dropped a pup. broken leg ?

[Newbie1]

Hello, hope you don't mind me posting. Before I come across as a really bad, irresponsible owner, I'd like to defend myself by pointing out these are our first gerbils that were really intended for the kids. They were supposed to be 2 girls, but of course we ended up with a male and female which became obvious when one day I heard squeaking and found 5 pups under a box.

I went to go move them at 2 days old because she didn't have them in a safe place and the tank was due for a cleaning already. I took it out very carefully with 2 hands to show the kids. Not realizing or knowing how much it could wiggle and it wiggled right out of my hand and fell onto a hard floor. I of course thought the worst, how could it possibly survive that long, hard fall? But it was squriming, squeaking and wiggling just fine and made it.

Now they're a little over 3 weeks old and have a respiratory infection which I read up on how to treat and was about to medicat them today.

Still not experienced in how to handle these guys, I take the first pup out with 2 hands. I open them and get him on his back ready to give him the meds. I held him over a taple with a nice soft pillow underneath. Somehow he littearly sprung up in the air and fell on that same hard floor. He spun around and squrmied and seemed to be paralyzed on his left side where he fell. After about 10 minutes he's better but seems to have broken that back left leg which is the leg he landed on when he fell. What could I do to help him? He's back in his nice soft nest now with his parents.
Will he be alright and will that leg heal ok?

I thought maybe internal bleeding but if that one pup survived after falling flat at 2 days old..I don't see why a 3+ week old wouldn't.

[doomgerbiluk]

I'm sure every breeder here has been surprised by the speed and strength of these little guys. I had one incident where a pup did that and landed in a water jug, when I grabbed the wet slippery pup he repeated his action and landed in the sand bath!!
He was a sorry sight!! Next day I couldnt have told you which pup it was!!!
As for the broken leg, as long as he's not showing signs of infection or internal bleeding it should heal fine. Do not try to splint it, imobilisation would cause it to heal stiff. Gerbils are great healers

[meganb52]

I also would advise against trying to splint it, just try to keep him quiet (I know, easier said than done) and it should heal. He may have a bit of a leg deformity depending on how the bone heals, but he should hopefully be able to get around like any ther gerbil.

I'm guessing you know to be expecting a second litter in the next few weeks since gerbils breed again right after birth... If not, Surprise! be looking for new pups in the next 2-3 weeks.

If you don't want any more pups, you should separate out dad and the sons into another enclosure and leave in adaughter with mom to help raise the next litter. You can find more detailed information about doing this and what age to separate them at on other threads in the breeding section.

-Megan

[Newbie1]

I've handled newborn kittens before. I thought it would be the same just smaller.. Kittens don't fly! lol. I'd expect a baby frog to flip himself up in the air, not a gerbil.

Anyhow, he is getting better. Today he opened both eyes. I picked him up and he lost his balance and started going in circles again adn rolling over. Though he was calmer. He knew to stop at the edge of my hand. Once he gets himself in the right position he can sort of walk. I cant really tell what he's doing. His neck seems to be crooked! Seems to be using the front paws more.

I've got them in a ceramic cookie jar I don't think he should be walking all around the tank anymore. he was getting stepped on and lost and would roll over and flip. Although he can see now but he's still safer in the jar.

I didn't want to splint it. I was thinking along the lines of supplements or medications to give or something to help heal faster.

I know about the second litter coming. I hope to god it goes much better than this one!

Anyone know what is going to happen to him? Will he just be deformed?

[meganb52]

He may be deformed a little bit, but you'll just have to wait and see. As for medications to help him get better faster, there really aren't any. Tincture of time is the only thing that'll help you out!

-Megan