Urine output

[tanzanyte]

I've started to notice that Mymble has suddenly got a much larger urine output. I know when I tried to get samples off my other girls it was not easy, whereas all of a sudden with Mymble it's like a huge puddle, larger than a 50p piece. 

Is this normal for some gerbils with age?
She's about 2.5 now and I can't say I've noticed her drinking more. Her urine doesn't seem to be be a different colour when I wipe it up. She seems ok in herself and I haven't noticed any other symptoms so I figured it was worth monitoring for now. However I did wonder if I was missing something and if it was worth a trip to the vets?
I'm probably worrying over nothing but thought I'd ask in case anyone has any knowledge of this sort of thing.

[betty]

I do think that some older females do start to output more urine as they age - combined potentially with the fact that they start to prefer to urinate on smooth surfaces so it is more visible and if they are less mobile they may be urinating less often (so saving up more each time). We know that gerbils are susceptable to kidney issues in captivity - so I have always assumed that this damage can start to be seen with increased output (ie reduced kidney efficiency).

Additionally some people say that gerbils can get the symptoms of (or actually) diabetes also - which would result in an increased output of urine - mainly due to an increased thirst.

There are medications available to help with fluid balance (including various diuretics) as well a pain relief (such a metacam/meloxidyl/loxicom) so potentially after a hands-on vet check and a good discussion - there could possibly be something to try to see if there is any improvement. Sometimes, because there are few tests available for gerbils, I have tried a medication so see if there is an improvement of symptoms - and then retro diagnosing the issue.

For example, on previous occassions I have asked a vet for pain medication for what they may not have been concerned about 'just yet' because I could see something different and so wanted to see if something changes in a gerbils behaviour if 'pain' wasn't in the equation. So, if that behaviour then goes back to normal I know they perhaps WERE in pain and so can make a plan for that going forward.

[tanzanyte]

Thanks Betty.
I am beginning to think she needs a vet check. I’ve noticed she is drinking more so possibly kidney issues. However, today she was wet underneath which has never happened before. We’ve bathed her fur and dried her off as I didn’t want her to get any scalds. She still had hard stools so I don’t think it’s diarrhoea, but she does seem to smell more than usual.
I just hope I can get her seen quickly without it costing an emergency apt as I won’t be able to afford Max’s surgery otherwise. Apparently our usual vets may be charging same day apts as emergency apts. The increases are never ending.

[betty]

Yes, one of my lovely ladies started urinating on the smooth roof of her house and as it wasn't absorbent at all and she took longer standing over it - it ended up getting all over her lower tummy and started staining her - very difficult to avoid without removing her favourite wee spot. Not a nice compromise to have to make, but a necessary one.

I hadn't realised that same day apppointments could be charged as emergency ones at some vets (wasthat in the UK) - but I suppose if they are the only vet in the area that would be a way to manage their client base - especially if they had a reduced staff. How things change.

[tanzanyte]

I didn't actually get charged for an emergency, but their consults have gone up. I did phone the day before, but they were full of emergencies and not able to book me in until the next day once they had checked who was happy to consult on a gerbil. It was in the UK for a same day counted as an emergency. I do wonder if they already had an appointment though and needed to be seen urgently and this then changed things slightly.

Despite my usual vet now having left the practice, I saw a very knowledgeable vet and was super impressed. She spent ages, did two different urine tests. There is protein, blood and leukocytes so it could be multiple things like kidney disease, bladder stones or uti, or a mix. She prescribed antibiotics that were kinder to kidneys, but the ones they had were out of date so they checked I was ok to go elsewhere. I was supposed to pay for it altogether so I paid £74 and left to collect the meds.
That's when it went really wrong. I got to the sister site and they said I hadn't paid and charged me over £60 for 1.2ml of antibiotics (not something that was discussed with me beforehand). When I queried this they said it was for humans and not licenced for animals. I was caught on the hop without the vet to properly query and ask for an alternative, and with a full waiting room and 2 stressed gerbils in the car that had already spent over 2 hours away from their cage I needed to get them home.
The amount they give in the bottle makes it impossible to get it all out anyway, even when I ask for extra they barely give more.
Needless to say I emailed the next day and they have refunded me 2/3's of the cost, although I believe they have taken pity as the charge isn't for the right amount now. However, I'm thankful they have amended it as it just isn't affordable.

The good new is that Mymble has brightened up. The bad news is that despite me bathing her tummy with a wet cotton ball and drying it off, along with using a cornflower bath. Her fur has started to come off her underside and it's looking sore, although it's no longer wet, but seems a bit rough and flakey feeling. Added pic here
She is always cleaning and won't leave it alone. She is constantly drinking, but still eating and still has hard stools. I am at such a loss and know I may have a much bigger decision to make soon. The vet asked for another urine sample once the meds are finished so we'll see as it's a 5 day course. I put a salt lick in before our trip to the vets as I know this helped Vanilla with her kidney problems when the vets meds had't worked. Mymble was straight at it so I think it was needed. She seems to be mostly back to her normal activity in the last few days, which is amazing as I wasn't sure she would make it through on the evening of the vets.
I am at a bit of a loss with the skin. Can anyone recommend anything else that I can do to improve the situation for her?

Also does anyone else have problems with the vets giving you such a small amount of meds that you can't get it out of the bottle properly with the syringe. Even tipping the bottle doesn't work. If so what do you do about it? I make sure I always ask for me but they still give me a minute amount and it never even covers the bottom of the bottle. Plus they charge you by volume so the more I get given the more I pay.