I am in distress

Question
I have a female that just had babies for the second time.  I spaced them months apart.  All were healthy.  I have huge cages and could smell mold.  I noticed that the bottle for water was broken and the bedding was wet...this may have been for two days as I was working a lot that week but the smell of mold made me find the problem.  Cage was cleaned rinced and new bedding put in.  Babies are fine, but today (four days later) I notice the mothers butt is damp and she had soft stool on it.  Of course I am freaking out.  She is eating and drinking.  I have been treating her with more vegies...especially carrots.  Should I worry if she is eating good.  The babies are still nursing.  I would die if something happened to any of them.  She gets a lot of Timothy Hay.  Could this have something to do with the birth...it has been three weeks.

Answer
Hi Ann

If the mother is eating fine then its probably just a case of an upset tummy. To treat this you can give a small amount of arrowroot powder with water to create a soup-like consistency and give by syringe in the mouth.

If you find the mother looking fluffed up and sick then you do need vetinary treatment. The worse case scenario is a parasitic infection that has affected the digestive system and this needs antibiotics. However it really does sound like a minor tummy upset.

If the stools are very soft, i.e watery please consult a vet, but if they are just a little soft and wet, please try the sugestion above and let me know if you cant find arrowroot as there are other ways to treat this.

Andy

P.S It also doesnt sound like you need to worry about the babies as the condition is unlikely to do with the birth.