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Post by queenofthenile on Feb 2, 2004 20:09:53 GMT -8
Some of you may remember when my gerbil Rowan was very sick. I bought him from a pet store when he was 6 weeks old. A week later he developed diarrhea that ended with 5 days of DriTail solution. Although the diarrhea was gone, he continued to look very sick and I noticed that he had now become constipated. Peter suggested that I massage his abdomen, and after doing this and waiting 30 minutes, he pooped a lot! I am happy to say that Rowan is doing much better! He no longer looks as much like a mouse or rat but like a gerbil. Here he was when he was sick. I know they are blurry, but I had not yet figured my camera out. The second picture just shows how his belly had started to bulge out like he was pregnant (I guess it was full of faeces ) Here he is now. I'm guessing he is 4 months old. Much better ;D!
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Post by bellevamp on Feb 3, 2004 8:20:26 GMT -8
oh!!.. poor thing!!.. I am happy he is doing much better!!.. and.. he's a real "looker" ..
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Post by queenofthenile on Feb 3, 2004 19:58:28 GMT -8
Hmm... my pictures aren't showing right now. I guess there is something wrong with imagestation. Anyways, thanks for the compliment. Although he is a red-eyed gerbil, he still is pretty cute! (I really prefer black eyes - the red ones sometimes give me the creeps)
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Post by geikou on Feb 5, 2004 6:07:38 GMT -8
He does look sick especially in the first picture. But he looks fine in the third pic!
He is beautiful. Nevermind the red eyes. My gerbils are also red-eyed ones. Black eyes look better but red eye is fine too!
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Feb 6, 2004 7:42:45 GMT -8
Yes, I can remember the picture of Rowan very well! I've never seen a picture with a gerbil that looks that sick!
It's great to hear that he is doing fine right now, and that the massage helped! I was not sure about that, but because gerbil mothers (and most other animal species) lick their pup's belly to activate their intestens, I thought it might help your gerbil too, I'm glad it did!
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Post by zoologist on Mar 18, 2004 15:25:53 GMT -8
My gerbil is sick!!! She is very sluggish doesn't want food or water has her face pressed her face up against the glass.... I took her outside for some freash cool air... whats wrong with my gerbl!!!
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Mar 19, 2004 14:32:02 GMT -8
It can be all kind of things, difficult to tell! Maybe you can take her to a vet? He will probably prescribe an antibiotic for her (for as it can be a bacterial infection). How are her droppings or has she diarrhoea? How is she breathing, make she clicking sounds or not?
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Post by saz on Apr 3, 2004 12:13:06 GMT -8
Hey there people and gerbil fans. I have recently bought two gerbils(male) called Frodo and Sam. They have been fit and healthy for over 3 months, but now Sam isn't so good. Does ANYONE recognise these symptoms and could tell me what they mean? * Drastic weight loss * Matted eyes *Listless *Only eats soft foods *Feels cold to the touch I also think he may have a problem with his teeth. What is the "normal" length of their teeth? Sam's teeth are just about at the level with his bottom lip. Should i get his teeth clipped at the vet and could/would it sort out the above problems? Worried LOTR and GerbilFan.
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Apr 4, 2004 5:02:48 GMT -8
Hi Saz, Welcome here! I think your gerbils is serieus ill! The teeth should fit nicely on each other and not like this: The picture above here shows overgrwon teeth! (from www.gerbils.co.uk.) I would recommend you to visit a vet! If it is the teeth he can clip the teeth, or otherwise the vet will probably give antibiotics in case it is an infection of something! Good luck, I hope that he will recover! Peter (also a LOTR and gerbil fan!)
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Post by saz on Apr 4, 2004 12:45:48 GMT -8
Thanks for all your help Peter. However, Sam's just died....not 20 minutes ago. HERE LIES SAM SON OF THE GAFFER LORD OF THE SHIRE We'll be going down to the pet shop in the morrow, getting Frodo a new friend. I always feel sorry for the gerb that's left when its' friends gone. Now my only problem is finding a name that'll go with Frodo....maybe Merry or Pippen......
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Post by saz on Apr 5, 2004 3:49:05 GMT -8
How successful is the split cage method?
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Apr 5, 2004 4:06:29 GMT -8
Sorry to hear about your loss! For me the split-cage method has been successful, but for some gerbils it seems sometimes difficult. What helps for me if I have very stubborn gerbils, is to give them after separation a lot of hiding places with small openings!
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Post by andrea on Apr 5, 2004 4:22:59 GMT -8
Also if you do get a friend for him, get two young ones so if it doesn't work out you don't have 2 lonely gerbils
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Post by saz on Apr 5, 2004 5:52:08 GMT -8
But say i do get two young ones and try to introduce them to Frodo...would two young gerbils be too much for Frodo? Would it cause them to fight?
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Post by andrea on Apr 5, 2004 6:10:50 GMT -8
Two young gerbils should be fine with him, try to get them quite young about 8 weeks old. I am guessing frodo is a boy?. Males are usually esier to pair up them females so you should be ok.
I have a "batchelor" group of males that our breeding male lodges with when our female needs a break from pups and I have been lucky and never had a problem with them excepting him or the female excepting him back.
If you get 2 if Frodo does not accept them they wont be lonely also, if you get one you are in danger of haveing 2 lonely gerbils, not just one.
Good Luck Andrea ;D
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