Might already be too late!

[Manix]

Cleo is right around 2 years old. I noticed Saturday as I was cleaning her cage she was breathing a bit heavy, but after a little playing she seemed ok. Yesterday she seemed fine, but this morning she looked horrible! She was once again breathing VERY heavy, she was very cold to touch and appeared to have lost a bit of weight. She was also very weak but wouldn't lie down. It's possible she hasn't eaten since Saturday morning.
After finding her like this this morning I beefed up her nesting material in hopes of keeping her warm, there was not much else I could do. I will not get home from work tonight until 9, that's 13 hours away! There is no vet in town that treats small animals. I'm afraid she might have cuaght a cold over the weekend only to have it get worse last night. I don't know what I can do for her now. My mother will get home at 5 so perhaps if she's still hanging in there, something could be done, but for the next 9 hours she is on her own.

Is there anything I can for her? How can I know what's really wrong with her? Thank you in advance.

[doomgerbiluk]

Keep her warm, try and get soem fluids down her and do try to find a vet asap.
She certainly sounds pretty ill.
www.gerbils.co.uk/gerbils/ailments.htm
nothing quite seem to fit her symptoms though

[Manix]

I wish I didn't have to be at work today. I'm going to try to leave early that way I can check on her before going to my night class.

[andrea]

Oh no..

Sounds like a respiratory infection although this is more common in pups it can happen in adults?? The best thing would be to try and get her to vet to be sure and even if it is just an infection (nothing more sinister) I expect she will need antibiotics.

Sorry to hear shes ill. Let us know how she gets on.

Andrea

[Manix]

I suppose I could try taking her to my local vet. I know he doesn't deal with small animals but if it is a respotory problem, maybe he could give her an antibiotic. But I afraid it wouldn't do any good. My last gerbil lived over 3 years then contracted something similer. It hit him very quickly also. Had I known this yesterday perhaps I could have done something for her while she still had energy. Today she doesn't have energy enough fight. I've seen this far more times than I care to remember, but only in old gerbils. Even if I managed to leave at 3:30 I don't think she'll be there waiting on me. She was very bad off this morning she didn't even feel like biting me =(.

[pixytwinkle]

oh thats really sad i really hope everything goes ok dont give up hope yet

[Manix]

Much to my surprise, Cleo was still alive when I got home. she was a bit warmer, awake, and trying to move around. She was still extremely week and miserible though and refused to eat or drink. It was too late to phone the vet so Dad suggested to try some amoxicillin. We had a bit left over and still in fridge which was still good. I'm not sot sure if a dog antibiotic is safe for gerbils, but she did readily accecpted a few licks of the pink stuff and even tried to bite me afterwards! I don't think I've ever been so happy to see her try to take a chunk out of me! Too my knowledge, it's the only thing she's had since Saturday. She would not accept anything this morning. I had hoped that if she took it last night that I could dilute the same tiny amount in some water and get her to drink something as well. Unfortunatly, she refused even the non-diluted. She is no worse off than she was last night. The clicking in her chest is less noticable, I'm not sure if this is an improvement. She appears to be trying to get some sleep now also. I will call the vet today as soon as they open to see if they can do anything for her. I don't they will be able too, but at least I can call.

[andrea]

Glad to hear she seems to have perked up.

I have my fingers crossed for you.

Andrea

[Manix]

Thanks. The vet hasn't opened yet. I was reading about Ornacycline (sp?). It's an antibiotic for birds but can be used for gerbils. Do you think I could try that on her if the vet can't do anything? How would I give it to her if she doesn't take it willingly?

EDIT: Just got ahold of the vet...they do not treat small animals and could not even offer any advise.

[queenofthenile]

Gerbils Anonymous talks about treating upper resp infection here:
www.gerbilsanonymous.com/GerbRodeo1.htm

She uses bird ornacycline. Good luck! I hope Cleo gets back to her viscious self soon .

[doomgerbiluk]

she needs a small animal antibiotic such as Baytril
there is no point dosing her with the wring ab or the wrong dose
Too much could make her ill, too little could give her resistance
When my gerbil Drunk was on Baytril the dose was so small it had been heavily diluted and then taken 0.2 ml at a time via a syringe.

[Manix]

Good News, My pet store has some of the ornacycline in stock and I can pick it up on my way home from work. How do I administer it? Will an eye dropper suffice? How do I hold and already upset gerbil in order to get her to take it?

THANKS!

[devun]

Once I had to give Nees medicine out of an eye dropper. She was easy to pick up because she was sick. I just picked her up in my hand with her back against my palm so that her belly was facing out, and I put the dropper to her mouth and she would drink (and also chew the dropper to bits. It was pretty cute.) Probably if you can't get her to open her mouth, but you put a few drops there she might lick it off (thought I'm not sure.) Good luck!

[Manix]

Would it be safer to use a plastic or glass dropper? Thank you!

[doomgerbiluk]

I was given Drunks in a plastic syringe BUT he bit the end off !
Cheeky animal
Check with the shopa nd read the dosage VERY carefully
In the UK you have to see a vet for abs anyways