Respiratory Infection - How My Gerbil Recovered
May 22, 2023 3:30:59 GMT -8
catnut and betty like this
Post by catscats on May 22, 2023 3:30:59 GMT -8
Hi all, in case your gerbil is going through this, I can offer the following tips:
My gerbil Roger was extremely poorly, got unwell literally overnight (or may well have been hiding it as they do). I took him to the vet straight away, which was crucial, as they said it was most likely a respiratory infection and prescribed antibiotics which are a must.
The symptoms I first noticed was that Roger started sneezing a lot and his breathing seemed abnormal (very superficial, as if struggling for air). He also took himself to a separate corner of the cage away from his mate, which was very unusual. His eyes were watery and nose appeared to be swollen. So pretty much the symptoms are just like in us, humans, when we get a cold.
The recovery went through ups and lots of downs and he stayed very poorly for at least the first 4 days on antibiotics, so don't give up! What really helped: making sure he had water and food; sometimes I even had to dig the bedding out to reach him - poor creature was too unwell to come up by himself and would give him water as usual in his bottle.
He would have very few foods and these were: peas - total favourite even in times of crisis! Tiny pieces of almond and pumpkin seed (he wouldn't be able to take a whole one like before, so I'd chop them for him and hand feed him), cheddar - another favourite! and broccoli, cabbage, orange, some apple. Generally, soft foods are better, but of course, if they take some nuts/ seeds for energy, great.
Antibiotics in a syringe were difficult to give, but not impossible (easire if it's two people I found - my partner was holding him, I would put the syrynge in his mouth) - the syringe goes on the side of the mouth and in very small doses. You can tell when they are swallowing it. Then, a treat!
At some point, we thought he wouldn't make it, as he's already been on antibitics for 4-5 days and nothing. But then, one morning, he started moving like before, chewing a bit of cardboard and was back!
We didn't isolate him from his mate at first and our other gerbil didn't get it, but some websites say it might be contagious. Only isolated him in a big box with bedding and water/ food after day 4, when it got difficult to reach him as he didn't come out and had to dig out all the bedding to give him food and water.
