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Post by Thelodar on Feb 3, 2021 14:20:53 GMT -8
What is the best course of action for feeding a gerbil with no front teeth and who probably won't be getting any? My 4 year old Mowgli has had some tooth troubles for a while. His tops would grow in crooked and get too long so I'd have to trim. But now they aren't growing in at all. This appears to be caused by a tumor growing in his mouth behind his front teeth.
I've been giving him critical care, nuts crushed into paste, and fruit but I'm not sure if any of that is ideal as a long term diet. I figure crushing a pelleted diet would be best but I've heard bad things about most pellets (not nutritionally ideal for gerbils). Anyone know of a good pellet (available in US)? Or does anyone have suggestions for creating a balanced soft food diet?
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Post by Markpd on Feb 3, 2021 15:27:07 GMT -8
I saved this from another thread (it's come in handy here lately  ). So the entire tooth was extracted, meaning he'll need the opposite tooth trimmed when it gets too long? I've had two gerbils who had a tooth that stopped growing, and they both lived long and happy lives after that. Tooth trims are no big deal most of the time—at least no more than nail trims. If he has trouble with solid food, there are soft alternatives that he can have. Mine went crazy for Harrison's juvenile hand-feeding formula for birds, and my elderly gerb with no teeth lived on that alone for over a year.By sandybadlands gerbilforum.proboards.com/post/292785/thread |
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Post by betty on Feb 3, 2021 17:03:28 GMT -8
Great find Markpd - I'm going to get me some of that (if the thread isn't like 40 years old and they don't make it anymore!!!).
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Post by betty on Feb 3, 2021 17:04:34 GMT -8
Well, if this one is it - Harrisons - it want's to last a year I can tell you! |
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Post by Markpd on Feb 4, 2021 11:43:29 GMT -8
Thread is 1 yr old Expensive is it? ....... 'ow much!!??  Top hits are really expensive, but further down I found it for £19 incl delivery here, still expensive for 454g but better. (can you see the link ok betty?). The 1.3kg bag is better value, £30 vs £15, but still more of course! |
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Post by betty on Feb 4, 2021 17:39:34 GMT -8
I probably pay the same portion-for-portion with a few other special foods though - but it was just the total cost that looks shocking.
If it had a long shelf life and/or you used it a lot - would certainly be worth working out cost per feed. I used to use a whole load of my formula when breeding gerbils previously, but I don't use as much now I have less of them and it went out of date for the first time ever!
Maybe I need more gerbils?
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Post by ps25 on Feb 5, 2021 5:17:08 GMT -8
I have the same problem - elderly gerbil with 1 front tooth. I've been feeding him a combination of Gerbers baby oatmeal, sunbutter and various crushed foods/pureed fruits. And very finely grated cheese - he loves that.
But I worry that its still a limited diet and that he's not getting the right balance of nutrients. I've been considering making his oatmeal with kitten replacement milk. Has anyone used that regularly on an older gerbil? I'll check out the Harrisons bird food as well....
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Post by Markpd on Feb 5, 2021 12:32:02 GMT -8
I probably pay the same portion-for-portion with a few other special foods though - but it was just the total cost that looks shocking. If it had a long shelf life and/or you used it a lot - would certainly be worth working out cost per feed. I used to use a whole load of my formula when breeding gerbils previously, but I don't use as much now I have less of them and it went out of date for the first time ever! Maybe I need more gerbils? Lol, yes more gerbils!  |
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Post by tanzanyte on Feb 19, 2021 6:18:36 GMT -8
I crushed our beaphar care+ complete food (I'm pretty sure this is available worldwide as Miscota sell it and they're everywhere) when one of my gerbils lost her 2 front teeth. She managed really well and gained the bit of weight she lost. Having said that, we weren't dealing with a mouth tumour to boot. Do you know if the tumour is likely to be causing pain when eating anything slightly hard? The answer is yes! of course you always need more gerbils betty |
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