Heal faster alone or with a friend?

[sfgerbils]

Hey everyone,
I have a gerbil who I was split caging with her daugters (two - about 3 months old). The first time I set up the split cage mom managed to get across (over the top) and got beat up pretty bad. I managed to secure the split better and had been hoping things would improve. She was really looking better last night and seemed to be healing up great. I had just put their food in on both sides and I saw mom stick her nose in through the chicken wire splitter and had to watch in horror as her daughter tried to literally bite her face off! Now, she has a nice gash on the side of her face right near her nose and she's looking rough. I have decided to not continue the split cage and have moved the two daughters to their own tank.
What I'm wondering is if I ought to wait until she's fully healed to find a cage mate to add (either a pup or use the split again) OR have you found that gerbils tend to heal faster/be happier while healing with a buddy? She's a very affectionate gerbil and is really lonely!
Thanks!

[whitmoregirl]

Hmm this is a hard one.
I wouldn't suggest you try to intro her to her daughters again - it sounds too dangerous and you could end up with her dead .
Best let her on her own until her nose heals and she seems happier, then try to intro her to some younger pups who have not clanned up yet.
Females have the worst reputation of pairing them up and I was just thinking that if she is introduced to non-clanned pups, she would be out of danger, but of course then she could bully the young one / ones....

I would, for now, let her be on her own to heal, but give her lots of toys and lots and lots of love and attention

[sfgerbils]

Yeah, I definitely am NOT going to try to group her with the two daughters again - I think everyone (including me!) will be much happier that way. I felt so guilty that she was able to get over the split the first time but then when I saw that she was being attacked even THROUGH the splitter - I knew it wasn't worth it.
I have two males available to put in with her (one or the other obviously) and so I was just trying to decide if she would be happier alone or with a friend while she's getting better.

Also, does anyone make up antibiotics for gerbils that have been involved in fights? I have some available and was thinking it couldn't hurt to give her some.

[meganb52]

You can use a general over-the-counter triple antibiotic (like Neosporin) on your gerbil. just use it sparingly and try to distract her(treats, play time) for about 10 minutes after you put it on to give it time to work or she'll just groom it off (not harmful, but it won't be doing its job!) I usually say twice per day is plenty. hope she heals up soon! Sorry to hear about the dysfunction in the family!

-Megan

[sfgerbils]

Hey Megan, Thanks - I have been using neosporin on her wounds and I actually cleaned up the wounds from the first encounter with peroxide and then neosporin. I was just wondering if a course of the bird antibiotics (like what you'd use for RI) would help her heal up. So far she's definitely looking better everyday. I've been trying to give her extra treats and boxes to chew. Hopefully I'll find her a nice pup to place with her

[meganb52]

For an external wounds like that, the neosporin should clear it up just fine. I try to refrain from giving systemic antibiotics unless they are really needed, and if her bite wounds are healing up well with just Neosporin, I would just stick with that. Just remember to only use a thin layer and keep her occupied for 10-15 min so she doesn't groom it off!

-Megan