--n/a--

[sabarika]

I had my two gerbs running around on the floor when I walked over the barrier and accidently stepped on one. I'm FREAKING OUT.. I feel like a terrible owner (well, duh) and he either broke his pelvis or dislocated his hip... I'm expecting the worst (internal bleeding, that type of stuff) and he ran away but he (I'm told) has no use of one of his hind legs. My friend took these photos of him after we scooped him up - PLEASE, I don't know of any exotic pet vets near me (northern KY) and I need to know what to do. I'm not sure if he's going to make it but if I have to put him down, what is the best way? Please reply ASAP I need help NOW, this happened no less than 10-15 minutes ago and he/his buddy are in a small quarantine tank.





PLEASE help, save the "well you should be careful" and "its dangerous to let them play on the floor" stuff for later. WELL aware. Accident.
email if need be, [e-mail]

[meganb52]

You need to get him to a vet ASAP for radiographs (x-rays) to see what's broken. I would be more worried about broken bones and nerve damage than internal bleeding. If you do need to put him down, you could probably take him to any nearby vet and they will be able to put him to sleep with the same drug they use in dogs and cats, only it would be injected into his belly instead of into a vein. Veterinarians are leagally obligated to end an animal's pain and suffering, and he/she should be able to look up a dose of euthanasia solution for your gerbil if needed. I'd really tough to treat trauma like that in these little guys. I'm not sure where you live, but you might try google maps to try and find the closest exotic vet or see if you can talk one of your local vets into seeing him as this is an emergency. depending on what's broken, you may be able to cage rest him and have him return to some normal funcion but I can't tell from the pictures the extent of his injuries (hence the need for radiographs) I hope this helps you out, and I'm very sorry about your gerbil. Something similar happened with me and my brazilian short-tailed opossum, and I felt awful about it too. It isn't like you meant to step on him; it was an accident--so don't beat yourself up over it. Good luck

[Ritzie/Admin]

Indeed probably a broken spine! ...Meganb52 explained it very well. Nothing to add! You should see a vet, even if it is not specialized in exotics. He can probably see what is wrong, and help or .... if necessary give euthanasia to the animal. It could end the suffering. And don't feel too bad about yourself. It was indeed an accident! I can image that it must be horrible for you too.

[doomgerbiluk]

I agree. If its bruising (and gerbils are amazingly tough) he may recover but that seems unlikely.
As for feeling bad, of course you do, but it is difficult to avoid accidents. My daughter was in a hurry one day and decided to take a short cut across my playpen of gerbils, regrettably one darted forward and under her foot and she stood in his head. He bled badly for most of the day from mouth and ear. He was lucky and made a full recovery. There is no point in beating yourself up over this.
I suspect your little man will need to be pts. Our vets way is to use gas to put them under and then inject the way megan described.

You have my sympathys....

a quick search finds:

www.homeveterinarycare.com/

north-hardin-veterinary-clinic.00966641.worldpages-ads.com/

www.vetweb.net/us/ky_taylormill.html

[whitmoregirl]

Get him to a vet asap!!
Emergency if they ask, your gerbil looks very battered and it needs attention immediately!
And don't beat yourself up about treading on him - gerbils tend to run anywhere and everywhere and sometimes come closer to your feet for comfort. It wasn't your fault.

[queenofthenile]

I'm sorry, but if his legs aren't working, he will likely have to be euthanized. My first gerbil, Juniper, chewed a hole in the mesh lid of her cage and fell from the bookshelf it sat on. She broke her spine in the fall, and I had to put her down. It is very painful, so you need to put him out of his misery as soon as you can.

[sabarika]

I'm still calling vets right now, there is a nearby one and I think I'll just go there despite them not being small animal because I am having no luck. He is (I'm told) walking and functioning a bit, but he is probably suffering needlessly and I want him out of pain. They just can't express pain to people the way other people do. >.<; I feel so rotten, I cried half the night and nobody could console me.
I'm thinking the best option will be euthanasia so hopefully a vet will do it for me. I have a friend who worked with vets and they told me some more humane methods of self-euthanasia if it came down to it but I can't and noody else with me can either, so as soon as I finish reading the emails I got I'm going to the vet. My boyfriend is getting him out of the cage and into a travel container now.
Thanks so much, guys, I just feel awful about this, I got up to go to the bathroom (normally I would never just "walk around" when they're out) and thought it was clear, obviously not. :/

[doomgerbiluk]

Sabarika hold on
if he has moovement then give him a few days
he will probably fully recover
nad yes I have seen it happen
he needs peace, warmth and fluids and easy to eat food

[tirilliel]

I agree with doomgerbiluk,

Im not a vet but Iv watched enough animal planet to know that animals such as dogs and cats that have been hit by cars or had a bad fall will sometimes recover in a day or two, It could be swelling of the spinal area that is causing the inability to move his hind legs at the moment. Shock can also be a factor. My cats have brought in injured chipmunks and moles whos back legs dont seem to work, but after I give them a few hours of rest in a quiet area they start to come around and I let them back out. Of course you should still look for a vet asap, an x-ray will rule out allot, but you dont have to think the worst just yet,

I can totally sympathize with your situation, Mistakes happen and although we should be more vigilant about this kind of thing mistakes do happen and it doesnt automatically make us "bad" owners. When I use to breed gerbils back in late elementary school Id set up an area in my room so they could run around and explore in it. I had used some heavy boxes to make barriers. My friend was over that day and I should have been more careful about where to tell her to sit. But she took a seat on the side of a box which was rather heavy, it tipped up and when she stood up by the startle a pup ran under it and unfortunately it was crushed, The poor little guy had sever convulsions in my hand before it died

Things will happen, we try and learn from out experiences. Im sure you will find a safer way to let them out of their cage where they arent in any danger of getting injured Ill be putting positive thoughts out for you and your little one. Keep us updated.

[sabarika]

Well, the unfortunate happened.

Schindler didn't make it.

I was unable to get a vet because of the holiday/lack of service to small animals so I did my best to make sure food/water was as close as possible. I was sitting at the cage scooping old litter away from him when he just..went. Very quietly, peacefully. My boyfriend is really shaken up, he and I are both deeply upset. I know it was an accident and it wasn't meant to happen, I'm usually more careful but it's true that the one time you let your guard down...bam. I feel awful for making him suffer for so long but I'm glad he's gone, maybe he's waiting across the rainbow bridge for me with all my old pets...

Now I need to find Adolf another cagemate.. he's all alone. :/
Thanks for all your help, though, guys.

[doomgerbiluk]

I'm sorry to hear that.
Although the movement sounds as though his limbas had a chance of recovery it is likely he had internal injuries that where not visible.
Don't beat yourself up over this, sometimes we all have to learn from our mistakes
Good luck finding your other gerbil a frined.

[whitmoregirl]

Aww sabarika, our thoughts and sympathy go out to you.
It wasn't your fault that he ran near to you, no-one can stop these accidents from happening.
Good luck with finding Adolf a friend.

[tirilliel]

Sorry to hear the little one passed away in the end It seems with rodents if something ever is to go wrong its on the weekend or over a long weekend when everything is closed Good luck finding your other gerbil a cage mate.

[lizzy]

sorry to hear that

[meganb52]

I'm very sorry to hear about your gerbil. I have always gotten a feeling of peace by being with my animals when they pass. I think we owe it to them as their caretakers to be there to the very end, and it sure sounds like you were doing everything you could. I offer you and those close to your little gerbil my condolances, and I hope you find a friend for you remaining gerbil soon

-Megan