Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 14:22:28 GMT -8
I’m sure y’all have had just about enough of me on this forum! Always posting my paranoia about my gerbils! I can’t help it and I’m sorry!!! But hunching over I thought was a sign of illness?
My albino gerbil, S’more has been hunched over this entire afternoon... She will move sometimes but then just sit back down. Her sister is VERY active at the moment which is why I’m worried! S’more is usually the active one!!! She is just sitting in the middle of her cage kinda twitching* although not to a major extent. Is she just tired?? They were very rowdy the night before… But I have a terrible feeling it’s more than that. She is sitting in her jar sleeping I suppose but her eyes are very slightly open. She seems to be breathing quickly but I’m not sure how fast is fast.
* Her stomach moving as if something was kicking it from inside.
Please tell me there is hope.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jun 2, 2021 14:31:55 GMT -8
Yes, hunching and squinted eyes can be signs of illness, especially if it's been going on all afternoon. They're generalised symptoms which means they don't point to any specific conditions but can be signs of lots of different illnesses. Is she eating and drinking? Does she feel cold to the touch?
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 14:37:13 GMT -8
She will occasionally get up and chew her paper towel roll. Then she will go back and hunch. She doesn’t seem to be getting along with her sister very well either. Could she still be in heat?
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Post by betty on Jun 2, 2021 14:40:11 GMT -8
Yes, although the symptoms sound terrible - sometimes this does just pass.
Obviously things to look out for which might indicate extreme issues and potentially need a vet are:
Breathing: panting or 'heaving' of the whole body while sitting still (possible RI or serious injury)
Washing: if they are over-washing or pawing at their face or eyes (possible tooth issue or other pain/injury)
Stretching: full body stretches are often a sign of pain (internal discomfort like gut ache or breathing issues)
Random Movements: things that are totally out of the ordinary or that are often repeated (infection or neurological)
Bleeding: proper blood (not porphyrin) coming from the 'back end', out the ears, or from the mouth.
Collapse: falling over, turning circles or stumbling (anything, including strokes, seizures and ear infections)
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jun 2, 2021 14:40:59 GMT -8
I don't think she could still be in heat from last night. It only lasts an evening. Are you able to get her to a vet? It sounds like she may need to see one.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 14:56:06 GMT -8
When she sits now she completely still. But they are extra jumpy. If I move just a tiny bit they both freak out! Should I take her to the vet? Her behavior seems normal but then she’ll just stop and sit there.
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jun 2, 2021 15:00:32 GMT -8
If it's just sitting oddly and slightly narrowed eyes and she's otherwise eating and drinking and doesn't have the signs betty mentioned, you could wait and see how she is in the morning before making a decision.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 15:00:48 GMT -8
I’m hesitant about the vet because sometimes I’ll just way over worry and my gerbils will be fine. But I would MUCH rather be safe than sorry. I did give the girls Raisens today for the first time. Could that be disagreeing with her?
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 15:01:25 GMT -8
It’s funny cause Snickerdoodle seems more energetic since the raisen
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 15:02:55 GMT -8
Not sure about the eating and drinking. I think she is, but Smore doesn’t drink a lot anyway
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 15:06:08 GMT -8
Snickerdoodle just went up on the jar to get her drink ( bottle is placed up high but easily accessible from the jar) and S’more went on top of her completely and made her fall over … is this regular gerbil behavior?
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 15:08:04 GMT -8
It’s really freaking me out, she’s like Jekyll and Hyde. She completely fine one sec, and she a little zombie the next
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jun 2, 2021 15:15:03 GMT -8
Raisins are safe to feed but that doesn't mean they couldn't cause an individual gerbil discomfort (like some people can't eat certain foods).
Yes, arguing over the water bottle is quite common but I would suggest not putting the water bottle somewhere high up where only one gerbil at a time can be near it because that can make any arguments worse.
When you say S'more went on top of her, do you mean she tried to mount her or just pushed her out of the way?
I remember in your other thread you said you thought Snickerdoodle was in heat last night so it's possible S'more wasn't and is actually in heat tonight. I've found my gerbils often sit very still and slightly hunched when they're in heat, but behave normally (for a female in heat) otherwise.
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Mochi
Member
Snickerdoodle and S’more: Adopted on April 9th, 2021
Posts: 199
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Post by Mochi on Jun 2, 2021 15:19:15 GMT -8
I will look into moving the bottle! They are the best of friends but still squabble, just like me and everyone else I know!🤣
She mounted her completely then kind of slide her off while falling off herself. Doodle didn’t seem to bothered by it though.
I hope S’more being in heat is all it is! She has started foot thumping now when I’m in the room! Even though she is MUCH more tame and curious with me!! But gerbils do act differently in heat, right?
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Post by LilyandDaisy on Jun 2, 2021 15:26:07 GMT -8
They do act differently when in heat. You'll soon get used to it and you may notice a regular pattern while they're young. It's generally every fourth night but can be a bit irregular. The foot thumping is another sign of heat. Thumping due to heat has a slightly different rhythm to thumping due to danger which you might notice with practice. And some gerbils do act more friendly during heat. See how she is in the morning but I think her heat cycle is a likely explanation for this. Welcome to the world of female gerbils
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