I had a big scare last night as I apparently did not close my gerbil cage door well enough. That was an hour before I saw it open. I have been upset at myself ever since I discovered the door open. When I came into the room I saw the cage door open and no gerbils could be seen in the cage. So as I am digging around in the cage to hopefully find Cream and Coco, Steph and Julia were searching the house. Fortunately and dogs and cats were locked in other areas when this all happened. After taking about 3/4 of the bedding out of the tank I saw Cream's head pop up as she was wondering what in the world was going on. I keep searching for Coco and suddenly Steph says she found Coco in the bathroom behind the laundry basket. She scooped her up and returned to the tank. She appeared to be ok.
I was observing her this morning and noticed she was favoring her left leg. She didn't move around much but snuggled up with her sister in the front corner of the tank where I could see them. She just woke up about an hour ago and she is still favoring that leg and also using it some. She climbed up the ladder and drank water and ate some seed and got into the sand bath twice and dug around in there. Then back down into the tank. She is doing better this evening.
There were no vets available on Sunday here. I will watch her and see if she is better tomorrow and if not I will see if I can get her to the vet. I was so glad she was eating and drinking and could even jump into the sand bath.
Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Mar 24, 2024 19:50:23 GMT -8
It's probably something minor, and may just heal up on its own if you've been seeing her do her normal routine, especially digging and not favoring it as much anymore. If it acts up at all, or you notice it's not improving, I would definitely get her checked up and make sure everything's going okay. It may depend on how it hit the ground when she fell, or maybe it was the most weight-bearing leg and took the brunt of the load. Either way, it sounds like you've got a good plan and have it under control.
Post by LilyandDaisy on Mar 25, 2024 5:13:17 GMT -8
Sorry to hear this. Accidents do happen so don't beat yourself up over it.
If the leg doesn't look bent or deformed, it could be just a sprain which might not need any treatment. I'd do the same as you, and give it a day or so to see if it gets worse. If it starts swelling a lot, she might need some anti-inflammatories.
Thanks, LilyandDaisy, last night Coco even tried to go on the wheel a couple of steps then got off. The leg is under her body and it is hard to tell as she moves so fast, but it appears she tries to use it . When she does sit still it looks like, as she is sitting, her foot of the injured leg is slightly off to the side sometimes. Other times not. I have not seen her today yet. She usually comes out later in the day. But I can definitely say she is not dragging the leg behind her.
This morning Coco is doing better I think. She drank and got into the sand bath and moved around the topper area then went down into the bedding and I saw her digging and she was moving her injured leg kicking bedding with it. So I think that is a good sign. Here is a video of her using that injured leg to kick some bedding away.
My Gerbils Whisky & Soda (named by my dad! ), late 70s Blacky 1984 - 18/1/88 Avon 4/6/20 - 26/12/22 Blake 4/6/20 - 16/2/23 Gan 20/1/23 (adopted 19/3/23, 3rd cousin to A&B) Vila 20/1/23 (adopted 19/3/23, 3rd cousin to A&B)
Well it certainly doesn't seem to be holding her back judging by that video!
Good to see she's on the mend
Thanks, I am so relieved. Coco loves the wheel and before her injury she spent hours on the wheel. I am so happy she seems to be able to use the wheel again.
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), late 70s