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Post by buckthegerb on Sept 9, 2023 11:59:57 GMT -8
I found my gerbil in her hide and she wasn't moving. I was sure she was dead. I grabbed her from her cage (She was in a splitcage) Only then I noticed she was breathing. She's not stiff, only her lungs move. I am an hour away from vets and they don't do exotic animals. The past few days have been really cold and I've tried my best to keep the temp warm but it has been low. So I think she's in a hibernation like state. I found a heater but it seems pretty big for her tiny body, so how far should I keep it away from her. Thank you
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Post by buckthegerb on Sept 9, 2023 12:43:45 GMT -8
I got the heater going and I am holding in front of it. She's still "sleeping" but drawing large breaths
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Post by buckthegerb on Sept 9, 2023 13:22:47 GMT -8
She's awake! She woke up so I set her down in different cage so she can recover. I Gave her some fatty foods like Sunflower seeds, a bit of strawberry and a cheerio. She moves lots then pauses. She's pretty shaky and isn't eating or drinking at the moment. All it took was the warmth from my hands and a small heater.
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Post by mygerbilprince on Sept 9, 2023 17:24:50 GMT -8
Hi! So, so glad to hear she's okay! It seems as though she was in torpor, which small rodents will go into when the temperature is too cold. They can be brought back from this state, but try to avoid it! I understand controlling temperature is no easy task, I struggle with it in summer time because my AC is not that great. Try keeping her a room without drafts, keep those heaters going, and give her plenty of cozy things to cuddle up in. If you have central heating, keeping her close to the vent may be a good idea. You could even try insulating her tank with some towels, foam, or blankets by wrapping them around the outside of her enclosure, just be sure she still has sufficient ventilation. Try to keep your home above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember that gerbils are from the Gobi desert and desert-like parts of China/Mongolia.
I've heard corn syrup or maple syrup is good for reviving ill gerbils. Try putting those in a clean syringe and forcing it into her mouth. Consider buying her a heat lamp or heating pad to keep her warm while she is recovering. Take her to the vet if these symptoms worsen or don't go away overnight. You may even want to take her to the vet ASAP, symptoms like these shouldn't be left untreated. I'm not a vet so this last bit with a grain of salt. Good luck!
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Sept 9, 2023 22:22:34 GMT -8
Yes, sounds like the cold. Many gerbil illness symptoms are pretty similar, so if there wasn't already a suspect cause then it could be many things, but because of the intense cold, that's probably it. I have never known a gerbil to hibernate (though I have seen them sleep more often in winter, but nothing like that). As mygerbilprince said, this can be dangerous, so if it doesn't go away soon try to get her in to a vet if you can. I totally understand that sometimes it's difficult to near impossible to get them in, though. As long as things warm up, she'll probably be fine. Once during a very cold winter, I had to wrap a sleeping back around the entire tank (all but the top, of course). I gave them lots of snuggly bedding and placed heat pads under the tank. This seems to work pretty well, but I'm in the warmer part of the states, nothing like Canada. I hope she does okay! Good luck!
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Post by betty on Sept 10, 2023 6:39:15 GMT -8
Hope she pulled through whatever it was - whether it was the cold or something made worse by the cold - and reading that it was the heat of your hands that brought her around was so wonderful.
Moisture is very important for all boldily functions - including respiration - so if you only get something into her easily (without risk of her accidently breathing it in) it would be something moist like water, pedalyte, or formula. All great for first aid hydration. After a few hours when they are more 'awake' then you can make sure they are getting nutrients too, so ground nuts, extruded food (soaked first if easier), baby food and oats/sunflower hearts/pine nuts etc.
Keeping the enclosure smaller can help keep it warmer and help her retain those calories and nutrients - as well as making it easier for you to keep her with you in the room where you and your family are - which is also most likely the warmest at that time.
Fingers crossed it is enough to help her recover.
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Post by buckthegerb on Sept 10, 2023 20:44:11 GMT -8
I woke up this morning and she was dead. Thank you all for your help.
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Post by TJ's Rodent Ranch on Sept 11, 2023 9:46:20 GMT -8
Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! It's always so terrible to see them go. I hope you're doing okay. Try not to blame yourself, sometimes it just happens and there's not a lot you can do.
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Post by mygerbilprince on Sept 11, 2023 17:44:54 GMT -8
I'm sorry for your loss. Gerbils are the cutest little guys
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Post by betty on Sept 12, 2023 23:05:57 GMT -8
Oh no - so sad.
Sorry to hear that, bless her...
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Post by Markpd on Sept 17, 2023 8:01:56 GMT -8
....... I've heard corn syrup or maple syrup is good for reviving ill gerbils. Try putting those in a clean syringe and forcing it into her mouth. Consider buying her a heat lamp or heating pad to keep her warm while she is recovering. Take her to the vet if these symptoms worsen or don't go away overnight. You may even want to take her to the vet ASAP, symptoms like these shouldn't be left untreated. I'm not a vet so this last bit with a grain of salt. Good luck! If the gerbil is asleep or unconscious I definitely would not do that as it's likely to choke them. Even conscious you have to be very careful (i.e slowly) injecting fluid into there mouth, we've had at least one member here try that and their gerbil choked to death (it was ill too). I woke up this morning and she was dead. Thank you all for your help. Sorry to hear this This is more for anyone else reading this, but if you are struggling to heat your house, or the room the gerbils are kept in, rather than leave the central heating running (which could be very expensive!), consider getting a thermostatically controlled reptile heat mat to place under your gerbils cage. My own one draws just 16w (for 230v), it doesn't need to cover the entire floor of the cage, it's just so it can provide a warm patch for them to nest on if they want.
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