Reintroducing separated gerbils

[Scott]

Hello, all. Just brought one of the boys to the vet yesterday for a bleeding belly.

It's a scent gland tumor, and he's staying there for surgery scheduled for (I hope) today. I should be able to bring him home tomorrow.

Should I have any concerns with putting him back in the tank with his long-term cage mate? 

[LilyandDaisy]

It might be okay to put them straight back together, but after a couple of days apart I think it's much safer to split tank them initially. That also allows a bit more time for the wound to heal before the excited grooming and sniffing that tends to accompany gerbil reunions! Maybe have them split for a couple of days and then try an introduction if things look good. I potentially would skip the side swapping part for this split, or maybe just do one swap before introducing them, just to avoid him attempting to use his (now absent) scent gland too much and irritating the wound and so he isn't disturbed too much while healing. You could swap used bedding to keep them acquainted with each other's scent.

[Scott]

Thanks. After I saw your post I knocked together a quick barrier out of scrap. Do I need to extend it higher? I didn't think it was climbable but I wasn't certain.

Of course, once I'm ready for him I'll remove the long platform so I can equalize the spaces.

 

[LilyandDaisy]

I would extend the height as gerbils could probably climb over quite easily. I know when I take the tank lid off to swap sides, they'll quite often climb up and pop their heads over and I have to stop them jumping into the other side!

It looks like a nice solid barrier otherwise

[Scott]

Well, I got the barrier all built, and for no particular reason I took out the remaining gerbil and looked at his belly.

Bleeding.

He wasn't bleeding Sunday evening, when I'd checked both of them. I'd seen some blood in the cage and checked one--nothing--and then the other--blood. I'd debated bringing both to the vet but, in a decision I'm kicking myself for, didn't. It would have counted as a separate emergency visit for each and I didn't think there was a problem. So I'd planned on scheduling a regular checkup for the second gerbil when I picked up his tank mate.

So right now BOTH are at the vet. #2 has an early-stage tumor. Not obvious like the first, but enough that it was clearly bothering him.

So, anyone else have major gerbil surgery done, one day after the other?

[LilyandDaisy]

Oh no, that's the last thing you need! I hope surgery goes well for them both.

I would probably continue with the split as planned. Since they'll both be missing their scent glands they might have to go through a process of reestablishing their bond and hierarchy which the split tank should help with.

[betty]

Oh no - that really is bad luck. Poor things - what are the chances of that.

Hopefully after the next few days - they both recover well and have a long life together afterwards.

[Scott]

First gerbil is home. Came through the surgery OK, but he's not eating. When I've cared for sick gerbils in the past I've mixed their meds with Critical Care and they'd eat it; this one, though, is pretty much refusing all food. If I can't get him to eat I'll have to give him meds and food via syringe, a poor experience for us both.

Got a call from the vet early afternoon that gerbil #2 had been sedated for surgery but wasn't doing well: shallow breathing and slow heart rate. The question was, continue the procedure, or bring him out of it? I chose the former: he might die during the surgery, but not doing the procedure meant a slow, certain death.
But he survived it, and I hope to bring him home tomorrow.

[LilyandDaisy]

I'm glad to hear they both came through surgery.

I would try them with soft, palatable foods such as apple sauce or other pureed fruits, even a bit of honey to get some energy into them.

If they're on Metacam/Loxicom it's usually not too hard to give from a syringe as it tastes sweet.

[Scott]

Nope, he won't eat anything. Critical care, peanut butter, applesauce, honey. He won't lap at the Metacam; it just sits there on/at his mouth. same with the antibiotic.

[LilyandDaisy]

I would ask the vet if they could give him an injectable pain reliever, in case it's pain stopping him from eating anything. Or maybe even a steroid as they can have both anti-inflammatory and appetite-stimulating effects.

[Scott]

Vet has me stopping the antibiotic for 24 hours, then restarting with a different one--she said it could have been upsetting his stomach and thus interfering with his appetite.

I also ordered a different variety of Critical Care. When I'd ordered the one I had* I didn't know they came in flavors, and what I received was the default listing (alphabetical order, I suppose): anise. I detest licorice/anise, and so I figure maybe the gerbil is like me and he also hates it.

* I had it for a gerbil I had 2 years ago who died from an inoperable tumor; I'd kept the Critical Care in a chest freezer.

[betty]

What a roller coaster for you all - lets hope the change of meds and the different foods help them out (carrot or sweet potato baby food and/or warmed beaphar rodent milk tend to go down well with mine to keep them hydrated).

Good job you were so observant (and persistant with the vet) to spot the potential loss of appetite due to upset tummies. Your vet sounds great for thinking of that when you rang them back.

Fingers certainly crossed for the three of you!

[Scott]

Thanks. It's a vet (2 vets, actually) whose whole practice is exotic pets. Unfortunately, they're not close by: between the two gerbils I've been up and back there this Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and today, which adds up to about 160 miles (~258 km) total.

[betty]

Wow - that is dedication - but sounds like your gerbils are in very capable hands. I wish there were more vets like yours around.

Although I now work at a regular vets - it is still a good hour and a bit drive each way to the closest good exotic one too. The lengths we go to for the best care, eh.