kim
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Post by kim on Jul 13, 2014 5:30:29 GMT -8
I found a puddle of urine in my gerbils cage that was red. I'm not 100% sure which of them it was but I think it was my 10 month old black male. I can't find any more blood or bloody urine in the tank but that doesn't mean there isn't more. In general he seems his normal self but I think he's drinking more than usual. I am worrying about it. Has anyone else's gerbil has a similar problem?
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Post by ljoly on Jul 13, 2014 6:13:09 GMT -8
I have just recently, but there was lots of blood, and I don't want to alarm you but he died shortly after- turns out it was kidney cancer. BUT again, there was lots of blood, and within a few hours he was very larthargic.
Check his food- are there any red pellets that might have got mixed in? Sometimes my gerbils would eat over their pee and it would mix in and freak me out. Drinking more than usual and a bit of blood in his urine could mean a bladder infection or other kidney problems. It might be a good idea to take him to the vet. I hope your little guy is okay. I'm sure it isn't the same issue as mine- he was almost 3, and it is a pretty rare issue. Could be an infection though.
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nzcage
Member
How many gerbils is too many gerbils? D:
Posts: 701
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Post by nzcage on Jul 13, 2014 12:47:37 GMT -8
Twitch had blood in his urine on and off for a few months, and the vet we took him to couldn't work out what the problem is. He gave us antibiotics, but they didn't help.
After a few months it just went away, and we are none the wiser! Good idea to go have him checked out though- your vet might not be useless! (We have since switched vets and are very happy with the new practice!)
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Post by Nightingale on Jul 19, 2014 4:48:09 GMT -8
I know this is late, but I have indeed had a gerbil with similar problems (my current lone girl, Mocha), and it got worse. It started with her drinking more but peeing less - like the pee puddles were smaller than usual and sometimes she seemed to have trouble getting it out. Then there were a few occasions where the pee was slightly orange browny - not red, which would have /really/ alarmed me, but in retrospect it was probably blood diluted by pee. People told me to stop worrying about it and that I was being overprotective, and against my instinct I listened to them.
A few months later perhaps, I came home to find Mocha's underside absolutely covered in pee, and got her to a vet as soon as possible. They gave her antibiotics and things improved marginally but she still wasn't dry and there was again the blood discolouration in her pee. About a week after the first vet appointment (so two days after the antibiotic course ran out), I again took her to a vet, a different one this time, and they gave her a longer course of antibiotics plus a steroid injection to help reduce any swelling and soreness. The problem cleared, though she still occasionally gets a bit of wetness underneath, just not anything near the same extent nor does it last long, and I don't recall seeing any blood since. She still drinks a fair bit (and winks when she does it, much more even than she winks when given her favourite food treats) but I'm not sure whether it's a big amount that she's drinking or not. I don't notice her having difficulties peeing any more and her pee puddles seem a more normal size generally. She is active and curious and all the other things she should be... Overall I still worry but she is three years old now and I feel all I can do is monitor things.
Oh, and, when she had this problem, she was a healthy weight but towards the lower end of the scale. Since they seem to have mostly cleared, she's gained like 30 grams and is at the higher end.
Anyway, sorry for the long post! Your gerbil may not have the same problem at all, but, my main point is that pee and poo are really important things to monitor, and had I trusted my own knowledge and experience and gone to the vet as soon as I suspected something was up, Mocha might have been spared an unpleasant ordeal. If I were you, I would keep an eye on your gerbils' stools and seek vet advice if it happens again.
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kim
Member
Posts: 399
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Post by kim on Jul 19, 2014 5:03:52 GMT -8
Thanks for your advice. I haven't noticed any other problems since that one time and haven't seen any more blood. It was definitely blood but I'm hoping it was just a one of thing, but if it happens again then I will take him straight to the vets asap.
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Post by Nightingale on Jul 19, 2014 5:27:00 GMT -8
You're welcome! It sounds like your gerbs are in good hands.  |
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Post by ljoly on Jul 19, 2014 6:54:24 GMT -8
You can try giving her a little bit of pure cranberry juice. It keeps the urine acidic and helps prevent Urinary Tract Infections.
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