Post by eleda on Oct 31, 2014 12:11:42 GMT -8
So sometime about the beginning of the month, I think it was, I started thinking to myself that Data looked kind of small. At first I shrugged it off. The next time I got that impression I decided to weigh him. He was at 85 grams when I knew he'd been 90 or 100 a week or two ago. I should have checked his teeth at once but he appeared to still be eating so I waited. Then he started dropping his sunflower seeds which are his favorite thing in the world lately. At first I thought he was just being clumsy. But then one day he took the seed, tried to put it in his mouth, and I heard it knock against his teeth, and then he dropped it. So, I finally decided to check his teeth to be sure.
One of his top teeth was missing and the rest were horribly overgrown! I felt bad for not checking them right away. It was a weekend, so I couldn't make a vet appointment right away. I began feeding him peanut butter (not a perfect choice, but it was a bit of a pinch) off of a toothpick a couple times a day over the weekend. I made an appointment for the next monday and pack both gerbils up in their carrier when I got off work at about noon. After about a half-hour trip to the vets office I took the boys in and the vet looked Data over. He said Data's remaining top tooth had begun to curve inward and at an angle, so he trimmed it extra short, but left some length on the bottom ones. I think he cut them to a proper length, but I'm a little too inexperienced to really know. Still, he's the same vet that had removed the growth from Jean Luc's eye a few months back and I knew he had experience with gerbils so I wasn't too worried.
Data's toenails had also gotten too long (some may recall I posted about that recently) so the vet clipped his nails while he had him still and everything. When he was done, He put Data back in the box and asked if I wanted Jean Luc's nails done too. I said 'sure why not' He took a peek at his teeth, remarked that they looked really good, then trimmed a couple of his nails, and put him back in the box. We chatted for a bit, I paid my bill, and drove my gerbils home. When I let Data in he was hapy to be home and picked up some food to munch on. (I'm not sure if he was successful, but more on that later) I looked down to pick up Jean Luc and I noticed that he was moving funny and seemed to be limping. With some concern, I put him in his cage anyway to observe him a little better. I quickly noticed he wasn't using his left rear foot at all.
So, I called the vet and said "I just got my gerbils home, and now there seems to be wrong with Jean Luc's leg." They said to come back as soon as I could. So, both gerbils went back in the carrier and I drove out again. The vet was apologetic, saying, "I don't know what happened. But Ill take him back and do a free x-ray to make sure there no pathology." Well, the xray revealed a fracture. Neither of us knows how this occurred. My best guess is something happened while he was holding Jean Luc to cut his nails, but its possible it happened in the carrier on the way home. Regardless, he said he'd treat it for me for free since he was sine when he came in and wasn't when he got home.
He wrapped Jean Luc's leg in a cast and said he'd like to hold him overnight, but I was hoping I wouldn't have to keep my boys separated that long, so I said I'd take him home and watch him. The vet said "ok but if his foot swells it means the cast is too tight and you need to bring him back right away" I said ok and took the boys home. I quickly divided their tank in half so that they could be together without Data having an opportunity to mess with the bandage. I put them in their tank and then went about my business a bit. By this time it was around 2 or 2:30pm. Around 4:30 I checked on Jean Luc and saw that his foot was a big purple balloon. So, I told the vet's office I was bringing him back. I had a meeting in the city that night at 6pm. It takes about 45 mins - an hour to get into the city from where I live, or the vets office. So I knew I wasn't going to have time to wait for him or bring him home. Thus, I was forced to drop him off and let them keep him for a day or two. I worried about the effect this would have on his relationship with Data, but there was nothing to be done at this point. I elected to leave Data home for this third trip to the vets since he'd had a bit of a traumatic day and I wanted him to be able to rest. Also, I didn't know what sort of arrangements they had for housing gerbils and I felt better about him having the comforts of home.
So, Tuesday morning around 10:30am I called to check on Jean Luc. They said they'd redone his leg but they wanted to keep him a couple more days to make sure his foot wouldn't swell again etc. They finally figured out the right balance between keeping the bandage on, and keeping the circulation going on Thursday (I guess) so I was able to pick him up this morning. He's been known to chew at the bandage so I have to keep a close eye on him for that, but otherwise the vet is optimistic that he'll make a full recovery.
When I got him home, I put him on his side of the tank and observed for a bit. He seemed to be doing pretty well despite having a stiff leg, so I was pleased about that. Data came out to say hello and they sniffed and kissed each other through the bars. As I watched, they soon began trying to groom each other's noses. So, it looks like they remember each other! I'm excited; seems I won't have trouble when I remove the split after Jean Luc's leg heals. (Though I will keep a close eye of course in case things go downhill.)
Jean Luc has been getting around, digging, eating, and drinking even though he has to stand on one foot. So, as long as he doesnt destroy his cast, I'm not too worried anymore. However, Data is starting to worry me again. I weighed him today and he is at 84 grams. I've seen him "eating" but it occurs to me that I don't know if he's managing to ingest anything or not. I watched him try to chew up a cardboard tube earlier and he didn't appear to be having success. As far as I can tell he didn't manage to get a piece off of it. So now I'm worried his top tooth is too short for him to eat. I guess I'll try giving him some moist bread or cheerios? He seems to be in good spirits, so I guess e's doing ok. If he hadn't eaten in days he wouldn't be very active right?
One of his top teeth was missing and the rest were horribly overgrown! I felt bad for not checking them right away. It was a weekend, so I couldn't make a vet appointment right away. I began feeding him peanut butter (not a perfect choice, but it was a bit of a pinch) off of a toothpick a couple times a day over the weekend. I made an appointment for the next monday and pack both gerbils up in their carrier when I got off work at about noon. After about a half-hour trip to the vets office I took the boys in and the vet looked Data over. He said Data's remaining top tooth had begun to curve inward and at an angle, so he trimmed it extra short, but left some length on the bottom ones. I think he cut them to a proper length, but I'm a little too inexperienced to really know. Still, he's the same vet that had removed the growth from Jean Luc's eye a few months back and I knew he had experience with gerbils so I wasn't too worried.
Data's toenails had also gotten too long (some may recall I posted about that recently) so the vet clipped his nails while he had him still and everything. When he was done, He put Data back in the box and asked if I wanted Jean Luc's nails done too. I said 'sure why not' He took a peek at his teeth, remarked that they looked really good, then trimmed a couple of his nails, and put him back in the box. We chatted for a bit, I paid my bill, and drove my gerbils home. When I let Data in he was hapy to be home and picked up some food to munch on. (I'm not sure if he was successful, but more on that later) I looked down to pick up Jean Luc and I noticed that he was moving funny and seemed to be limping. With some concern, I put him in his cage anyway to observe him a little better. I quickly noticed he wasn't using his left rear foot at all.
So, I called the vet and said "I just got my gerbils home, and now there seems to be wrong with Jean Luc's leg." They said to come back as soon as I could. So, both gerbils went back in the carrier and I drove out again. The vet was apologetic, saying, "I don't know what happened. But Ill take him back and do a free x-ray to make sure there no pathology." Well, the xray revealed a fracture. Neither of us knows how this occurred. My best guess is something happened while he was holding Jean Luc to cut his nails, but its possible it happened in the carrier on the way home. Regardless, he said he'd treat it for me for free since he was sine when he came in and wasn't when he got home.
He wrapped Jean Luc's leg in a cast and said he'd like to hold him overnight, but I was hoping I wouldn't have to keep my boys separated that long, so I said I'd take him home and watch him. The vet said "ok but if his foot swells it means the cast is too tight and you need to bring him back right away" I said ok and took the boys home. I quickly divided their tank in half so that they could be together without Data having an opportunity to mess with the bandage. I put them in their tank and then went about my business a bit. By this time it was around 2 or 2:30pm. Around 4:30 I checked on Jean Luc and saw that his foot was a big purple balloon. So, I told the vet's office I was bringing him back. I had a meeting in the city that night at 6pm. It takes about 45 mins - an hour to get into the city from where I live, or the vets office. So I knew I wasn't going to have time to wait for him or bring him home. Thus, I was forced to drop him off and let them keep him for a day or two. I worried about the effect this would have on his relationship with Data, but there was nothing to be done at this point. I elected to leave Data home for this third trip to the vets since he'd had a bit of a traumatic day and I wanted him to be able to rest. Also, I didn't know what sort of arrangements they had for housing gerbils and I felt better about him having the comforts of home.
So, Tuesday morning around 10:30am I called to check on Jean Luc. They said they'd redone his leg but they wanted to keep him a couple more days to make sure his foot wouldn't swell again etc. They finally figured out the right balance between keeping the bandage on, and keeping the circulation going on Thursday (I guess) so I was able to pick him up this morning. He's been known to chew at the bandage so I have to keep a close eye on him for that, but otherwise the vet is optimistic that he'll make a full recovery.
When I got him home, I put him on his side of the tank and observed for a bit. He seemed to be doing pretty well despite having a stiff leg, so I was pleased about that. Data came out to say hello and they sniffed and kissed each other through the bars. As I watched, they soon began trying to groom each other's noses. So, it looks like they remember each other! I'm excited; seems I won't have trouble when I remove the split after Jean Luc's leg heals. (Though I will keep a close eye of course in case things go downhill.)
Jean Luc has been getting around, digging, eating, and drinking even though he has to stand on one foot. So, as long as he doesnt destroy his cast, I'm not too worried anymore. However, Data is starting to worry me again. I weighed him today and he is at 84 grams. I've seen him "eating" but it occurs to me that I don't know if he's managing to ingest anything or not. I watched him try to chew up a cardboard tube earlier and he didn't appear to be having success. As far as I can tell he didn't manage to get a piece off of it. So now I'm worried his top tooth is too short for him to eat. I guess I'll try giving him some moist bread or cheerios? He seems to be in good spirits, so I guess e's doing ok. If he hadn't eaten in days he wouldn't be very active right?
I hope they have a safe recovery <3 xxx