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Post by fanny123 on Aug 31, 2010 14:31:08 GMT -8
My gerbil's front upper teeth are broken down to small stubs,so he's unable to eat his food & is getting thinner & thinner.
So far I've got broccoli,corn on the cob(in moderation),& banana(in moderation).
I need other options(besides broccoli) that are soft enough for him to consume & okay to eat daily.
Also,is it okay for him to transition over to a diet that only includes raw veggies & fruit? I read elsewhere that it gives them diarrhea to feed them raw veggies & fruit in large quantities & especially with the transition being so swift.
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Post by Boz on Aug 31, 2010 15:18:53 GMT -8
Hey there! I actually am in the same boat as you atm! I will post some info in a bit, I'm going to get some pictures of what I'm doing with his food first! Feel free to pm me if you want too. Be back!
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Post by tlouwhite on Aug 31, 2010 15:33:21 GMT -8
I kept a gerbil alive for 6 months by crushing his food using a hammer... I would put it in a small bowl fresh every night. If that isn't cutting it I would use this milk replacement stuff with a small syringe if you can find it: www.petag.com/features_details.asp?ItemID=1758by small syringe I mean one that is a milliliter. I have used that for several gerbils with various health problems that caused them to temporarily be unable to eat. I would even think about giving it to him along with the crushed food until he starts to put weight on again.
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Post by Boz on Aug 31, 2010 19:09:14 GMT -8
Alrighty here's what I do! I have a nut chopper. I put his food in there and grind it up. I grind it up till all the pieces are the size of millet seeds or smaller Then I use a mini strainer thing like this: And separate the "powder" from the larger peices and I put it into some baby jars. You don't have to use baby jars though. I mix the powder with either baby food (pure veggies/fruit only like carrots, peas, apples, etc), water, or KMR and only enough to just make the powder stick together, so not much at all. Usually about a pea size serving every night. The bigger pieces he always has available to eat. He's doing fairly well but I only started this last week. Good luck! If you have more questions just ask!
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doug
Member
Posts: 2,064
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Post by doug on Aug 31, 2010 20:38:30 GMT -8
Do you know what he broke the teeth on?
If he continues to lose weight you should take him to a vet rather than let him slowly waste away.
Doug
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Post by fanny123 on Aug 31, 2010 21:36:15 GMT -8
tlouwhite - Yeah,I've been looking for something like that as it would be the least complicated route.That brand isn't sold in my area though.I did find this one >>http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?familyid=106421&Ntt=PetAg%20Bene-Bac%20Small%20Animal%20Powder&OneResultRedirect=1 Wonder if I could feed him on that???Or if it's only a supplemental powder & not food replacement... Boz - Sounds like a good idea.That way he can stick to food he's used to.So far I've been giving him broccoli,rice,& Chex cereal.He only eats the Chex though.How did your gerbil break his teeth & how much are they broken down? doug - Not sure.I do recall him breathing weird for a while before it happened(a month,maybe).Everytime he would sniff around,it would produce a smacking&clicking type noise(hard to explain).In retrospect,perhaps they grew too long. Does anyone know if there's a chance of them growing back?I looked at them and they look grey/green in color & a triangular shape.
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Post by SilverGerbil on Aug 31, 2010 23:12:39 GMT -8
Hiya Im just going to move this onto the health board, so hopefully more people can give there assistance . Is there any chance you can get a picture of his teeth? I know its really hard to photograph a gerbils teeth but it might help us to see if he will grow them back or not. When they snap teeth of they do grow back, aslong as the WHOLE tooth hasn't come out of the gum. Because when the root of the tooth comes out it is no longer in there to regrow the teeth. Rodent teeth grow constantly, which is why they need to have things to chew on to file them down . This website says they should grow back within a week. Point No 5. www.animalhospitals-usa.com/small-pets/gerbils/gerbil-health.htmlI would just keep an eye on him, and make sure hes eating what you are feeding him (Boz's mix) and check that he is doing ok. Aslong as he is eating his food and drinking as normal he should be fine. The only thing i would say is to just keep an eye on his bottom teeth. Just to be on the ball, so they don't get too long whilst your waiting for his front teeth to regrow . x
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Post by katievictoriaplum on Sept 1, 2010 0:47:47 GMT -8
Im so glad i found this post! I went on holiday for a few days over the bank holiday and left my friend in charge of my gerbil, i came back and she said hes not been eating much or really drinking, so i had a look at his teeth and theyre only stubs like theyve broken off! I have a feeling that he chewed the cage bars as we were in the process of getting him an aquarium and he lived in a cage. Im quite worried because he hasnt eaten and it doesnt look like he has drunk anything.
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Vixen
Member
8 years of gerbil fun
Posts: 1,805
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Post by Vixen on Sept 1, 2010 6:14:27 GMT -8
Cy doesn't have top teeth and does well on his normal food, and when he lost his bottom teeth as well I just soaked his normal food and he did very well.
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Post by Boz on Sept 1, 2010 8:18:25 GMT -8
katievictoriaplum, poor guy! Have to tried crushing up his food?
I have no clue how mine lost his top teeth. They are not broken or chipped, just completely gone!
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Post by katievictoriaplum on Sept 1, 2010 9:30:17 GMT -8
i havent tried crushing his food yet, my mum doesnt want me to break the blender lol! at the moment hes eating soggy wheatabix! with added vitamin C
i going to go down the shop and buy some oatmeal for him aswell
is wheatabix okay to feed him?
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Post by Boz on Sept 1, 2010 9:34:13 GMT -8
Hmm not sure. Never heard of it! What are the ingredients? You could get a hammer and put some of his food in a plastic bag and crush it that way.
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Post by katievictoriaplum on Sept 1, 2010 9:41:38 GMT -8
Weetabix = Wholegrain Wheat (95%), Malted Barley Extract, Sugar, Salt, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Folic Acid.
i add a bit of semi skimmed cows milk to it so it goes like a mush and i also add his vitamin c supplements
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Post by SilverGerbil on Sept 1, 2010 9:55:52 GMT -8
-giggles- Sorry Boz but i find that very entertainging! Weetabix are a cerial over here in the uk!
x
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Post by Boz on Sept 1, 2010 9:57:02 GMT -8
Don't laugh! You did not know what Kix were when I asked you a while back! So there! ha! lol!
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