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Post by angel on Jan 7, 2024 22:10:39 GMT -8
I recently saw someone in a fb group say that gerbils are obligate nasal breathers and cannot physically aspirate on liquids given orally since the ‘mouth doesn’t have direct communication with the airway’. I tried to search this up but I’m not seeming to get a concrete answer. The true experts to me are the ones on this forum so I thought I would ask here if anyone knows if this is true!
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jan 8, 2024 8:57:38 GMT -8
I always thought that gerbils could breathe through their mouths, but preferred not to, however I found this on Wikipedia: So it seems like there might be some truth in that claim. Gerbils do occasionally attempt to breathe through their mouths, but only if they absolutely have to. It can happen either if their nose is blocked and they physically can't breathe through it, or if they have a severe respiratory problem which means they're trying to get as much air in as they possibly can, by any means (for example heart failure). So it's a very serious symptom to see in a gerbil and also very unpleasant to witness. I would assume that this anatomical feature makes it less likely for a gerbil to aspirate liquids given orally but it might not be impossible, depending on how much liquid is involved. |
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Post by betty on Jan 11, 2024 13:57:03 GMT -8
It has long been said that baby gerbils can't be hand reared due to the exceptionally high risk of aspiration - so either this is pup specific only (close proximity of nose and mouth) - or they can still aspirate even if they are only obligate nasal breathers? I think this is one for Shooting Star if they are online any time soon. |
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Post by Shooting Star on Jan 11, 2024 19:22:03 GMT -8
Dunno about obligate nasal breathing, but gerbils are 100% capable of aspirating at any age.
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Post by angel on Jan 11, 2024 19:48:24 GMT -8
Dunno about obligate nasal breathing, but gerbils are 100% capable of aspirating at any age. Good to know! Could I also dm you about a few things? its unrelated to this thread but I've been wanting to get ahold you lol! |
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Post by Shooting Star on Jan 11, 2024 19:56:49 GMT -8
So, funny thing-- I just sent this to one of my vet friends and it turns out they were the one that initially posted on fb.
"They're definitely quoting me [...] I posted something to that effect on Facebook recently in response to someone chastising another person for giving their gerbil oral meds while slightly inclined." I asked if it was just that it was more difficult for gerbils to aspirate: "Correct. It's not impossible, but it is unlikely when compared to other species (which I think my comment might have said)."
Feel free to message me at my kennel page (Shooting Star Gerbils) on FB, that's the best way to get ahold of me atm. I'll only be online sporadically until next week though.
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Post by angel on Jan 11, 2024 20:45:34 GMT -8
So, funny thing-- I just sent this to one of my vet friends and it turns out they were the one that initially posted on fb. "They're definitely quoting me [...] I posted something to that effect on Facebook recently in response to someone chastising another person for giving their gerbil oral meds while slightly inclined." I asked if it was just that it was more difficult for gerbils to aspirate: "Correct. It's not impossible, but it is unlikely when compared to other species (which I think my comment might have said)." Feel free to message me at my kennel page (Shooting Star Gerbils) on FB, that's the best way to get ahold of me atm. I'll only be online sporadically until next week though. Thanks!! I had a feeling she was a vet because her response (though concise) was very detailed and not something I would imagine anyone else knowing lol. And I just messaged you on fb |
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Post by Markpd on Jan 23, 2024 12:56:52 GMT -8
Gerbils do occasionally attempt to breathe through their mouths, but only if they absolutely have to. It can happen either if their nose is blocked and they physically can't breathe through it, or if they have a severe respiratory problem which means they're trying to get as much air in as they possibly can, by any means (for example heart failure). So it's a very serious symptom to see in a gerbil and also very unpleasant to witness. I would assume that this anatomical feature makes it less likely for a gerbil to aspirate liquids given orally but it might not be impossible, depending on how much liquid is involved. I can 2nd that as I've witnessed it, in what turned out to be Blake's last few hours he was gasping for breath through his mouth, he was squeaking on both inhaling and exhaling towards the end, my poor little fella  (A post mortem showed he had lesions on his lungs, which was probably lung cancer).
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), late 70s