Post by sedwards87 on Apr 16, 2015 4:01:59 GMT -8
Hello,
This is my first time posting. I am a first time Gerbil Mom to two adorable 1 1/2 year old gerbil boys, Remi and Ruger. This past Sunday morning Remi came out of his house and I noticed that his little body was shaking all over. I didn't get to observe this very long, because he was startled and darted back into the house.
For the next 24 hours, he was extremely lethargic with little appetite. He was also sleeping separate from, and having little to do with his brother Ruger. They live in a 10 gallon tank with a cage topper. He did manage to walk to the top at one point, but it seemed as if the trip completely exhausted him and he laid down in a corner at the top of the cage (which they never do) without moving for a while. When we gently pet his back he didn't even acknowledge us. Typically he is full of energy and never sits still long enough for a petting. His eyes were squinted, almost as if they were swollen shut. I believe his breathing seemed heavy, but there was no "clicking sound". Eventually he retreated to his house and stayed inside.
We fed him small amounts of Karo Syrup from our finger tips, left a stick with peanut butter on it in the house for him to have if needed. I would sprinkle food right in front of the house door for him to have if he needed it, and we would bring the water bottle down periodically throughout the day for him to drink from. When we went to bed Sunday night he looked awful. Squinted/puffy eyes, 0 energy, he was just laying there looking pitiful.
We repeated the feeding/watering process before going to work on Monday morning and when we came home for lunch, with little to no change in Remi. When I came home from work on Monday, however, he was like a new Gerbil. He came out of the house, walked around a bit, went upstairs to eat some real food, drank, and started cuddling/grooming/sleeping with his brother again. He still very obviously is not 100%, but he is improving every day.
My question is - has anyone else had a similar experience with a gerbil who has appeared seriously ill, or had any of Remi's symptoms and bounced back in a little over 24 hours? I'm just worried about what may have caused it, or if he will relapse. It just seems so weird for him to have appeared to be at deaths door one night, and to be totally bouncing back the next.
Thank You!
This is my first time posting. I am a first time Gerbil Mom to two adorable 1 1/2 year old gerbil boys, Remi and Ruger. This past Sunday morning Remi came out of his house and I noticed that his little body was shaking all over. I didn't get to observe this very long, because he was startled and darted back into the house.
For the next 24 hours, he was extremely lethargic with little appetite. He was also sleeping separate from, and having little to do with his brother Ruger. They live in a 10 gallon tank with a cage topper. He did manage to walk to the top at one point, but it seemed as if the trip completely exhausted him and he laid down in a corner at the top of the cage (which they never do) without moving for a while. When we gently pet his back he didn't even acknowledge us. Typically he is full of energy and never sits still long enough for a petting. His eyes were squinted, almost as if they were swollen shut. I believe his breathing seemed heavy, but there was no "clicking sound". Eventually he retreated to his house and stayed inside.
We fed him small amounts of Karo Syrup from our finger tips, left a stick with peanut butter on it in the house for him to have if needed. I would sprinkle food right in front of the house door for him to have if he needed it, and we would bring the water bottle down periodically throughout the day for him to drink from. When we went to bed Sunday night he looked awful. Squinted/puffy eyes, 0 energy, he was just laying there looking pitiful.
We repeated the feeding/watering process before going to work on Monday morning and when we came home for lunch, with little to no change in Remi. When I came home from work on Monday, however, he was like a new Gerbil. He came out of the house, walked around a bit, went upstairs to eat some real food, drank, and started cuddling/grooming/sleeping with his brother again. He still very obviously is not 100%, but he is improving every day.
My question is - has anyone else had a similar experience with a gerbil who has appeared seriously ill, or had any of Remi's symptoms and bounced back in a little over 24 hours? I'm just worried about what may have caused it, or if he will relapse. It just seems so weird for him to have appeared to be at deaths door one night, and to be totally bouncing back the next.
Thank You!