Strange breathing pattern

[613flavah]

I'm wondering if maybe anyone would know what would be wrong with my gerbil Terry.

For the last couple of months, he's been breathing very heavily. I can't hear him breathing but I can see him move. Constantly, kinda like as if he'd just run a marathon and his whole body would heave up and down. He does this even when he's sleeping. I think he may have a breathing issue but I'm not sure.

I've had him since 2001.

[queenofthenile]

Hmmm... I have no idea. Hopefully someone here has experienced that before.

[gracie]

1 of my cats, somtimes breathes heavliy.... but thats mainly cuz she has a stuffed nose.

[Ritzie/Admin]

Gracie, I think "Mainly".

Here a good page on repiratory problems:
www.gerbilsanonymous.com/respiratiory.htm

My gerbil is wheezing a little or sounds 'moist' when it breathes, or a faint clicking happening with each breath

*Upper respiratory infection. Usually happens with pups around 21-28 days as they start weaning, can happen in older animals. Start treatment with bird ornacycline (see Gerbil Rodeo). To me usually sounds a bit like snotty nose when they breathe.

My gerbil is lethargic sort of and can't seem to catch it's breath

*Usually in older animals, this may be from heart conditions causing fluid to build up in the lungs and around the heart. A dose of a diuretic may improve the animal, even if it's a short time. If you hear any clicking at all treat for upper respiratory infection. If it truely seems to labor to breathe after it gets up and moves around, but after it goes to sleep or just as it wakes up it seems fine, take it to the vet. If you aren't seeing major improvements after about day 7 of the 10 day ornacycline treatment, take the animal in too.