Respiratory Problems in my pups please help!!

[callimico]

My litter of black pups are 2 weeks and 5 days old. Every litter I've had up to this point has been healthy. I just picked up the pups and one of them was making rapid clicking noises as it breathes. I know your supposedto put orcylidane something in the water but is there anything else I can do??? And how much do I put in the water, will the mom drink enough in time to help the pup?? please help.
I'm thinking of changing the bedding (currently carefresh, tissues, and toilet paper). NOne of the other pups are clicking, just this one, but another pups fur is a little rumpled. The male pup that is clicking doesn't have his eyes open yet, but the rest of the litter has both or one eye open.
I can't stand it if he dies, please post fast what else I can do. I've never had this problem before
Thanks!!

[callimico]

I just read a care on cure for respiratory problem in pups due to bedding or dampness
It says

"You MUST be sure that the Ornacycline is changed and made FRESH EVERY DAY and that you protect it from light as it is light-sensative. A towel over the part of the cage holding the water bottle works just fine.

For young pups, you'll want to dilute it and give via an eyedropper by mouth.
Usually elderly gerbils and young pups suffer from this and you'll want to quaranteen the infected gerbils to another room as this is contagious and will spread from animal to animal in the same room. "

Have any of you heard that this could spread too? We're leaving tomorrow for a week for Thanksgiving in Deleware!!

Also I didn't know I was supposed to feed it directly to the pup with an eye dropper. I'm afraid I'll flud the lungs. Is treating the water alone ok?

[callimico]

I've just called all the pet stores in my area and none of them carry ornacycline- is there something else I can use?

[Padfoot]

ok... you need to treat them all with it. Dilute the tablet as the packet says you should for small birds (1 tablet per 8 oz. of water). I know it's hard to hand feed pups, but it can pe done. You firmly take a pup between your fingers, try to to have him tummy down, as they naturally lay to drink from mommy. In you other hand take the dropper and, away from the pups mouth, push it a bit, so you see the drop of water coming out, but do not let it out. Then put it near the pups mouth and let him drink it, do not push the dropper so the water comes out, just a bit so the water is just on the rim of it and the pup will swallow it from there. I hope you understand what I mean since it's hard to explain without actually showing you. Put also water with O on the water bottle for the other gerbils and feed all the pups a drop or 2 of water a few times a day. Do you have someone to come in a check the animals while you are away for a week?

[callimico]

Thank you so much! yes I understand what you mean, so they can drink the water without me actually putting it in their mouth, you explained it really well.
But I didn't understand "But also water with O on the water bottle for the other gerbils" I should treat all the waterbottles with a diluted tablet?
I have 4 other tanks in the room, not just this one (that has 5 2 week old pups, mom, and big sister.)
The other tanks near it have one with dad and 3 sons, one with 2 girls, and then 2 more tanks with one girl each in them. Should I treat their water too?
Yes I can have my friend check on the pups every day i'm gone, but last time she watched our pets she accidently killed all my brothers salt water fish, so I'm not sure but do the pups absolutley need the treatement by dropper while I'm gone?
I have to leave tomorrow after noon but can be back sunday afternoon so it will only be three days while I'm not here.
Thanks again!!

[Padfoot]

I meant the water in the tank where the pups are. I had RI with my first couple of litters, and had all my animals in my room (that included gerbils, hamsters, a dog and a guinea pig at that time), and only the pups got RI, but I treated the parents just in case. Maybe you want to hear the other gerbils' breathing and if you hear clicking in them, then treat them too, but if they are not clicking and don't look ill, then don't. It's never good to abuse and antibiotic.

I think it is important for you to treat the pups that look ill, specially the one that has his eyes closed, cause sounds like he's a runt, weak, and getting worst with the RI. Maybe you can call your friend before leaving and showing her what to do and how to do it.