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Post by louiseeee on Feb 2, 2012 14:45:14 GMT -8
I have had my gerbil and his brother for a little less than a month, they are just under 4 months old. Dusty is well in himself and hyperactive as normal but Smudge has deteriorated very fast within the past week!
He is off hard food but will eat soft foods like fruit and his sunflower seeds, he is drinking alot and just doesn't want to come out and play anymore. He will just sit at the bottom of their nest/bed and sleep. (He won't even chew on their cardboard tubes)
I'm worried he has hurt his teeth chewing on a gnaw toy they have or something else is the problem.
I have tried to look high and low for an answer but nothing seems to be exactly that problem I am having
Please please please if you could help me I'd be so grateful.
I plan on fresh apple daily for smudge and maybe a trip to the vet tomorrow if he has not improved!
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cheetah
member
Digit, Now in gerbil heaven
Posts: 44
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Post by cheetah on Feb 3, 2012 16:34:28 GMT -8
I'm not a gerbil expert but I'd say the problem is the apples. An apple a day keeps the doctor away doesn't apply to gerbils  They should only be getting treats 1-2 times a week. Fruits less than other things, they are desert animals and fruits don't grow there. The apple probably has too much water for their desert adapted bladder and is trashing his liver (Slowly, but it would still affect his behavior. I believe its the liver? It's been awhile since i read about it) If he really is drinking A LOT of water (a lot is unusual as like i said, they are desert animals) this backs up my theory, as a deteriorating liver (again I'm not entirely sure its the liver that does this) will cause an animal to be thirsty, but if your saying a lot as in the normal amount then thats different... Of course this is just based on what you told me and whats floating around in my brain xP It could simply be stress or a tummy ache from the apples [you should lower that to the recommend amount by the way =)] The tummy ache would probably stop him from wanting to eat his regular food. In any case the best thing you can do at the moment is cut down the apples and return him to hard food, also limiting sunflower seeds to just treats is always a good thing. After that observe him every once in awhile and hopefully he'll improve! If not, vet it is! |
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Post by crazy4gerbils on Feb 4, 2012 5:06:33 GMT -8
Sounds more like kidney problems actually.
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cheetah
member
Digit, Now in gerbil heaven
Posts: 44
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Post by cheetah on Feb 4, 2012 14:35:05 GMT -8
Yes kidney not liver xP I knew something felt wrong about liver
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Post by louiseeee on Feb 6, 2012 14:02:32 GMT -8
Hello again, He never got his daily apple as he began eating and drinking normally again but had no weight gain. He is currently on a less than 1g of honey a day just to make sure I know he has something in him to keep him going and is also now on an antibiotic syrup from the vet. Vet couldn't diagnose but could tell me he had no muscles, a very empty tummy and was just very thin! my poor baby  Smudge was initially OK before going to the vet but it seems to have done the complete opposite?! When I got home with him he just couldn't find the strength to stand so remained collapsed on my hand for over an hour!? He has since been in a small box with lots of beddy and Dusty and thankfully is much mroe alert now! I think it was the stress of travelling and dogs!!!!!!! scared the living daylights out of him in the waiting room This is my first time owning gerbils and carelessly I didn't think they could get so ill in so little time; My vet has warned if it is a kidney or liver disease it is fatal and if this is the case, poor smudgy won't live for much longer as he has been ill for over a week now. Hopefully I don't think this is the case; he has responded extremely well to his honey and carrot but won't touch his seeds. Vet has said it is OK to feed on a purely fruit/veg diet for as long as neccessary. Vets main concern is not in illness but in Smudges heritage!!! Aparrently the shop I bought him from have not been breeding their gerbils very well (Illness has been bred through god knows how many generations of gerbils!) and many have been reported to the vets with similar illnesses but recovered extremely well. Heres hoping to a full recovery and thank you for your help/comment  |
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Post by louiseeee on Feb 6, 2012 14:07:42 GMT -8
I am also doing hourly feeds/watering and though frustrating, it is a work in progress that is benefitting both me and Smudge very much
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cheetah
member
Digit, Now in gerbil heaven
Posts: 44
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Post by cheetah on Feb 6, 2012 22:29:48 GMT -8
Thats horrible ): I really hope your gerbil manages to make it. Have you tried crushing his food and adding water to it (probably luke warm is best cause i know in cats and dogs cold water can upset their tummies) if he won't take any of it even just licking it off your finger is better than nothing. And I'm not vet but i don't think a pure veg/fruit diet is a good thing for gerbils at all, doesn't this vet realize their desert animals not rabbits? If its the only thing he'll eat I guess he'll manage but to get better all animals need the proper diet and for gerbils thats not fruit and veggies. ...... Its not too cold in your house is it? (random question, sorry)
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Post by esztershine on Feb 7, 2012 2:48:55 GMT -8
Have you checked his teeth? It may be too long and can't chew properly.
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Post by louiseeee on Feb 7, 2012 14:10:26 GMT -8
Smudge died in my hand last night.  He's at peace now and not in any pain but I miss him so badly </3 Dusty had a cardboard tube today and left exactly half for Smudge My heart is well and truely broken right now The antibiotic was too much for his body and he just didn't respond to anything we tried. Can I get Dusty a new friend?  He is just under 4 months old. I'm distraught, Dusty keeps looking for Smudge in his cage but just can't find him. Dusty is OK, playing, eating, drinking and in his usual self but I would if possible want to get him a new playmate. If I do decide to (after speaking with vets/nurses tomorrow) I will house them in separate cages and introduce them slowly until I feel they can get along nicely. Pets at Home (shop) have refused to sell me any gerbils to go with him???!!!! They said mine will eat him!!! (I don't think is totally true) Any advice? ?? |
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Post by esztershine on Feb 7, 2012 14:34:21 GMT -8
Sorry to hear little Smudge passed away. It is always so sad I would give Dusty a two week rest, if anything was contagious and he will be eager to meet a new friend. Meanwhile you can get a 6 week old same sex pup, quarantine him in a different room. You can spend your 2 weeks getting some knowledge on intros and build your split tank and proceed with it Pet shops are useless, don't take anything seriously they say. |
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Post by louiseeee on Feb 7, 2012 14:57:14 GMT -8
I know He was only a little baby which makes it all just so much worse! The cage has been thoroughly disinfected as he was supposed to be getting a new friend tonight but that didn't go to plan. The shop sells pups from 7 weeks + I am tempted to buy one tomorrow with a new tank as they are rather teeny so it would give me a chance to isolate incase of infection and get the new pup used to me as well as Dusty's scent (Me and my mum read that if you swap their scents this helps??) Don't know how you can do the split tank intro with my cage as half is tank and half is bars. I want to introduce them for a few minutes on the first day in a big new unscented cardboard box then just increase gradually (minute by minute) but returning them to their own tanks so they still have their own chill out space This forum has helped a lot. I don't think Smudge had an infection or anything like that. The vet was very tempted to rule this out and thought it was a genetic kidney/liver problem but for Dusty's sake I'm keeping a very very very close eye on him for anything abnormal |
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Post by crazy4gerbils on Feb 7, 2012 17:59:11 GMT -8
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Post by esztershine on Feb 8, 2012 1:42:34 GMT -8
What a great web of Indyrascal's you have posted Crazy!
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cheetah
member
Digit, Now in gerbil heaven
Posts: 44
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Post by cheetah on Feb 8, 2012 3:15:03 GMT -8
Sorry about Smudge I had a feeling that would happen... I hope introducing another gerbil will go well, if that is what you choose is best. |
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Post by louiseeee on Feb 8, 2012 3:45:41 GMT -8
Is it right for Dusty to introduce a new gerbil?
My mum wants to buy 2 gerbils to introduce but i'm worried that even if they get along they may gang up on Dusty
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They should only be getting treats 1-2 times a week. Fruits less than other things, they are desert animals and fruits don't grow there. The apple probably has too much water for their desert adapted bladder and is trashing his liver (Slowly, but it would still affect his behavior. I believe its the liver? It's been awhile since i read about it) If he really is drinking A LOT of water (a lot is unusual as like i said, they are desert animals) this backs up my theory, as a deteriorating liver (again I'm not entirely sure its the liver that does this) will cause an animal to be thirsty, but if your saying a lot as in the normal amount then thats different...
He is just under 4 months old.