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Post by loneranger17 on Aug 4, 2005 8:15:16 GMT -8
Hi all, need some help with one of our gerbils. I believe this gerbil to be a male. Probably 2-3 years old. Noticed within the last week, the "line" down the center of his belly expanding. Then recently, a bulge started to appear......and then it got bigger. I'm wodering if his intestines are coming out of the bulge in what could be a hernia? Has anyone seen this before?
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SuperGirlH
Member
Are you lookin' at me punk?
Posts: 299
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Post by SuperGirlH on Aug 4, 2005 8:25:46 GMT -8
Sounds like a scent glad tumor to me. It can be removed if you can find a vet capable. But since he is older it is riskier because of the stress, and also the fact that it might cost a lot for maybe only a few more months of life. It's really up to you. From what I've heard it only gets worse, bigger and sometimes bleeds, and if not treated, you will ultimately have to put him down, or he will be in a lot of pain. Maybe someone who has experienced it with their gerbil can tell you more, but this is what I have read about it.
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Post by loneranger17 on Aug 4, 2005 9:16:01 GMT -8
This sounds like what the problem is. How much would it cost for a vet to take care of this? None of the vets around here will tell me over the phone. They want me to take him for a $40 visit before they tell me anything. If we need to put him down, how much does a vet charge for that? I don't have it in me to do it....lol And I would feel just as guilty letting him go...lol And he is near 3.....so the cost of having this done vs a new gerbil is extremely high I'm sure. Thanks all....
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Hernia?
Aug 4, 2005 10:33:20 GMT -8
Post by doomgerbiluk on Aug 4, 2005 10:33:20 GMT -8
I think it might be worth seeing a vet and finding out what is wrong but if he is elderly then the stress of an op may outweigh the benefits. I had two lovely elderly girl rats who developed cancer. I suspected that was what they had and had it confirmed by my vet. After discussion we both agreed that the best course of action was to leave well alone and when their quality of life became too poor have them pts. Although there cancers grew differently the time came when one became totally disorientated and the other coudl hardly breathe..ones cancer had spread to her brain the other to her chest. I made the decisions to have them pts together as they had been together all their lives. So if it is something like that then I can fully understand if you make the same decision, but I do think you a diagnosis is important in case it should be something treatable!!
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Hernia?
Aug 4, 2005 10:50:07 GMT -8
Post by loneranger17 on Aug 4, 2005 10:50:07 GMT -8
Thank you for all the comments. The gerbils belong to my daughter who is a little more than upset. I had gerbils when I was her age but none had this problem. And it seems to have multplied rather quickly. A few weeks ago, you couldn't notice anything...and now...there's this huge red bulge protruding from his belly. Problem is, I really don't have the money to spend at a vet. And they want $ 40 just to take him in. But at least now I know what we are dealing with. We got him in early 2002....so that makes him over 3 years old. Maybe pushing 4...not sure how long the vet had him before we bought him. Probably less than 6 months old. His weight seems to change quite often as well. But thanks for all your help with it!
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