Lethargy, labored breathing, possible dehydration?

[blockhead]

So I woke up this morning to find one of my gerbils just standing there, eyes only slightly open, and taking short, labored breaths. When offered food, it took it and ate it rather slowly. I offered it water (through a srynge) but Instead of swallowing the water, it was mostly drooled back out. A quick internet search showed that the symptoms shown were those of hydration, but the fruits I have offered at this point have also been rejected. What should I do in this situation?

UPDATE: I have it eating small amounts of cucumber but it is still (for the most part) unresponsive and has only had a few bites

[t1gg3er]

Have you tried holding the water bottle in front of him/her? The syringe may be confusing. How old is the gerbil?

[blockhead]

Sept 2, 2015 7:54:52 GMT -8 t1gg3er said:

Have you tried holding the water bottle in front of him/her? The syringe may be confusing. How old is the gerbil?

I did try that. It just turned away from the water. It's 2.5-3 years old.

[Shooting Star]

Doesn't sound like dehydration. More likely recovering from a stroke.