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Post by kimsgerbils on Dec 21, 2005 11:53:00 GMT -8
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Post by ashgerbil on Dec 21, 2005 11:59:37 GMT -8
wow! that's great Kim! ;D i'm sure they'll become very useful for people treating their gerbils!  |
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Post by Sunny&Sandy on Dec 21, 2005 12:29:57 GMT -8
These are very useful instructions...I bookmarked the page for future use.  |
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Mud Pony
Member
We can only be, what we give ourselves the power to be!
Posts: 284
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Post by Mud Pony on Dec 21, 2005 14:55:32 GMT -8
Yes, VERY good! I've been lucky so far * knock on wood* but very handy to know!
A good sticky!
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Post by meganb52 on Dec 21, 2005 15:38:30 GMT -8
Just remember, in my veterinary **cough cough** opinion antibiotics should only be used when prescribed by a veterinarian and administered as directed for the entire time stated on the prescription. THough you say that on your page, I thought I should add that as my two cents to cut town on antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria...
Other than that, great work!
-Megan
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Post by kimsgerbils on Dec 21, 2005 18:18:20 GMT -8
Thanks guys And yes Meganb52, I did put that it should be checked out by a qualified vet. Sadly, in my area I cannot find vets who will treat gerbils and this is a good solution for those who are in the same predicament as I... Anyways, thanks for the compliments and glad to see it will be put to use!! (If it doesn't show, it's just geocities... I think geocities does not like visitors, lol) |
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Post by maxthegerbil on Dec 23, 2005 10:45:11 GMT -8
That truly is a wonderful diagram kimsgerbils and well laid out for even an novice to understand. Although there was something I noticed in your text that I thought I might question? In step 6: You mention administering 1-2 drops of medication daily to EACH animal, whether or not they have a respiratory problem? I can`t say whether I agree with this mainly because an animal who does`nt need antibiotics should`nt need to be given any, even if a cage mate does? Would`nt this just be adding to the unaffected animals resistance to that drug in the future? The problem with underdosing drugs is that it can kill only the weaker bacteria, leaving the stronger stuff behind, which can prove even more difficult to eradicate when that animal does need treated. This is by no means a critical post, but it`s just something maybe yourself, or someone else can clarify for me? I just did`nt understand why you would treat all the gerbils in a clan when only one was ill! Or am I missing something?......  I can understand treating a whole group of animals who need isolated for certain viral or bacterial reasons however. |
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Post by kimsgerbils on Dec 23, 2005 15:11:49 GMT -8
Well, when a mother and her pups have an upper resp. infection, if half the pups are affected, I treat ALL the pups and the mother. That way the pups get it through the milk. They are all already drinking it from the water bottle, so all cage occupants are getting some dosage anyways.
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Post by maxthegerbil on Dec 24, 2005 2:15:09 GMT -8
Hi. So is this a normal practice then, that if you have say two gerbils in one tank and one starts clicking and showing signs of having a respiratory ailment, that both animals should be treated? I`m just a bit confused really because I know from having kept rats in the past (who suffer from mycoplasma pulmonis bacteria from birth) and who suffer bouts of respiratory illness through their lives, that you only treat the rat showing these symptoms. If the rat is kept with other rats, these other rats would already have been exposed to the bacteria anyway as rats sneeze to show signs of mycoplasma, but only the rat showing acute illness would be treated.
So what I`m saying is, if one gerbil has a respiratory problem, do I presume that it`s so infectious that the other animal needs treating aswell? I suppose I`m asking this question because I need to know whether in the future I would have to medicate all my gerbils, even if only one were to show symptoms? I also imagine Ornacycline (being a Tetracycline drug) tastes awful and puting it into the water may stop the gerbils from drinking? I know this is probably one way of administering a drug and the water and medication have to be changed daily however.
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Post by kimsgerbils on Dec 24, 2005 13:44:46 GMT -8
Actually, ornacycline for birds has a fruity flavor and it has enticed many pups to begin drinking from the bottle. A few of mine would even stand up and beg for the oral drops and gulp it down when the dropper came near. I treat all the cage occupants in the case of pups/parents. If I have an older gerbil with a respiratory infection, I will put ornacycline in a water bottle (all cage occupants get it via the bottle anyways) and then administer oral drops to the most infected one... I've had no issues with gerbils becomming resistant to antibiotics. I only use them when needed, otherwise in the case of wounds, etc, I apply a topical antibiotic. The only instances where I have used ornacycline where in about 5 cases of pups getting resp. infections and 1 male who's leg was broken to prevent infection.
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Post by maxthegerbil on Dec 25, 2005 3:16:40 GMT -8
Hi kimsgerbils. Thanks for clearing that up for me and it`s good to know that Ornacycline has a fruity taste! I`ll remember to ask my vet for the oral drops if I ever need any, so thankyou for that advice. I know some Tetracycline drugs taste horrible!
Luckily, I hav`nt needed to use any drugs on my gerbils so far, even though I have had gerbils fall ill on me, I am pretty sure it was more to do with over exhaustion from too much running up and down my hallway stairs! So they don`t have access to this now.
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Post by kimsgerbils on Feb 20, 2006 2:30:56 GMT -8
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Post by malabui on Apr 5, 2006 10:38:59 GMT -8
That little gerbil looks soo cute!
How about mentioning that if you put a towel over your gerbil before picking them up, it is easier to hold them cos they wont wriggle so much.
-From someone who has had their gerbil wriggle out of their hand and then manages to sit onto of with when trying to give it medicene in the past.
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Post by kimsgerbils on May 7, 2006 14:12:18 GMT -8
Well, mine never fought it too much, considering they were raised being held in the way I administer meds, so that in case anyone should have to give them oral meds, they won't fight it... But a towel is a good idea for those reluctant gerbies...
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Post by Owlice on May 7, 2006 22:05:08 GMT -8
I've had no issues with gerbils becomming resistant to antibiotics. It's not the gerbils who would become resistant to antibiotics, but the bacteria you are trying to kill with the antibiotics. This is a very serious problem generally, not just for gerbil or small animal care. The reason it's important to use all the prescribed antibiotic (or in this case, dose for at least 10 days) is that bacteria which is not killed off can become resistant to it. (Kim, I know you are doing this; just posting this because others may not be!) Bacteria swap genetic material, not only with the same type of bacteria, but with other kinds, too. Once one type of bacteria becomes resistant to an antibiotic, the chances are increased that other kinds will, also. Doctors will now often prescribe a new, and perhaps expensive, antibiotic when you have an infection, as there are now many bacterial strains which are resistant to older antibiotics, and we are in danger of losing even these newer antibiotics. (All that microbiology I took in college did not go to waste , even though I ended up working with computers!) |
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