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Post by smileymel101 on Nov 5, 2008 8:21:59 GMT -8
I have a baby gerbil who was born in a litter of 6. They are all fine except for one that I notice it looks like he is always looking up! We checked him out and nothing looks wrong with his legs or Anything, but I am wondering if his neck is like in a bend? His head is slanted and its like stuck that way and he runs into the walls! He is very cute though  I just am wondering what is wrong? |
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Post by Shooting Star on Nov 5, 2008 8:46:31 GMT -8
Could he have been dropped when he was younger? It sounds like possible neurological damage. I had a Nutmeg that was dropped on a tile floor as a baby, and had a head-tilt for quite a while as a result.   |
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Post by Jill on Nov 5, 2008 9:08:38 GMT -8
That seems like what it could be, if not an ear infection of some sort. I had a Spotted Nutmeg who was dropped by a girl who came to see my gerbils. That gerbil stayed "crooked", and still is as far as I know.  |
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Post by smileymel101 on Nov 5, 2008 15:28:48 GMT -8
I have never dropped him, but maybe the mom did down the tube from her bed.. but I never noticed anything unusual. He is fine other than his head it just looks like hes looking up All the time! Hes not very old so I just started touching them when where I read it said to not touch them to a certain age.. Ive never dropped him. Thanks though! I wonder what it is? (If its not what you suggested)
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Post by flibbletigibbet on Nov 5, 2008 16:59:14 GMT -8
You have a tube in your baby gerbil cage? Is this a particularly high tube?
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Post by smileymel101 on Nov 5, 2008 18:21:07 GMT -8
well you know the crittertrail cages with the little tube things leading up to the beds? Its that kind. But this batch of babys didnt seem to come down at all.. but he might have fell.. theres like 2 inches of carefresh bedding so it would be a VERY soft bedding but.. maybe! Maybe when he was in his moms belly he got squished.. hes in a litter of 7 actually, but 1 died the next day so there could not have been that much space in her belly. Maybe that is what happened?
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Post by smileymel101 on Nov 5, 2008 18:21:35 GMT -8
Its not that high either *tube*
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Post by flibbletigibbet on Nov 5, 2008 18:58:20 GMT -8
Hmmm... well, I don't think the crittertrail cage would cause something like that. Aside from the fact that those cages are not particularly suitable for gerbils in general. But some kind of trauma does seem the most likely. Has he always had this head tilt, or is it a recent development?
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Post by smileymel101 on Nov 6, 2008 5:08:35 GMT -8
he just opened his eyes last weekend so hes very young. Yes, its always been like that! Its really weird!
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Post by Shooting Star on Nov 6, 2008 11:44:42 GMT -8
Probably something that happened in the womb, then, if it's always been like that.
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Post by smileymel101 on Nov 6, 2008 12:54:55 GMT -8
ok thank you everyone
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Post by smileymel101 on Nov 7, 2008 17:12:19 GMT -8
** Oh Also: Will it harm him when hes older?
sorry if its an obvious question Im not really an expert on gerbils that are "deformed" if you'd call it that! lol
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I just am wondering what is wrong?
