Post by pepandmax on Aug 1, 2007 15:04:17 GMT -8
There will come a time for every gerbil guardian when it is time to say goodbye to a beloved companion animal. Sometimes a gerbil will slip away in his sleep, but sometimes a chronic illness will slowly steal him away. Euthanasia, or having your gerbil "put to sleep," can be an appropriate resolution to a situation in which your pet is terminally ill and suffering.
How can you know when it's time to think about saying goodbye?
The following is a list of characteristics that could indicate euthanasia for a moribund (dying) gerbil. Any one or two characteristics alones probably won't indicate a need for euthanasia; conversely, it is not necessary for the gerbil to have all the characteristics on the list. Instead, the list is meant as a guide for you to use with your vet when evaluating the seriousness of your pet's condition.
What happens in a euthanasia appointment?
*To be continued!*
Sources:
List is adapted from:
Field, Karl J. and Amber Sibold. The Laboratory Hamster & Gerbil: A Volume in The Laboratory Animal Pocket Reference Series. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida: 1999.
How can you know when it's time to think about saying goodbye?
The following is a list of characteristics that could indicate euthanasia for a moribund (dying) gerbil. Any one or two characteristics alones probably won't indicate a need for euthanasia; conversely, it is not necessary for the gerbil to have all the characteristics on the list. Instead, the list is meant as a guide for you to use with your vet when evaluating the seriousness of your pet's condition.
- Rapid, sustained weight loss (20-25% in one week);
- Refusal or inability to eat (anorexia);
- Impaired mobility that restricts access to food and/or water;
- Spreading hair loss caused by disease;
- Rough coat, hunched posture, lethargy, especially lasting three or more days;
- Bloating (distension) of the abdomen
- Diarrhea, especially if debilitating, long lasting, or leading to emaciation;
- Persistent coughing, wheezing, or respiratory distress;
- Persistent bleeding;
- Rapid growth of a mass (like a tumor);
- Paralysis;
- Signs of nervous system problems, like a head tilt, tremors, seizures, circling, or weakness, especially if it hinders the gerbil's ability to get to food and water;
- Persistent self-induced trauma;
- Markedly discolored urine (with increased or decreased urine production);
- Other issues that interfere with eating, drinking, or getting around.
What happens in a euthanasia appointment?
*To be continued!*
Sources:
List is adapted from:
Field, Karl J. and Amber Sibold. The Laboratory Hamster & Gerbil: A Volume in The Laboratory Animal Pocket Reference Series. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida: 1999.