|
Worried
Dec 14, 2004 5:29:50 GMT -8
Post by Manix on Dec 14, 2004 5:29:50 GMT -8
I'm not sure what to do. Stimpy, the 8 week male I bought Saturday, has me a bit worried. He's not your typical active gerbil, he's way too calm. When I bought him, two of his siblings showed signs of diareah. He seemed ok...except for being extremely calm and preferring to sit still and stare back at me instead of crawl around and explore. Seeing as his siblings health was questionable, I put some ornacycline in his drinking water. Actually, I put it in all my gerbils drinking water becuase he was in contact with all of them. I've given them a fresh batch of ornacycline every 24 hours since Saturday night. My two existing males are fine but Stimpy isn't. He's never showed signs of diareah, but I'm worried his problem may be a cold instead. Saturday, I could hear a faint clicking as he breathed. Sunday, I noticed alot of sneezing and last night quite a bit or noticable snorting along with more sneezing. He does not appear to have labored breathing, just a very stuffy nose. I don't want to make the same mistake twice by waiting too long. A freind at the aquaria shop I visit, suggested a vet that will prescribe Baytril if I need it. She doesn't treat small animals but she can help me get some of the Baytril. My question is, should I wait and see if the ornacycline helps him or should try to contact this vet and try the baytril instead. He looked very tired this morning and I'm afraid to let this go on much longer if the orncycline isn't helping him. I do not want to lose another gerbil to a cold! Also, could the ornacycline be doing more harm than good? I mix one tablet in 8 oz. of water.
Thanks.
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 14, 2004 5:32:54 GMT -8
Post by doomgerbiluk on Dec 14, 2004 5:32:54 GMT -8
I think you need a vets opinion It may be worth seeing if you can get your gerbils poo tested to see if there's anything there sorry cant help more than that
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 14, 2004 9:22:19 GMT -8
Post by queenofthenile on Dec 14, 2004 9:22:19 GMT -8
It really sounds like upper respiratory infection. Are you mixing the amount of ornacycline that was recommended in that link I showed you? Are you using fish or bird ornacycline. I've heard that you should use the bird ornacycline only, but I'm not sure why. It is unfortunate that you have no vets in your area that deal with small animals. I'm just not sure if Baytril is effective against the bacterium that causes upper resp. Maybe you can talk to a vet and ask their opinion about ornacycline vs. Baytril. Have you called all the vets in your area to see if they deal with rodents? (Most vets laughed at me when asked if they neutered gerbils - I found 3 vets who would do it)
I wish you guys the best of luck!
|
|
pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
|
Worried
Dec 14, 2004 9:36:43 GMT -8
Post by pixytwinkle on Dec 14, 2004 9:36:43 GMT -8
i hope hes ok Manix let us know how he gets on
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 14, 2004 9:55:56 GMT -8
Post by Manix on Dec 14, 2004 9:55:56 GMT -8
Well, I'm only on day 3 of the ornacycline (for birds) treatment, should I give it till day 7 before I think about baytril? I'll ask my friend from the aquaria shop who he takes his Rats too. The ornacycline is only in the water bottle, should I try to give him a little with an eye dropper to be sure he's getting some?
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 14, 2004 14:16:03 GMT -8
Post by queenofthenile on Dec 14, 2004 14:16:03 GMT -8
I'm really not sure. Definately talk to a vet about it. I know that ornacycline *should* cure upper respiratory infections, but maybe yours is a stubborn case. Then again it's only been 3 days. Does he look any better?
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 15, 2004 5:19:11 GMT -8
Post by Manix on Dec 15, 2004 5:19:11 GMT -8
Maybe I'm over-reacting a bit and not giving the ornacycline a chance. When I got home last night he was huddled in his nest. Of course he had been without Rin to keep him warm for most the day becuase Rin (goofy gerbil) climbed the tube to the second story and wouldn't come down. I picked him up and cuddled him awhile. He was shivering occassionly and still making the sneezing/cuaghing sound but not as often. The clicking is more faint also. After warming him up the shivering stopped and he decided he wanted to crawl around and explore and act like a gerbil. He even followed Rin up the tubes last night after I rearranged them. This morning when I woke them up to see how they were doing, Rin crawled out of the nest, stretched, inspected the carboard box, then got something to drink and went back to bed. Stimpy mimiced his every move. He looked like a little shadow following Rin around. I take this as a sign that he's feeling better. I definatly hope so!
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 15, 2004 6:00:16 GMT -8
Post by andrea on Dec 15, 2004 6:00:16 GMT -8
maybe worth trying to get some Baytril all the Rattie enthusists I know swear by it for upper repiratory infections in rats- they are very prone to them.
The bayril will also kill of any other nasties he may have.
Hope that helps. Andrea
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 15, 2004 15:31:06 GMT -8
Post by sweetie on Dec 15, 2004 15:31:06 GMT -8
Not sure what help or advice to offer. Vet, Baytril?
How is he now?
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 16, 2004 5:28:25 GMT -8
Post by Manix on Dec 16, 2004 5:28:25 GMT -8
I think the ornacycline is either working or he's pulling out of it on his own. He is much more active and playful, no longer sneezing or snorting and I couldn't hear any clicking at all last night! I need to locate some more ornacycline though becuase I do not have enough to do the full 10 day treatment. I only had 7 tablets.
I only bothered him long enough yesterday to see how he was breathing. I figured bugging him alot at this point might add un-needed stress on him. I figure it's best to let Rin take care of him. He's being very protective at this point and worries over me whenever I try usher Stimpy out of the nest to see how he is. If I didn't know any better, I would think Rin actually thinks Stimpy is his! I think Stimpy has been as big of a help for Rin as Rin has been to Stimpy. I haven't seen Rin this happy and playful for well over a year!
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 16, 2004 7:11:47 GMT -8
Post by queenofthenile on Dec 16, 2004 7:11:47 GMT -8
Aw, that's great that Stimpy is doing better! Isn't it wonderful to see them interact? That's why I always recommend that gerbils be in pairs, because their quality of life is much improved.
|
|
pixytwinkle
Member
Molly and Misty, my lovely gerbils.
Posts: 737
|
Worried
Dec 16, 2004 10:17:37 GMT -8
Post by pixytwinkle on Dec 16, 2004 10:17:37 GMT -8
i am so glad he is getting better.
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 16, 2004 10:39:35 GMT -8
Post by paws on Dec 16, 2004 10:39:35 GMT -8
yay! He sounded really sick. Good for you that you gave him the medicine. It seems to have helped alot! Maybe he was just an underactive kid though! ;D Ya know, Overactive kids, underactive kids, maybe it's the same with gerbies! ;D
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 16, 2004 10:44:49 GMT -8
Post by Manix on Dec 16, 2004 10:44:49 GMT -8
At this point, I'd believe anything is possible.
|
|
|
Worried
Dec 16, 2004 10:48:52 GMT -8
Post by paws on Dec 16, 2004 10:48:52 GMT -8
well, my pup is a bit lazy. He is 11 weeks old! He is incredibly tame, and curls into a little ball and sleeps in my hand. ;D He also is curious though, and copies my adults! Sterzie scales walls, so does Phoenix! ;D
|
|