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Post by chambers on Apr 26, 2005 13:35:43 GMT -8
One of our gerbils was badly beaten up by her sister a week and a half ago. Took her to the vet and got some medicine to treat the bite wounds. Now her tail looks like a snake that swallowed a mouse! Took her back to the vet and he said the tail has "died" (he could feel it was colder than her body) and needs to be removed. He seemed to feel her chances for recovery were pretty good. Any one have any experience with gerbils and this type of procedure? Thanks.
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Apr 26, 2005 14:54:00 GMT -8
Gerbils are pretty tough and cope well with anaesthesia in my experience.
As for coping without a tail, thats not a problem for gerbils anyway, although her balance will be affected. She will adapt really well.
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Post by chambers on Apr 26, 2005 14:57:55 GMT -8
Thanks so much for your reply! I was really concerned about
complications from the anesethia (sp). She is a really tiny one (that is her name, Tiny). The vet thinks she is so small because her mean sister who beat her up wasn't sharing the food! I really appreciate your 2 cents. Thanks!
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Apr 26, 2005 15:00:31 GMT -8
your welcoem
any operation has a risk
good luck with it
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Post by lpn1993 on Apr 27, 2005 3:29:58 GMT -8
I'm sorry that your gerbil got hurt. Poor little thing.  I hope she'll be feeling better soon. She should be ok without her tail. I got a gerbil from a pet store, and his tail was missing when I got him. His lack of a tail doesn't seem to bother him - he does just fine. Best wishes to you and your gerbil with her surgery. |
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Post by chambers on Apr 27, 2005 4:57:45 GMT -8
Thanks for your input and support. I took Tiny in this morning and they said I should hear from them within the next four hours. Tiny is actually my 6 year old's pet, but I realized yesterday that after taking care of her and nursing her through those awful bites that I am very attached to the little thing! God bless you all!
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Post by chambers on Apr 27, 2005 14:08:59 GMT -8
Good News!! Tiny camed through her tail removal surgery like the true survivor that she is! The vet said she was eating within 3 minutes of waking up. She kind of looks like a little teddy bear now! He also found the reason for her lameness, poor thing had a bite that had abcessed and so the vet fixed that as well. Thanks again for the encouraging words.
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Post by lpn1993 on Apr 27, 2005 14:34:50 GMT -8
That's great news! I'm so glad to hear it.  |
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Post by AndreaS15 on Apr 27, 2005 20:05:03 GMT -8
Glad to hear she's doing well! One of my first gerbils needed a Tail Amputation also, she was fine afterwards, no problems. Out of all the gerbils I've owned she is still the highest jumper I've ever had |
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Post by doomgerbiluk on Apr 28, 2005 0:13:57 GMT -8
I'm glad to hear shes done so well. She will adapt. Tailless gerbils leanr a sort of 'lop' movement like a rabbit and develop very strong hind quarters. Here's Bobtail..born with the worst malformed tail you'll see    As you can see he's a fine handsome fellow and has no problems except his balance isn't as good as his cage mates. |
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Post by chambers on Apr 28, 2005 4:39:25 GMT -8
Thanks for the pictures. Bobtail is very cute and has a fine looking little tail! I really appreciate all of you! I must admit, as I am sure you guys know, most people think I am absolutely nuts to spend this kind of money on a gerbil. I realize that I really don't get much support from family and friends because they just don't understand how I could be so attached to a rodent! I must admit I wouldn't have believed it either. This morning when I went to check on Tiny and she popped up out of her bed, I knew it was all worth it. You guys are great!
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I hope she'll be feeling better soon. She should be ok without her tail. I got a gerbil from a pet store, and his tail was missing when I got him. His lack of a tail doesn't seem to bother him - he does just fine. Best wishes to you and your gerbil with her surgery. 
