Post by pepandmax on Jul 12, 2007 17:47:03 GMT -8
You should be prepared before a gerbil becomes ill. This will decrease the stress on you and the animal and increases the gerbil’s chances for recovery.
Contact a vet and establish a relationship before you need veterinary services. This may be as simple as calling the office to ensure that someone on the staff deals with gerbils, pocket pets, rodents, or other “Exotics.”
In addition, set aside funds for veterinary care. If the money has already been designated and saved, you are less likely to blanch at the thought of paying a vet bill.
Other items to keep on hand include:
--Ensure, preferably Ensure with Fiber, as a liquid nutrition supplement. According to some vets, this is superior to kitten replacement milk (KMR) because it doesn’t contain unnecessary additives. In addition, it’s readily available in most supermarkets, and it provides hydration along with nutrition.
--An eyedropper or a syringe or two, for administering liquid nutrition, hydration, or medicines.
--A heating pad, warming light for reptiles, or other means to provide warmth.
--Don’t forget the contact information for the vet and the emergency medical funds.
--Make sure there is enough food for at least a week, preferably two, and enough litter for tank cleanings all around, in the case of an emergency.
--Have a shoebox or other carrier for each tank on hand. Consider packing individual small bags of food and storing them in the freezer. In the event of an emergency or evacuation, you can easily put the gerbils in the carriers, grab the pre-measured food bags, and be on your way.
--Keep on hand at least one spare water bottle, as gerbils are wonderful at gnawing and breaking their bottle.
Contact a vet and establish a relationship before you need veterinary services. This may be as simple as calling the office to ensure that someone on the staff deals with gerbils, pocket pets, rodents, or other “Exotics.”
In addition, set aside funds for veterinary care. If the money has already been designated and saved, you are less likely to blanch at the thought of paying a vet bill.
Other items to keep on hand include:
--Ensure, preferably Ensure with Fiber, as a liquid nutrition supplement. According to some vets, this is superior to kitten replacement milk (KMR) because it doesn’t contain unnecessary additives. In addition, it’s readily available in most supermarkets, and it provides hydration along with nutrition.
--An eyedropper or a syringe or two, for administering liquid nutrition, hydration, or medicines.
--A heating pad, warming light for reptiles, or other means to provide warmth.
--Don’t forget the contact information for the vet and the emergency medical funds.
--Make sure there is enough food for at least a week, preferably two, and enough litter for tank cleanings all around, in the case of an emergency.
--Have a shoebox or other carrier for each tank on hand. Consider packing individual small bags of food and storing them in the freezer. In the event of an emergency or evacuation, you can easily put the gerbils in the carriers, grab the pre-measured food bags, and be on your way.
--Keep on hand at least one spare water bottle, as gerbils are wonderful at gnawing and breaking their bottle.