Terrified Gerbil?

[cassiabilka]

Can someone help me please? Today I wanted to clean my gerbils' cage and wanted to take out my gerbils as usual. I have this bucket that we put them in (I know it sounds a little strange, but I need the bath to clean out the remaining dirt from the cage) and I took out one of my gerbils and put her inside. I asked my Mum to keep an eye out and look after the bucket because just recently the gerbils discovered that they can easily climb out, and she picked it up. She started rocking it, swinging it from side to side gently, and I think that must have really scared my gerbil, because she lay on the floor, looking like she was dead. A moment later she tried to stand up but fell over, as if she was dizzy. I was terrified and didn't know what to do so I picked her up and snuggled her with my hands, stroking her. She felt rigid, as if she were dead, but I knew she wasn't, because she was still breathing. I slowly put her back in her cage, and she kind of just stayed there in one spot, so I put some food in her bowl and tried to get her to drink some water. I think it must have been shock, because when I moved a little she got scared and darted into one of her tunnels. I guess this was a good thing, because it meant I had woken her from her kind of trance thing, but I'm still quite scared for her. She is a little better now, and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her apart from the fact that she's really scared, or just really weak. She's only about half a year old so I really don't know what I did wrong. My Mum said that maybe she was really stressed and started doing the whole "playing dead thing" but I just wanted to make sure.

[catnut]

Just let her stay calm and talk quietly to her and I'm sure she will be okay in a day or two. It does sound like she was abit dizzy and in shock and maybe even caused a small seizure from the stress. If she isn't okay tomorrow I would get her checked out by a vet but I had a gerbil who got very stressed even with being petted and she would seem out of it for a few hours and then would be fine. Make sure next time she is in the bucket (or maybe use something that can't be moved around like even a large box) as the bucket may now be a stressor for her. Time should help but just be calm and she should calm down as well, treats may help as well.

Take care,

Tammy

[ninestone]

I agree with catnut, it may have been a stress-induced seizure.

[hannibal]

How old is she? I definitely agree with catnut.
Gerbils can die from fright, they get these fits sometimes when they are really stressed where they can sit completely still and then make sudden movements and even start drooling. These fits can actually exhaust them and they can die from that, so if it happens just put her back in the tank and put it somewhere quiet. If she has a buddy or something it will help. Don't take her up and keep disturbing her just let her be for a while, but just check in on her now and again.

[Ken]

My cat pulled my gerbil out of her cage and shes alive but i cant tell if shes bleeding

[tuftsnfluff]

Hey there!

How is your gerbil this morning?