kryspkreme
Member
She was the first and the last.... R.I.P. Evie.
Posts: 617
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Post by kryspkreme on Mar 20, 2013 15:20:06 GMT -8
Thank you sparky, I'm hoping so much that she doesn't get worse. The vet told me she's seen gerbils that live up to 8 years, and I've only had Evie for almost 3, so I would love to get at least a little more time with her if it's possible. Time will tell. I just don't know why it has happened though, so out of the blue, and almost like an overnight difference. Is it just that they're older? Was it too cold? Was their bedding too dusty?
We will see. :/
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Post by Ten on Mar 20, 2013 18:16:36 GMT -8
I'm sorry to hear that Evie is unwell.
My longest-lived gerbil was nearly five years old. She went through four different cagemates in her life.
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riotheoleo
Member
Loving the gerbil life x
Posts: 156
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Post by riotheoleo on Dec 5, 2013 9:19:33 GMT -8
Hi, its me again. So sorry this topic is old but my gerbil is in the exact same position as Pepper was. Hes lost loads of weight, clicking and being unsociable. Any ideas? He's 3 and will be 4 in May (i know i celebrated his birthday in june but we only ust found out that we'd got their ages wrong, oops xD)
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riotheoleo
Member
Loving the gerbil life x
Posts: 156
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Post by riotheoleo on Dec 5, 2013 9:23:53 GMT -8
And an update, even though this is so late. They still havent got over him. I put him in another cage before he died. How's Evie? I hope this doesnt sound awful but I think Rio (the one in the post above) may be joining Theo soon. He was having seizures a few months ago and hes started again
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Post by dubliners099 on Jul 22, 2022 11:37:07 GMT -8
Hi kryspkreme, It's been a long time since you posted this. I'm so sorry that you experienced this. I, too, have had neighbors and "friends" seem confused by my readiness to shell out big bucks to treat a $12 gerbil, but I don't care what they think. As others have mentioned, I adopted them and I'm responsible. (And I don't have kids, so I have the money to spend, I guess).
One thing about upper respiratory... it's hard to treat. I have a pink-eyed-white (PEW) who is very sensitive and any change in bedding or housing and he gets red nose which can go further if I don't act quickly. For him, any packaged bedding causes him to react. I ended up buying unprinted newsprint paper and shredding it in an office shredder and also tearing off strips for him. For some reason, he's never had a reaction to this. Even the cleanest, most pure, unscented store bought bedding, like Kaytee Clean & Cozy, makes him react. I also give him clean, unused cardboard without any ink/printing. I bag all my groceries in brown paper bags, go home, cut any print off them, and then tear the rest into strips, too. Both of my gerbils LOVE this and it's basically free.
With vet treatment, I've had 2 different vets and their suggestions seem to differ. One thing I'm going to do differently next time is that the minute my gerbil starts showing signs of an upper respiratory infection, I'm going to ask for a gram stain from nose secretions and find out exactly what kind of bacteria we're dealing with so that I can get the exact right antibiotic. What's happened the last few times is that I've gone the cheaper route and just used Baytril from the doctor. Then, when that doesn't work, my vet gives me Baytril and Doxycycline. Then, when that doesn't work, she gives me Baytril and Azithromycin. As a last resort, we're trying Clavamox. So basically, my senior gerbil has been through four(4) treatments for upper respiratory which is now a lower respiratory (pneumonia) in his lungs which is really hard to treat. He may not make it. I have asked my vet tech to give him subcutaneous fluids every time we're in which seems to help him through as he's not eating and drinking at this point. In the next 2 days, I'll know if this last treatment is working or if I have to have him euthanized. The only reason he's lasted nearly 20 days with an infection is that he was a big boy when this all started, so he could lose weight and still have a chance. I weigh each of my gerbils once a week on a digital gram scale and mark it on my calendar so I can tell if someone is losing weight.
I'm learning. I also have a gerbil pharmacy in my fridge now. It's nice to know that there are gerbil lovers out there who know what I mean about taking time and spending money to treat my pet right. I do have a pet lover friend who has gone to great lengths to keep her dog going and she understands. And I have 2 sisters who know better than to hint or joke about my dedication.
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Post by Markpd on Jul 29, 2022 15:20:08 GMT -8
Yea it has been a long time, and the last time they were online was over 7yrs ago. You'd be better off starting your own thread rather than resurrecting this old one, also your story is a new separate one (even if broadly related).
We'd also be interested to see how your gerbil gets on, but many people might not even get to your post (on p4) when they see the date in the op. I suggest you copy and paste your above post and create your own thread. I'm going to lock this one now.
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