Hold still!

[pepandmax]

I'm having issues holding Max still to check his teeth. When he wasn't feeling strong, he pretty much went limp and let me do whatever. Those days are gone. Now he is NOT interested in having ANYTHING go anywhere even REMOTELY close to his mouth.

How can I hold him without losing fingers? I don't know how to "scruff" him properly, and I don't know if I'd hurt him if I do it improperly.

[whitmoregirl]

To be honest, I would advise against scruffing as gerbils seem to not have a scruff.
There are various tactics, like wrapping in a towel, etc, but I'm not sure which is the best (I use the towel one for Kali's nose ointment buuut she chews the towel, which wouldn't be very good for you )

Try putting him in a small plastic (clear) pen - maybe you can hold it up and see his teeth as he moves? (maybe bribe him with some soft food?)

[pepandmax]

whitmoregirl said:

To be honest, I would advise against scruffing as gerbils seem to not have a scruff.
There are various tactics, like wrapping in a towel, etc, but I'm not sure which is the best (I use the towel one for Kali's nose ointment buuut she chews the towel, which wouldn't be very good for you )

Try putting him in a small plastic (clear) pen - maybe you can hold it up and see his teeth as he moves? (maybe bribe him with some soft food?)

The vet grabbed him by the scruff when he got his tooth pulled and he did NOT like it. The vet had a hard time grabbing him, too. So, I think that's out.

The pen idea is a good one, but he doesn't voluntarily open his mouth anymore, and I can't get him to hold still long enough, even if I did somehow get his mouth open.

The vet said that I can sort of hold his head behind his mandibles, so he can't more forward or backward. I am afraid that I'll choke him, though.

I have tried the towel technique, but I don't think I'm doing it right. He slips himself right out of the towel. What's the right way to do it?

[AndreaS15]

Ok, I stole this picture from Kim www.geocities.com/kimsgerbils/ornacycline
I just find this picture is so good at showing you how to hold a gerbil for medicating and such.



I have found it has helped me multiple times.

[RitzieAnn]

That's a good way to hold them but also, have you tried a "toob"? You know, one of those crittertrail, or S.A.M cage toobs. I know they sell shorties. One time to get a nasty eye booger out, I stuffed the gerbil into the toob. I had a bubble cap on both endes, so it went in to face a cap, then I put the back cap on, and then it backed up, and I took off the front bubble, and "squeezed" it's head when it poped back out. I put squeeze in quotes because you only have to hold tight enough so it can't back out. They can't kick at you this way, and only have their heads poking out, so their front legs arent even up there.

[Megan too lazy to sign on]

Here's my 'gerbil restraining' pic if it helps. You could also take something like the tine of a fork to try to pry his mouth open gently without getting chomped...



-Megan

[pepandmax]

ritzieann said:

That's a good way to hold them but also, have you tried a "toob"? You know, one of those crittertrail, or S.A.M cage toobs. I know they sell shorties. One time to get a nasty eye booger out, I stuffed the gerbil into the toob. I had a bubble cap on both endes, so it went in to face a cap, then I put the back cap on, and then it backed up, and I took off the front bubble, and "squeezed" it's head when it poped back out. I put squeeze in quotes because you only have to hold tight enough so it can't back out. They can't kick at you this way, and only have their heads poking out, so their front legs arent even up there.

Ok, that might work. I could try that. I bet a toilet paper tube would work just as well. He fits in there pretty snugly.

The problem with holding him like in those pictures is that he "bucks" like heck. Twists himself so he's not on his back, kicks his legs as hard as he can, and then slips right out of my hand. I usually give up after a few seconds because he clearly is willing to keep going until he hurts himself.

The problem may be that I nearly flip him onto his back (belly up) to get a good look. Holding him upright like that is something I haven't tried, and I assume it's the "right" way to do it.

Thanks guys. I'll let you know how things go.

[AndreaS15]

pepandmax said:

The problem may be that I nearly flip him onto his back (belly up) to get a good look. Holding him upright like that is something I haven't tried, and I assume it's the "right" way to do it.

Thanks guys. I'll let you know how things go.

Ya you want to hold him up, not on his back.
It takes time, and i find you kinda have to train them to do this too, I can't do it with a pup, but do find it easier with an adult gerbil. Practice makes perfect

Good Luck with him!