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Post by spicesugar on Apr 11, 2006 3:50:24 GMT -8
Back in December, we adopted two gerbils from someone who no longer wanted them. My 3 kids adore them and take good care of them.
One of the gerbils, Spice, fell and has apparently broken her back. We have cried, prayed, and cried some more. When she first fell, she started twitching her back legs and then she lost the ability to move them and the tail. She moves her fore legs fine and basically drags her lower torso behind her. She is not interested in eating (even her favorite food - sunflower seeds).
I did a search online and heard of a lady whose gerbil also broke her back. About two weeks later, her gerbil started regaining the use of it's back legs and seemed normal.
This accident happened last night. I am staying home today just to monitor her. I don't think a vet can do anything for her other than just wait and see if euthenisation (msp?) is the only option.
Do you have any advice? I'm going to go search your forums now to see what else is out there.
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RW
Member
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Puppy 6/6/07
Posts: 530
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Post by RW on Apr 11, 2006 6:05:24 GMT -8
I would take her to the vet. Even if the vet can't do anything, he/she could give you an evaluation of how serious her condition is and maybe offer some suggestions for helping her to recover.
Otherwise, keep her warm. Try putting a heating pad under one corner of the tank. Make sure her food and water are within easy reach. If she isn't able to drink from the water bottle, try giving her a few drops of water from an eyedropper, but don't force the water into her mouth, as she could aspirate fluid into her lungs. Just squeeze a drop onto the end of the eyedropper and touch it to her lips. Try to keep her stress level to a minimum and put a towel over one end of the tank, the side with the heating pad. If you can keep her warm, quiet, eating and drinking, she may pull through.
Good luck!
RW
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Post by spicesugar on Apr 11, 2006 6:54:54 GMT -8
Thank you for your reply. I will find a vet to call. I will also try what you suggested right now.
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Post by pepandmax on Apr 11, 2006 12:30:54 GMT -8
I am sorry that your first experience with gerbils has been stressful. I hope that your children aren't too upset. Anyway, I agree with all of RW's advice, especially the need to keep her warm and away from environmental stresses. One thing that I'd like to emphasize is that it is important that she stay hydrated, and it would be good if you could get some food into her. If she won't take water from the dropper (some gerbils don't like it, they don't know what to do with it, and it upsets them more than it helps), try giving fruit with a high water content. Apples are good, as are grapes. Then she will get a little sugar/ calories as well. Sunflower seeds may be too difficult for her to manipulate. Also, my vet has recommended Ensure with Fiber and I have used it with success. If she refuses the dropper, try to get a little bit of it on her chin. She will clean herself, thereby ingesting some of it, and that might spark her interest. My guys HATED it, every time the dropper came near, but as soon as they tasted a little bit they would slurp down one to two milliliters at a time. Little piggies  Otherwise, keep your spirits up. Gerbils are amazing little critters. Let us know what the vet says, and good luck. |
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Post by SugarSpice on Apr 11, 2006 13:46:49 GMT -8
Update.
Spice died this afternoon. I tried using an medicine dropper to feed her some water. I just placed a drop on her lips and she appeared to drink it. After that, I put her back in her tank. I put a heating pad under her corner of the tank and she seemed to get some sleep. I kept an eye on her. I felt the bedding and it was just slighlty warmer than the bedding in the opposite corner. I turned out the lights in the room and checked on her an hour later. She had quit breathing.
My kids said their "goodbyes" and each placed an object of significance in the shoe-box before burial. I dug a deep hole next to my raised vegetable garden (where Sugar and Spice used to play). All 5 of us wept.
To relieve my kids sadness, my wife decided to get another gerbil. She got a male. Suger (a female) is not taking to the male gerbil well. I've got to go read some on the other forum about introducing them.
Gerbils are perfect pets for my kids. Other than goldfish, they are the only pets we have. I've owned ferrets in the past and a cat. When we "adopted" Sugar and Spice 4 months ago, they got along so well. I'll got some reading to do.
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Post by spicesugar on Apr 11, 2006 13:49:43 GMT -8
The above message is from me. I'm getting used to this forum and was "logged off".
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caz
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Post by caz on Apr 11, 2006 14:51:26 GMT -8
Awww! How awful for you all  You did all you could, so don't feel bad, we all know how upsetting it is to lose a furry  Have you put the male straight in with Sugar? This is not a good idea, she has just lost her pal and a new face in her territory will upset her greatly. They need to be split for a while to get used to eachother. If you have put him in with her - get him out quick, there could be a nasty fight. They need to be introduced slowly and safely for both the gerbils sakes. Good luck and keep us posted. Caroline |
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Post by spicesugar on Apr 11, 2006 16:13:07 GMT -8
Caroline,
Thank you for your comforting words. We did try to introduce the two by first holding them facing one another. Other than some serious sniffing, no aggressive behavior happened.
We did place the male in the tank and we experienced what I have since learned is called "popcorn" gerbils. I immediately separated them with no harm done (other than the nerves of the gerbils and me and my wife).
I read a bunch on the other forum about introducing gerbils. I got some good information, but am somewhat confused about a few things. I'll ask my questions (on that forum) if I don't think I understand after doing some additional reading.
It would be tragic if we had another gerbil die!
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RW
Member
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Puppy 6/6/07
Posts: 530
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Post by RW on Apr 11, 2006 19:41:10 GMT -8
Oh, I'm really sorry to hear you lost Spice. You did everything you could and I'm sure she knew how much you cared about her. RW |
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Post by pepandmax on Apr 12, 2006 19:46:01 GMT -8
I just replied on the other board about possible friends for Spike or Sugar... I didn't "put two and two together" to realize that those posts were related to this one... ooops... I'm very sorry to hear that you lost Spice. Losing a pet is very difficult for children, and it can be even harder for a parent, who must deal with their own sadness in addition to their children's grief (as I'm sure you know  ) Ok this is a pointless post... just wanted to say that I'm sorry to hear the sad news. |
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Post by spicesugar on Apr 13, 2006 11:23:42 GMT -8
Ok this is a pointless post... just wanted to say that I'm sorry to hear the sad news. Thank you very much for your concern! Things are some better now. |
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Post by Bexter on May 6, 2006 6:46:48 GMT -8
I am glad your gerbil is a bit better now.I don't know much about gerbils coz the one i've got now is my first one.I am only young!
Hope ur gerbil is even betterer soon!
from bexter
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