Post by sarahkitty on Nov 7, 2008 16:01:34 GMT -8
Hi! My name is Sarah, and I'm new here. This is a really helpful site and I'm glad I've stumbled across it. I've had a few problems and I have questions about them.
This is one of my two male gerbils, Riley.
I had a string of bad luck with gerbils from Petsmart (3 died within 1-2 months of them coming home last spring). So in June 2007, I got Riley (at 9 months old) from a breeder to replace my other gerbil's tank mate. Riley turned 2 years old on September 5, 2008.
He's always been very active. He's the one that always uses the wheel, not my other gerbil, Sammy, who is 6 months younger. He has always loved to demolish TP tubes, hay, sticks, and wooden houses. I did have a scare with him and SGT.
I'm still wondering if it was a tumor, although my vet said it was a sore that had been scratched/bitten open. He gave me ointment and Baytril and it seemed to have gone away.
Also, for the past year, he has had an orange/red crusty nose, especially since May. I've always used aspen bedding for them, but I'm wondering if maybe he's developed an allergy to it over time. My vet said try giving him vitamin C supplement. I've been adding this orange liquid that has vitamin C and other nutrients to their water for at least the past couple months, and the red nose has not subsided at all.
Here's a pic of Riley and Sammy just after I woke them up from a nap. That was one of his worse red nose days.
Now, the most serious problem I'm having with him involves his teeth and subsequent change in behavior. I've noticed over the past few months he's lost interest in sunflower and pumpkin seeds, even though he used to love them dearly. He has stopped chewing on things, including TP tubes and hay. He has lost a noticeable amount of weight over the past month or so.
Now it seems the only thing he really wants to eat is bread, since it's soft. Up til a week or so ago, he would also take pecans, almonds, and unshelled sunflower and pumpkin seeds. He doesn't seem to like them much anymore either. I give him fresh foods sometimes, like parsley, baby spinach, baby carrots, and grapes. I looked at his teeth and noticed they had turned from yellow to white, and they were starting to become pointed at the end. I took him to my vet, where they trimmed his bottom teeth, but not his top. I don't know why they skipped the top teeth, since the bottom teeth looked fine to me.
Tomorrow, I am taking him back in for a more thorough exam and more trimming, because this is what I found Thursday night:
The teeth have shattered and become separate fangs, and there is evidence of rot between them near the gums. I think he definitely needs a good trim and some antibiotics. I hope his teeth get better. He's been sleeping a lot lately, but when he's up, he's still very active and bright-eyed. He poops normally and I've seen him able to drink water from the bottle.
Okay, so! What does everyone think about these problems?
Do you think that was a tumor he had? Is it possible that his tumor somehow died and fell off?
Should I change their bedding? Sammy has also exhibited the red crusty nose symptom lately. If so, what should I change it to? If they're sensitive to aspen, I probably couldn't use Carefresh, since it has dust and my aspen doesn't.
And finally, the teeth. He's only just over 2 years old and he's plenty active, but he lost interest in chewing. I know I'll have to keep bringing him in to get his teeth trimmed. Is there any chance his top teeth will improve? Will they fall out? If they do, will they grow back? Can he have any complications associated with the infection, such as heart disease? Why is the fur on his chest so dirty now? Is it because his teeth are causing him pain and he can't properly groom himself? His fur isn't as smooth as it used to be, too.
I don't think my vet is the greatest expert on gerbils. I mentioned the first time that Riley's teeth were white now, and he said it probably had to do with his coloring... I don't think so. All healthy gerbil teeth are yellow, not white. Any recommendations for a good gerbil vet in or near Wichita, Kansas? I have called around and most places either don't see gerbils at all or they see cats and dogs and have very little experience with pocket pets.
Sorry my post is so long, but I've accumulated a few problems and just now found this site
Thanks in advance for your time!
Sarah
This is one of my two male gerbils, Riley.
I had a string of bad luck with gerbils from Petsmart (3 died within 1-2 months of them coming home last spring). So in June 2007, I got Riley (at 9 months old) from a breeder to replace my other gerbil's tank mate. Riley turned 2 years old on September 5, 2008.
He's always been very active. He's the one that always uses the wheel, not my other gerbil, Sammy, who is 6 months younger. He has always loved to demolish TP tubes, hay, sticks, and wooden houses. I did have a scare with him and SGT.
I'm still wondering if it was a tumor, although my vet said it was a sore that had been scratched/bitten open. He gave me ointment and Baytril and it seemed to have gone away.
Also, for the past year, he has had an orange/red crusty nose, especially since May. I've always used aspen bedding for them, but I'm wondering if maybe he's developed an allergy to it over time. My vet said try giving him vitamin C supplement. I've been adding this orange liquid that has vitamin C and other nutrients to their water for at least the past couple months, and the red nose has not subsided at all.
Here's a pic of Riley and Sammy just after I woke them up from a nap. That was one of his worse red nose days.
Now, the most serious problem I'm having with him involves his teeth and subsequent change in behavior. I've noticed over the past few months he's lost interest in sunflower and pumpkin seeds, even though he used to love them dearly. He has stopped chewing on things, including TP tubes and hay. He has lost a noticeable amount of weight over the past month or so.
Now it seems the only thing he really wants to eat is bread, since it's soft. Up til a week or so ago, he would also take pecans, almonds, and unshelled sunflower and pumpkin seeds. He doesn't seem to like them much anymore either. I give him fresh foods sometimes, like parsley, baby spinach, baby carrots, and grapes. I looked at his teeth and noticed they had turned from yellow to white, and they were starting to become pointed at the end. I took him to my vet, where they trimmed his bottom teeth, but not his top. I don't know why they skipped the top teeth, since the bottom teeth looked fine to me.
Tomorrow, I am taking him back in for a more thorough exam and more trimming, because this is what I found Thursday night:
The teeth have shattered and become separate fangs, and there is evidence of rot between them near the gums. I think he definitely needs a good trim and some antibiotics. I hope his teeth get better. He's been sleeping a lot lately, but when he's up, he's still very active and bright-eyed. He poops normally and I've seen him able to drink water from the bottle.
Okay, so! What does everyone think about these problems?
Do you think that was a tumor he had? Is it possible that his tumor somehow died and fell off?
Should I change their bedding? Sammy has also exhibited the red crusty nose symptom lately. If so, what should I change it to? If they're sensitive to aspen, I probably couldn't use Carefresh, since it has dust and my aspen doesn't.
And finally, the teeth. He's only just over 2 years old and he's plenty active, but he lost interest in chewing. I know I'll have to keep bringing him in to get his teeth trimmed. Is there any chance his top teeth will improve? Will they fall out? If they do, will they grow back? Can he have any complications associated with the infection, such as heart disease? Why is the fur on his chest so dirty now? Is it because his teeth are causing him pain and he can't properly groom himself? His fur isn't as smooth as it used to be, too.
I don't think my vet is the greatest expert on gerbils. I mentioned the first time that Riley's teeth were white now, and he said it probably had to do with his coloring... I don't think so. All healthy gerbil teeth are yellow, not white. Any recommendations for a good gerbil vet in or near Wichita, Kansas? I have called around and most places either don't see gerbils at all or they see cats and dogs and have very little experience with pocket pets.
Sorry my post is so long, but I've accumulated a few problems and just now found this site
Thanks in advance for your time!
Sarah
