gerbil in toilet!!!

[devun]

I was just letting Nees and Goat run around in the bathroom like I do every couple days, and suddenly I heard something splashing. I went in and Nees, always the more adventurous of the two, was swimming desperately in the toilet!! I have no idea in the world how she got up there! I hope she won't get sick! Do you think I should put some dritail medicine in her water as a precaution?
Anyway, be warned-- apparently it can happen. Crazy gerbils.

[pixytwinkle]

i let my gerbils out in the bathroom too but dont you always make sure that the toilet seat is closed so they cant get in it?

[lydia]

As long as the toilet, had clean water only in it (no excrement or urine), I personally would not worry about dosing her with medicine.As long as you dried her thoroughly,so she doesn't go down with hypothermia (I had a mongolian gerbil with this once) and keep an eye on her for the next 24 hrs, I'd expect her to be o.k.
When I was a kid,my cousin had a hamster who drowned by falling in a toilet,it is a good idea to keep the seat down,when not in use otherwise,you could not only suffer the loss of a trasured pet,but also splashback ;D.

Lyd

[paws]

lol.... I let mine out too. But I always put the garbagebin on the seat, so theydon't jump in the bin! Well... Just as well!

[Ritzie/Admin]

I have had the same thing two years ago! ;D That is how I learned that gerbils can "swim". If the water is clean, you don't have to worry.

[doomgerbiluk]

A few weeks back I was feedign my gerbils and refilling water bottles
I had a jug of water on the floor beside me
Lookign at soem pups whose eyes where close to opening I was distracted. The pup I was holding did that suddden 'dash' pups do, ran out of my hand and landed in the water jug. Poor little soul was swimming frantically for a moment, before I again grabbed him. Now if you think a dry pups hard to hold to a wet one is worse (don't try this at home please) and he again dashed from my hand, this time landign in the sandbath!!!

He was a sorry sight, sodden and covered in sand! Well I dried him off with kitchen towel and put him back in the nest
By the next day I couldn't even tell which pups it was !!! (this was an all black litter btw)

Tough little devils gerbils!!!

[lydia]

;D LOL, sorry,I shouldn't laugh.
Poor little fella,a bit like "out of the frying pan and into the fire" then

Really pleased he/she is o.k.

Lyd

[doomgerbiluk]

yeah
as I say he/she was fine the next day (prob she as there was only boy in a litter of 7)
but it is a warning to all of us that pups move awfully fast and suddenly and its not a good idea to underestimate them

their eyes opened the next day funnily enough

[j]

lol stupid gerbil.

[j]

Lydia said:

As long as the toilet, had clean water only in it (no excrement or urine), I personally would not worry about dosing her with medicine.As long as you dried her thoroughly,so she doesn't go down with hypothermia (

I wouldn't bother with medicine.. it's not sick. But I would've given it a bath afterwards no matter how pisssed off it got.
Whether there is anything dirty in the toilet or not, it's still a disgusting place full of germs and disgusting bacteria. Even though dogs have drank out of toilets and not died, I wouldn't do it! Gerbil gets soaked, dry it, it still grooms itself and the others groom it.. picking up nasty bacteria.. EWW.

[gerbilsareverycool]

hmm...he probly be ok but dont take my advice for it.I only have my gerbils for around a year.

[andrea]

considering scientists have just proven computer keyboards harbour more germs than a toilet bowl I wouldn't worry to much. The bigger worry is if the gerbil was exposed to any cleaning products (i.e toilet duck) that was in the pan. But if shes not ill than i wouldn't worry.

Andrea