Is my gerbil sick?

Question

He is just lying in a box sleeping all the time and i can pet him wich is very unusual. I can feel his vertibrae and hip bones but he has always been the runt of my two. i nudged him and he just moved like two inches and closed his eyes again i offered him a peice of corn and a sunny seed and he ate neither. They are allergic to aspen and i have them on aspen because only like once every 2 months they have red noses from it. Is it a reaction to that? Our budget is tight and carefresh is too epensive for us but if it is really making their lives shorter we can figure out how to change it.

Answer 1

If he's allergic to Aspen, there's the place to start.  I don't know how much Carefresh is or Aspen, but Healthy Pet is only $20 for a LARGE bag.  Which would probably last more than a month, possibly more than two.

If you want experiment with things now, remove all the bedding and wash out the cage.  Go into your kitchen and empty your cereal boxes into plastic containers and place one or two in there for them to chew up.  The chewed up boxes will provide enough to cover the bottom of their cage floor, but they won't absorb urine very well or help with odor.  If you have any blank computer paper with no lines and no ink on it, crumple it up and let them chew that up too.  Toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes are also safe to contribute to the bedding build up.  If things start to liven up in a few days with all of that, I think it's safe to say that the bedding has caused the problems and you should convert to a different one.

This is ONLY a temporary suggestion.  If you do this permanently, your gerbil will get sick from not having proper bedding and being exposed to their urine and filth too much.  Though for a temporary fix, this is okay.  

As for how thin your gerbil is, I wouldn't fret too much.  Gerbils aren't really fat rodents.  They're normally pretty thin, actually.  I had a gerbil that was like that and all his life he was healthy, but always thin.  He could have been the runt as well since his brother was always bigger.  

The only time you should really worry about how thin a gerbil is, is when you pinch their skin if it doesn't smooth out again real fast.  If it just kind of stays there, wrinkled, that could be a problem.  

Also, since he is the runt, make sure he is eating enough.  Your other gerbil could be hoarding all the food.  Just make sure he eats and he should be fine.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns!  I would also like to hear back from you if your gerbils get better, just to know they did.  ^^

Answer 2

it could be from the aspen.  i use cozy critter supper shavings.  its way less expensive and mine like it better than aspen.  I would see if that helps. if not i would consider calling a vet because he doesnt sound like hes doing very good.  

check this site

http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Ha...

Answer 3

Take him to a vet immediately. Lethargy, weight loss, lack of appetite and changes in behavior are all indicators that your little guy is sick. Only a vet can tell you what is wrong or what you can do to help him.

It is unlikely that the lethargy etc. are related to an allergy. If you know they are allergic, however, you should not have them on aspen at all. Even if it does not cause serious medical issues it is uncomfortable for them.

Answer 4

you need to change the bedding. small animals are very prone to upper respiratory disease, which can be fatal to them. carefresh is dust free, there is a cheaper version of the same bedding that is sold at wal-mart. make sure he is drinking water, give it to him with an eyedropper if you have to. you may have to give him some liquid food as well - call a vet and see what you can do to get him to eat. I would separate the two gerbils while the one is sick - you don't want the healthy one to catch a possible virus.

Answer 5

if he is allergic to aspen then don't use it.  you can put napkins, toilet paper, and cardboard in the cage and let them make their own bedding.  i would suggest that along with carefresh.  i use a smaller amount of bedding and let them chew up the cardboard and toilet paper.  they make a lot of their nest from what i give them.  it doesn't hurt them and it gives them something to do because they seem really happy chewing those things up.  you can even try brown paper bags.  they will shred them up too.

i know pet stuff is expensive and it's getting more expensive but sometimes you have to spend the little extra it costs to give them what they need to make sure they are healthy.  

try the carefresh, or similar, and give your gerbil lots of things to chew up and shred.  he will definitely make use of what you throw in there.  just make sure it's white or plain paper towels etc.  nothing with color or ink on it.

get rid of that bedding and make sure he has plenty of water.  hopefully  he will feel better and start eating again.  good luck!

Answer 6

well first of all you have to stop using aspen it might be the reaction to that just wait a few days and if it stays like that try takeing it out of the cage and letting it move for a little bit thats what i did when my gerbils wouldnt move or would just sleep the whole day and it worked good luck. :)