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Post by wolfgirl on Oct 10, 2013 6:23:50 GMT -8
my 1 year old gerbil dusty started acting strangely last week. he was shaking, drinking more than usual, unsteady on his feet, had lost weight suddenly, and his eyes were closed. I gave him a bit of peanut butter and he perked right up like nothing had happened. a few days later it happened again; more peanut butter, back to normal.
yesterday, he again was acting this way, but peanut butter didn't help, he even climbed onto my hand (he has never enjoyed being held) and is losing fur on his back and the base of his tail. he is so thin that I can feel his hip bones. I have been putting a heating pad along the side of his aquarium to help keep him warm and have been giving him peanut butter and sunflower seeds along with his normal food. he has improved a bit today but is still acting sick. there are no vets in the area that care for "pocket pets" and I don't know if there is anything else I can do. please help us if you can.
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Post by Jazzable on Oct 10, 2013 7:04:05 GMT -8
Have you looked at his teeth? That would be my first thought when hearing he'd lost weight but seemed better after being given peanut butter. It's possible his teeth could be overgrown or perhaps one of them is broken. I'm no expert though, so other people will probably be more helpful.
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Post by wolfgirl on Oct 10, 2013 7:34:55 GMT -8
I just checked his teeth. they don't appear to be overgrown and they aren't broken (as my poor finger can confirm lol) but thanks
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Post by crittercrazy on Oct 10, 2013 14:31:41 GMT -8
My gerbil, Pebbles, did something similar when she was a year old, only I never tried peanut butter. Wish I had.  For months she would go on and off, fine, sick, fine, sick, and so forth, until she died three months ago. I hope it's something different for your gerbil though- Pebbles didn't lose that much weight so hopefully! Good luck! |
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Post by wolfgirl on Oct 10, 2013 15:36:39 GMT -8
thanks and sorry for your loss. I hope that dusty pulls through
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Post by wolfgirl on Oct 15, 2013 17:03:18 GMT -8
update: dusty is back to his normal self again and is regaining weight but I am keeping a close eye on him. hopefully he wont get sick again but still if anyone has an idea of what happened please let me know.
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Post by wolfgirl on Dec 15, 2013 13:06:24 GMT -8
Koda is now showing the same symptoms as dusty was only he is showing no interest in peanut butter and is not moving his back legs. I moved him into the smaller cage and have a heating pad keeping him warm. I don't know anything about his past like age or if this has happened before. if anyone has ideas on what I can do or what might be wrong please share. I'm desperate
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Post by catnut on Dec 15, 2013 16:23:22 GMT -8
it sounds like some type of stroke. Just try to keep Koda warm, feed him by hand,whatever he will eat, and give him water on a spoon, or if you have a small syringe, if he isn't drinking on his own. Is Dusty sleeping with him?
Take care, Tammy
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Post by wolfgirl on Dec 15, 2013 16:33:46 GMT -8
they are in separate cages. I was only allowed to adopt Koda on the condition that they were housed separately, my mother in law who I am staying with is very paranoid about pups. a stroke is what I'm thinking it might have been too, with the loss of movement in his hind legs. I wasn't sure when dusty was having them because he could move around, he was just unsteady. we've been keeping the heating pad along the tank and trying to get him to drink. (i'll try a spoon next since he isn't drinking from the shallow dish that we were trying to give him water in) i wish i knew how old Koda was because i know that strokes because more common and serious in later life. right now I'm just hoping that like Dusty he'll perk up in the morning and go back to being his usual self.
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Post by catnut on Dec 15, 2013 17:19:43 GMT -8
good wishes for Koda and hope he does improve.
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Post by wolfgirl on Dec 16, 2013 10:24:56 GMT -8
Koda passed away last night. thank you for your good wishes
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Post by catnut on Dec 16, 2013 16:04:15 GMT -8
soo sorry to hear Koda passed away, RIP Koda. Take care of yourself, it is hard when a pet gets ill and passes away, I just lost my Simon to an illness last month.
Take care,
Tammy
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Post by wolfgirl on Dec 17, 2013 4:56:43 GMT -8
I've had 2 cats that passed away but this was my first gerbil to go over the rainbow bridge. I'm hoping that I can find a breeder that is less than an hour away to adopt from next. the room feels so much emptier with only Dusty in it athough I think he is getting annoyed with all the attention I'm giving him |
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For months she would go on and off, fine, sick, fine, sick, and so forth, until she died three months ago. I hope it's something different for your gerbil though- Pebbles didn't lose that much weight so hopefully! Good luck! 
