My gerbil has an ear infection???

[gerbilsrock555]

OK so,

for my bday last year, i adopted 2 gerbils that i had no idea their age.
they were both guys and their names are Marco and Polo. We asumed they were brothers
because they look similar (Marco had a heart on his head X3) and they love eachother so much.
Marco is now in gerbil heaven and Polo is still with me.
My mom and dad say that we cant take them to the vet cause its too much money, if they get sick.
anyways, after i gave polo a bath in the sink with a little bit of water, i notticed when i was holding him,
his fur was shedding all on my jeans. 
When i put him in his ball, he was just spining there not moving but spinning in sircles. At first
it was pretty funny then i was wondering if he was gonna be ok.
so i found out that he has an ear infection. 
but like i said we cant go to the vet....

[gerbilsrock555]

Just like my old dog who has an ear infection and we cant got to the vet.
now the only helthy pet in the family is my chihuahua Lucy .

[crittercrazy]

Are you sure its an ear infection, if you haven't been to a vet? What is he acting like?
Oh and by the way, gerbils shouldn't be given baths with water, just use chinchilla sand.

[gerbillover9612]

I know i cant really compare this to a gerbil by when my dog had an ear infection he always shook his head quite slowly but it was also very painful for him when we touched it (The meds sorted it out ) but like crittercrazy said, what he doing? and can you see anything around his ear that could be causing it? maybe there's a little bit of water in it from the sink. xx

[gerbilsrock555]

Ok well he is always spinning in circles, and his eyes hardly open.
and ok no more water baths

[gerbilsrock555]

(zzz)and also i cant realy pick up Polo any more cause when i do he just freaks out. He will flip out and jump out of my hands and fall on the floor so i cant hold him.

[gerbillover9612]

Ohhh hmm, im not really sure then. Ive never had a gerbil with an ear infection before. Hope he gets better <33 Yess, no more water baths Hmmm, maybe he's not liking being picked up because there's something that hurts when you pick him up so he doesn't like it and it may also be causing him to spin in circles? I really do think a vet would be best, i know your parents are saying no, and i completely understand that because my parents can be like that sometimes but maybe get them to watch him when hes spinning in circles and explain that he's in pain and needs treatment. Hope everything goes well xxx

[crittercrazy]

Does he tilt his head to the side?
Might be an ear tumor, one of my gerbils had one awhile back. Like you, my parents aren't willing to spend the money on a vet (which I understand- it is a lot of money) but she still got treated because she was under a guarantee so the pet store paid for it.
That being said, I don't think there's much you can do without going to a vet. Even with vet care, as far as I know the cyst can't be completely taken care of, the condition can just be reduced.
About him flipping out when you hold him, my gerbil did that too.
I'm sorry I don't have anything better to offer- but good luck to you and your little guy.

[gerbilsrock555]

i can't really tell if his head tilts, but I've noticed that he hardly uses one of his hind legs.
and ever since i got him he's always hated being picked up. ill try asking mom and dad again

[gerbilsrock555]

yea his head tilts and he dosnt use oe of his hind legs like i said. He's also gotten very light.

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[summerrain]

I'm dealing with an ear infection at this moment. honestly there is nothing you can do without going to the vet expect to keep the little one comfortable and fed. Mine is on two medicines and an ear wash, plus he has some critical care for his weight. He was also spinning, but only did it once.