Bear with me. I'm just sad and confused.

[stormy]

I am just trying to come to terms with what is happening. I am so upset and confused. A few days ago one of my 2 year old males began spinning in clockwise circles. And then he'd roll. Similar to Alligators when they roll with prey in their mouth? Sorry, but that was the best way to describe the rolling. It was traumatic to see. I rushed him down to the vet and she checked out his ears and his mouth. She had to hold him in a towel and even then his involuntary rolling and spinning was making him work his way out of her grip. But she did check him well and did not see a presence of tumors. She did see an eye infection on the side of his head that he tilted down (his left) and prescribed antibiotics to give him orally and drops to put on his eyes.

I took him home and began the treatments. Nothing seemed to change. In fact that night he was worse. To the point he was so exhausted he'd finally slump over passed out but his body still making movements like it was trying to make him get up and move. I was putting cucumber and melon in there for him to hydrate him as I didn't see him able to drink from the bottle. He would attempted to eat on his side splaying out his back legs to hold himself steady. He'd nibbled spinach or fresh parsley. 

I was up all night checking on him. The next day he was slowing down. Less rolling and turning. By that night much less and he was trying to eat and trying to chew on things. I was using the medicine dropper to put drops of water in his mouth which he was gladly taking. It was like bottle feeding a baby. *sigh* So sad. But I had some hope because he wasn't spinning and flipping anymore.

Now it's day 2 of him not moving much at all. Breathing is rapid then slower then rabid then slower. If I startled him on accident he kicks a leg but mainly he just lays on his side with eyes shut. He won't really drink water anymore. 

I am keeping him warm and comfortable. Thinking this was it. He's dying. But he won't die. He acts as though he's in a coma. 

Tomorrow I'll have to take him back to the vet to euthanize him. It's heartbreaking. I won't even get into what his littermate is going through. Just that he was so distressed (already had buried him and was trying to get out of the cage) that I went ahead and finally separated them so that the one who is ill would have some peace to pass and the healthy one would be able to start "moving on" ....

Anyone heard of this before? Surely this wasn't JUST an eye infection. Is there ANY chance he might actually get better? Am I delusional? To be "dying" this long is just amazing to me. I keep giving him water in a dropper here and there. Even if he is dying I don't want him to be dehydrated in the process. This seems so cruel for him to have had an end like this.

[catnut]

sorry to hear about your gerbil, it does sound like an ear infection, not eye. One of my gerbils had this happen and I was given strong antibiotics and she did improve later that day and soon was back to normal. I would ask the vet again for one that helps for ear infections and depends how bad he is tomorrow, if that will even help. Sadly, gerbils can last quite awhile even when ill. Just try to comfort him and be there with him,that is all you can do when a vet is closed. Take care of yourself and you did what you could by taking him to the vets. it can be hard on the other gerbil, some can comfort and others get freaked out. Make sure he gets some attention as well and extra goodies.

[ninestone]

It is possible he had a stroke either coincident with or due to an eye/ear infection.
Poor little one!

[wolfgirl]

my little Benny had the same things that you are talking about happen only he seemed ok for a day after the spinning. then i found him on his side twitching and he died a few minutes after.i was told that it was probably an ear infection that got into his brain. i'm so sorry that your little guy is going through this.