My gerbils are sick and the vet is not open

[cradica]

Both of my gerbils are currently sick from what I assume to be a respiratory issue, making clicking sounds and breathing extremely fast. One of my gerbils also has her eyes only a bit open, the other one seems to be doing a bit better as they are more active. I don't' have an exact idea of how old they are as I took them in from a friend who no longer wanted them, but I have had them for almost 2 years. None of the vets in my area that accept small rodents are open at the moment, and I want to know if you guys have any advice to offer on how to help make them feel better or more comfortable before I can either take them to the vet or they pass on their own. Thank you in advance. 

[LilyandDaisy]

Hello,

I'm sorry to hear your gerbils are ill. I'm sure you already know this, but since both are ill it could be something contagious so keep them in a different room to any other pets and wash your hands after looking after them.

The basics of looking after a sick gerbil are to ensure they are hydrated, fed and warm.

This post (although for hamsters) discusses feeding and hydration. If you don't have the critical care formulas it mentions, you can use baby food or any pureed food, which tends to be more palatable anyway. The heating pad as mentioned in the comment is a good idea too. You can also use a wrapped hot water bottle, leant against the tank exterior.

Sometimes gerbils can look very sick for a few hours and then recover. Hopefully that will be the case here, and you will be able to get them to a vet soon.