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Post by memories on Apr 10, 2006 15:57:16 GMT -8
my gerbil chandler wouldnt wake up this evening when i called him.
he's normally out and about as soon as he here's someone in the kitchen, but he didn't respond.
he's over 2 years old, his litter mate died last month.
i checked on him but he wouldn't come out of his house. after a couple of minutes of pulling bedding out of chandlers bed he came out.
he was very unsteady on his legs, finding it hard to get about. and his eyes are closed. he is eating.
is this a sign that chandler is dying. i think if i hadn't of went into the kitchen tonight he may of passed away by morning!
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Post by pepandmax on Apr 10, 2006 16:58:19 GMT -8
You said that his symptoms are unsteadiness and lethargy/ tiredness/ slowness... anything else? He may have had a stroke. Is he drinking water? Is he eating the normal amount of food? Does it look like he is breathing ok? Is he cool or warm? Warmth will most likely help him--put him on a heating pad, on a plastic bag of warm water, in a gym sock, under your shirt, whatever to keep him warm and comfy.
I hope everything turns out well for you and Chandler, and if you can describe a little more of what's happening, I hope someone here can help you a little more.
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Post by malabui on Apr 11, 2006 6:09:54 GMT -8
That does sound rather like a stroke. I've had quite a few gerbils (and a Russian Hamster) that have had them.
The Unsteadyness on paws is a VERY common thing when they have had a stroke. So make sure that you have a long tube in there for him to walk down. I know that they like to use them to try and regain their balance when walking.
The eyes closed is also a common thing. It is a good idea to bathe it once a day or every 2 days to make sure that things like sleep in their eyes doesn't permently glue their eyes shut. There is a possibility that there is temperary blindness accosiated with strokes. (the Hamster was already blind, but acouple of the gerbils did keep their eyes closed for some days)
You will find that they still eat as much as they did before, but they may sleep a bit more than normal as their body tries to repair its self.
Check the rough temperature of his body. If they seem to be colder than normal that could be a sign for dieing, but the temperature is very obvoius to notice if that is the case.
Most of the pets I've had that have had a stroke seem to have got over it. Though it is possible that they might have a larger one in the near future which you then can't really do anything for them, but hopefully that wont happen.
(note: I don't breed from any of my pets and most were from previous home so I don't know their genetic histories)
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