood immediately prior to going into labor.

╚═══════▣◎▣═══════╝

PSA: Labor-[BC]╔═══════▣◎▣═══════╗
[BC]Signs
[C]Prior to labor, you may notice your rat rabidly making nests in her cage. Man

╔═══════▣◎▣═══════╗

Process

The birth usually lasts about 1-2 hours in general. In normal circumstances, your female will be able to complete the birthing process on her own, including cleaning the babies and cutting off the umbilical cord. You should still keep an eye on her while she gives birth to ensure everything goes smoothly. On average, your female will have anywhere form 6-12 pups in her litter. You should leave the room mostly dark for the mother to reduce stress, but feel free to check on her every once in a while to make sure there aren't any problems.

╚═══════▣◎▣═══════╝

╔═══════▣◎▣═══════╗

Complications

It's normal to see a little blood as the pups are born, however excessive bleeding can be dangerous and requires vet attention.

Your female rat may also go into shock, where she will have heavy breathing, lethargy, parts of her facial area may be pale, and she will be rather cool to touch.

Sometimes a pup may become stuck in the birth canal. This is most commonly seen when the female continues to have contractions after 3-4 hours. If a pup is lodged in the birth canal, take your rat to a vet so they can help unlodge the pup.

╚═══════▣◎▣═══════╝

╔═══════▣◎▣═══════╗

Preparation

It's best to prepare for the worst case scenario beforehand. Make sure your vet will be open for the days that you expect your rat to give birth. It's also good to have another nursing mother rat on hand, incase the mother rat dies during birth or is unable to feed her pups. Keep in mind birth complications may require a C-section.

╚═══════▣◎▣═══════╝

╔═══════▣◎▣═══════╗

Cannibalism

Some owners may notice their mother rat eat some of her babies. This shouldn't be a cause of concern, as mother rats generally listen for a squeak from the babies while cleaning them, this causes the mother to stop. Stillborn or weak babies won't be able to make this squeaking sound, and as such will likely be consumed by the mother rat.

╚═══════▣◎▣═══════╝

Likes (27)

Like 27

Comments (3)

:rat: Smokey the rat :rat:

When I had found out Pikachu was getting ready to go into labor back in august 2018, I got so excited, I shut off all the lights in the room and left her alone, I came back half an hour later to find 8 pups, about 15 minutes later, a total of 11 pups, I checked back in another full hour and I only saw 8 again, so I thought a few didn't make it, all 11 were actually still there, just buried. She was such a good mom to her babies, I miss her, she would have been great to breed for pet rats but she ed unexpectedly after an ear infection in April. She gave birth at only 2 months of age which was absolutely nuts and dangerous for her. Yet she cleaned every single one and took such good care of them, a week before her pups opened their eyes i placed a green crinkle hammock thing in the cage and she moved EVERY SINGLE BABY to it. She clearly liked it more than the original nest lol. To this day I have no regrets with anything, even accidentally picking up a female rat. As a rattie grany I helped take good care of them, her babies were really healthy, she had 7 females and 4 males, I kept two females, and gave the rest to a friend who has many rats as she breed them, I could not take on 17 rats all at once as I was already adopting a Dumbo Rex August 31st when he was grown enough to come to me. The lady never let any rats go until they are 6 weeks of age, she herself was not happy that she got 9, 4 week old babies XD but I had no room since the cage I had would not fit 7 females an a momma. Sadly one of the two daughters has ed, the two daughters I kept are Lapis Lazili and Peridot, Peridot died in November (I think I can't fully I have bad memory when it comes to dates of many past away pets) Lapis is soon to go I feel too because she is greatly slowing down, even though she is only a year and a half. She has not been too swell lately.

0 Reply 01/10/20

Pally

You can also see their milk in their belly. So if the baby has milk they’re healthy. (Just saying it because some people get confused and worried about seeing white in the babies.)