Question: Runny Nose, Wet Nose? Please Help!

[Fox Mother]

Ok, I have 2 gerbil tanks that got too cold from the airconditioner last night. This morning they (4 gerbils) are sluggish with a lot of wettness around their noses. Lupe's nose had a full drip of the water come out of it when i went to ppick her up. I'm very worried about them being sick. I know they are a warm climate animal and i generally only have my airconditioner on for an hour and set for 68 but some how it got set to 64 and ran all night the room.

Please help, is there any thing i can give them in the case if they are sick or coming down with a cold or something due to the cold air.

Thanks.

[Fox Mother]

Bump! Please Help!

[sparky]

Sorry I can't be of much help. There are some very knowledgeable people in the forum like RitziAnn, MoonstoneGerbils and Johanne so I'm sure they will have some advice for you when they are online.

If you are worried about them you could take them to a vet for a check up.

Hope they are feeling better soon

[fourpaws]

I would say until you can get them to a vet or are told otherwise, make sure they are all kept warm, avoid using the air con again, that they have easy access to food and water and if any or all of them can;t feed/drink/move by themselves then get them to a vet immediately.

I know a couple of people here as well have used kitten replacement milk to hand feed their gerbils when they are sick if they cannot eat and it has had great results, so keep that in mind if getting to a vet straight away is not an option.

I hope they get better soon, please keep us posted

[Fox Mother]

I am sad to tell you my traggic news... I called 5 vets and all couldn't tell me any thing. the rodent specialist wasn't going to be in until Monday so i left her a voice mail that has never been replied to.

They had wet noses, a few hours later they had dark red noses and mouths.
Diahrea and tiredness, with their eyes bearly opened. Hours after they were dead. All my gerbils were dead with in 24 hours..

I lost all 26 of my gerbils due to this unknown illness. The cause was placed on the KAYTEE Forti-Diet Hamster & Gerbil food I gave them the day before they looked sick with their wet, drippy noses. Apparently there was a recall on the food for the 3lb bags in May. I bought the bag of food last weekend from the walmart by my house that is all in shambles because of it being underconstruction and there for probably forgot to or missed to the recall to pull it off the selves. I called the KAYTEE services to inform them of what had happened and of what size bag and where i got it, ect. They have not contacted me back yet.

I am so sad, and so lost. i loved my gerbils, they were my pride a joy and were always there to make me smile when i was down... and now they are all gone. RIP my 26 gerbils.

I only have Kyla now, with the two rats and the mouse because they eat a different food and did not get sick.

[branstonpickles]

I am so sorry for your loss! Remember they aren't ill anymore now though, and they will all be with each other in heaven! x

[catnut]

I am soo sorry to hear you lost 26 of your gerbils and no vets could help you. I would write a written letter to the company and tell them how their food killed your precious gerbils,maybe you will get an answer then. Try to take it easy on yourself. I just lost one gerbil (due to a tumour) and still feel depressed over a month later so I couldn't imagine losing that many at one time. Hugs and know you are not alone here on the gerbil site.

Take care,

Tammy

[Fox Mother]

I just feel so broken hearted. They were the light of my life! They ere always there for me matter what the day was like or the mood i was in, they had just always been there. I would go to my wall lined with the shelves and tanks and just watch them, watching their lives and personalities. If i talked to them they'd always pop up and look at me, or rest there on their hind feet and just stair and listen about my day. They made me laugh and were my pride and joy. I loved them with all of my heart ( a side from my daughter and cat ). and now it just kills me to know that they got so sick, and so fast. I just couldn't stop crying as i barried them. Now i've 8 empty tanks... and room of silence.. i really miss them.

I called the KAYTEE company and they told me that it's not one of there recalled items but might be something new to look in to. they are sending me a stamp in the mail so i can send them the bag and sample of the food to be tested. I'm still waiting as the woman told me it could be a few days before the postage gets here.

I've started to make some little youtube videos of them to help me cope.

Is there a spot here that i could share some of the videos?

[catnut]

that is great they are looking into the food to see if that caused their illnesses. There is a place to put photos and videos in the forum. I don't know if this will help but now you will have more time for the remaining pets and can get to know them better. I prefer to just have 2 or 3 pets at one time so I can have fun and time for them,even though I'd love to take in all the rescues that need love.(i did just adopt a rescue when my sweet Spencer passed of old age) and she is finally coming around to trusting me and letting me hold her,such a thrill! Tia has really helped me cope with Spencers' death and I still have his brother,Pacey who is a sweet gerbil who lets me cuddle him.

Take care,

Tammy

[Fox Mother]

being that i'm a stay at home mom, i spent the time durring her naps to care for my animals, and then after she went to bed i would spend an average of 3 hours with my animals. I new all there personalities. I use to breed to sell them, but over tim ei kept some of the pups of each litter. Each pup, each gerbil had a name and had some hand time to run and play out of the tanks. They were such a large part of my life..

The rats are my hubby's pets, i take care of them because they are living here with me and the baby, but they don't really like me. I mean i can hold them breifly but they were already adults when we adopted them. They generally like to stay to themsekves and have little want to be with people. The mouse we bought from petco to keep mr.nibbles company that we adopted. They fought so we separated them and he did great in the rat tank! Kyla is the only one that is mine and enjoys being out of the tank.

I miss the loving companionship of the others though... and watching their busyness in their tanks.