VERY ODD HEALTH PROBLEMS

[zouave]

Got a young brother and sister from a petstore I know almost three weeks ago, Wendy and Wendell.

Within a week, Wendy started showing signs of paralysis in one of her hind legs, resulting in her gnawing on her side and sleeping that way too.

Soon after, Wendell started showing similar signs, but then quickly both legs became paralyzed, and he looked like a gerbil paraplegic. I had a gerbil with no hind legs once and she got around; I just made sure he stayed hydrated and had food within reach.

A day later I noticed a small "ridge" thing on her back: maybe about 5 mm's long, 3 high, and very thin and hard. (?). It was directly over her spine, if that is relevant.

I found Wendell dead last night, and when I was about to call the one gerbil vet I know whom I trust (far away) about Wendy. . . I noticed a fur patch was lying on the bedding with that "ridge" thing in it; the patch was about the size of a U.S. nickel coin, maybe a bit bigger.

I then found Wendy and that area of her back was now furless and raw, and some rawness extended to the upper tail. (?). I applied bacitracin ointment. MOST ODDLY, she was now frisky and both her legs worked fine!

My last look at her less than an hour ago and she looked and acted great and the wound was cleerly healing.

I saw no other symptoms of any kind.

I asked elsewhere if this was an inbreeding issue, and without more knowledge of the parents and sibling we couldn't be sure.

Has anyone experienced anything such as this??

Wendell is gone, and Wendy is healing. And I have no idea why any of this happened.

[AndreaS15]

Holy Smokes, I'm as confused as you are!
I'm sorry to hear of your loss of the little guy

Did you get to call the Vet? I'd be really interested in what he/she thinks.
Are both of the back legs now working fine?

That is the strangest thing I have ever heard. Though I'm really glad things are getting better.

[zouave]

That vet, quite distant from me, was very kind when a hamster last August had Cushings Disease; she was very helpful, and did it free of charge. The first vet I went to was so bad I repoprted him to the state for a formal investigation, which proceded, and no doubnt resulted in a formal warning (better than nothing). Any vet can claim to treat ANY animal - which is a joke. I know more than most vets I met regarding small rodents. So, I was not going to press my luck when there was no need to see her: Wendy right at this moment is happily gnawing away on some new boxes I gave her.

I examined Wendy's raw spot and it just looks raw, less so now. Some raw areas are up the tail a little. When I first saw that big patch of fur on the bedding I thought she had been scalped!

The connection with the legs I have no idea about. Wendell never showed any rawness or back "ridges" as she did.

I could post a photo of her rear back area. but, again, the flash makes it look horridly red, and by now it is clearly healing over. When I applied the ointment she did not even react in discomfort.

I have never heard of anything like this even after reading thousands and thousands of gerbil-related posts.

So, there we are. I don't thinik any of this is contagious as the two fellows Wendell was in with are showing no similar symptoms. But I will NOT introduce Wendy to a friend until after I figure this out or until I reach a point where I consider it safe.

Anyone with any ideas about this, please pass along your comments.


BTW, They were separated almost at once when I got them home being of different genders.

[doomgerbil]

Well I've discussed this with Eddie Cope and he tells me its indicative of giving the wrong treatment for mites.
The gerbils have been treated with the wrong dose of ivermec, permethrin or dectomax, possibly with a treatment meant for cattle or horse.. The result is the very symptoms you describe from the lost fur patches to the paralysis to eventual death. Gerbils should never be treated with medicine meant for larger animals and all treatments should be administered as advised by a vet. Over the counter medicines should be used with extreme caution and only if your practitioner has approved the dose for small rodents.

[AndreaS15]

Doom, your always full of great information

On another site I had also mentioned lack of nutrition to poisoning to be the case for these poor gerbils. Sound like we're on the right track.
Who in there right mind would give any type of medication for large animals (or even humans) to a rodent!
Argh... peoples stupidity sure does suprise me sometimes...

[zouave]

Fascinating. Thanks.

Wrong dose, and/or wrong medication, for mites!!


Sheeez. I am glad I found that out before I went to see the store gerbil guy., as I will tomorrow.

It seems to me that flea and tick spray, Ultra-Care, works on mites if the gerb is drenched in it and it is rubbed in the skin, and, of course, if everything is disinfected. Not so?? It has worked for me in the past, but the mite infestations weren't too advanced.

[sweetie]

Hey Zou,

Thanks for sharing this! I am sorry you lost Wendell. I hope Wendy recovers fully.

Doom & Andrea thanks for your input it is very helpful for the rest of us!!