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Post by Fern on Aug 10, 2015 4:27:57 GMT -8
Over the last ten days or so Geraldine has slowed down considerably and is looking 'old'. I have no idea how old she is, neither did the RSPCA where I adopted her from (she was found by the side of a road). She's still eating and drinking but not scurrying about, she's spending a lot of time sleeping or just resting. Theres no obvious lumps or anything else.
Her cage mate Gerald is still active and bright eyed, shredding boxes loo rolls etc. He only stops moving to go to sleep, so theres a definate difference between them at the moment.
Is there anything I should be doing to make her more comfortable?
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Post by betty on Aug 10, 2015 4:35:34 GMT -8
This happens to us all and sometimes it is just a one off bad patch. So here are somethings you can do to make it a bit easier for her...
If you can put a reptile heat pad under one quiet corner of the tank she may well go and sit there as older/poorly gerbils tend to get cold.
If you can scatter-feed highly nutritious easy food (dried mealworms, sunflower hearts and other shucked oily nuts and seeds) - perhaps even some kitten milk. Try to avoid bulky cereal foods like bread as they fill up the tummy with little nutrition leaving no room for the good stuff. By having food everywhere including right by her bed means she doesn't have to waste energy going to find it.
Same for water, perhaps add another bottle or bowl nearer the bed or bottom shelf to reduce climbing etc.
If you can, leave her alone in a peaceful undisturbed place (ie not by a doorway or in the front room etc) or move and or cover the cage so that she doesn't have to react to everything that passes her by. Again, saves energy and allows her to sleep and recover.
Hopefully she will then be more comfortable and able to get better. And none of these things will affect the other gerbil in with her either as they are all short term and beneficial to both.
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Post by Fern on Aug 10, 2015 4:43:26 GMT -8
Thanks Betty. Today has been the worst day by far ... Although she's been slowing down she's at least kept moving a bit, until today. I've been hand-feeding her mealworms - I'll drop some seeds near her now too ... Here she is, poor girl ...  |
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Post by betty on Aug 10, 2015 5:03:39 GMT -8
Oh dear - she has her eyes closed.
Yes, if you can get her to drink too that might perk her up - it may be that if she hasn't been moving much she hasn't hydrated herself enough - and you need water to digest food properly and you need food to keep warm - so if you can get her to regularly drink water for a couple of hours at least or give her a piece of bread that has been soaked in water or kitten milk - she can at least suck the liquid off. Then you can see if she has perked up after that.
However, if she keeps her eyes closed and starts to breath 'with her shoulders' then perhaps you need to consider letting her go as she will be in some discomfort.
I recently had to let one of my girls go as she sat still with her eyes closed and her head drooping. From spotting the signs, I usually give them 24 hours of the above care to see if they either improve or pass naturally. If they have made no improvement or they have gotten worse by the next day, then I make an appointment at the vets and I let them go.
It is never a nice choice for us - but quite often it is the right choice for them.
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Post by Fern on Aug 10, 2015 5:22:48 GMT -8
Thank you Betty - I'll do the best I can for her.
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Post by betty on Aug 10, 2015 5:28:46 GMT -8
I'm sure she will appreciate it...
Good luck Fern.
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Post by Fern on Aug 14, 2015 5:12:58 GMT -8
Well, I must admit that Geraldine didn't look good at all yesterday and I thought I would be phoning the vets today. But she's perked up. Getaldine's been moving around the tank. She's eating mealworms when offered. She's drinking from a bowl on the floor. She looks so much better than she did, except she's not opening her eyes much. Had she been the same as yesterday, or worse, I wouldn't have hesitated to take her to the vets, now I'm not so sure. I would like her remaining time to be peaceful and pain free. She doesn't look to be in pain. What would be the best thing to do? And Betty, thank you for all your advice - it has really helped. Here she is, picture taken a few minutes ago ...  |
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Post by Fern on Aug 14, 2015 5:15:57 GMT -8
... She's the one in the ceramic dust bath (also used as a toilet!)
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Post by betty on Aug 14, 2015 6:20:58 GMT -8
If she isn't struggling to breath (whole chest heaving) and she is definitely taking fluids ok (eating is a bonus) then I think you are right to hang on for a bit and see how she goes. She has obviously moved herself from where she was in the last picture so there is some interest in moving about.
However, if she still has her eyes closed and she isn't doing other gerbilly things like exploring, chewing, digging etc, then those things are all going against the above. It isn't always about just being alive - living counts too.
Only you can decide when she is no longer a happy gerbil - or part of a happy couple.
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Post by t1gg3er on Aug 14, 2015 7:46:57 GMT -8
Fingers crossed here for Geraldine - I hope she continues to perk up & gets well again x
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Post by catnut on Aug 14, 2015 15:39:14 GMT -8
sorry to hear Geraldine isn't feeling too well, just do what you can and try to get to eat/drink, just see how she is and you will know when she is finding it too much. Is Gerald looking after her? I was just thinking about them and how they were doing. Crossing my fingers for her and hope she improves. I had to put a gerbil to sleep in May and I only had her 4 1/2 months, she had a tumour and was only over 2 years old.
Take care,
Tammy
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Post by Fern on Aug 20, 2015 6:02:03 GMT -8
Some sad news. Yesterday Geraldine was fairly bright, she was on the top floor eating mealworms, did some (slow) scurrying around, nibbled on a cardboard box ... today she was looking sleepy. I decided to clean the gerbs out as they were both awake ... By the time the cage was fresh and clean Geraldine had gone to big sleep. I feel so sad ... but glad we rescued her and I like to think she was happy for the last few weeks of her life ...  |
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Post by betty on Aug 20, 2015 6:14:04 GMT -8
She hung on there with your efforts, and passed with you there. She was lucky indeed to find you.
I'm sure her tank mate will get lots of attention now too...
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Post by t1gg3er on Aug 20, 2015 9:40:46 GMT -8
So sorry to hear about Geraldine. But I'm sure the last few weeks of her life were very happy and if she & Gerald hadn't been found those may well have been weeks that neither of them would have had at all. At least she had that time feeling safe with you right to the end xx
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Post by catnut on Aug 20, 2015 16:26:01 GMT -8
RIP Geraldine, glad she had a good end of life with you. How is Gerald doing?
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