Classigerbil

[Doom Gerbil]

May I say hi and welcome to Classigerbil
I hope the misunderstanding has been cleared up.
I also hope your gerbil is recovering.
Please post your news and if possible pictures here.

:D :D :o :o :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :) :) :cool: :cool:

[classigerbil]

Well I am soo happy to tell you that the vet called about 45 minutes ago, and Ashe will be allowed to come home today. I'll be picking him up after work today, and being I have no classes this weekend, I will be able to make sure his recovery goes smooth under supervision. The vet did say that he may not ever be back to 100%, however she thinks he's well enough to come home. Also that he seems to have some scoliosis and may or may not grow out of it. I am sooo excited that he is doing well, too bad he is so little or I'd hug him. Anyway, when I can, I'll post a pic of him, I have to borrow a digital camera from the University to take one of him and our other gerbil Ashley. Stone is the one that passed on this week, and I said a prayer for him. I hope that we don't ever have an experience like this ever again. The vet is going to give us a handout on gerbils, and some suggestions for changing their diet. She told me that the reason she believes seeds are not good for them is because it tends to deplete their calcium. Therefore, she has been giving him some calcium supplements. She also said she fed him some carrots baby food, I had no idea that you could do that. I am still learning alot about them, and what they can eat just amazes me.

[classigerbil]

Oh and Doom Gerbil, thanks for starting the thread for me, it took me awhile and I still couldn't find out how to start one.

[Doom Gerbil]

awwww your welcome
you may want to check out soem sites
www.gerbils.co.uk
www.gerbilshowsuk.org
www.gerbilshows.co.uk

Hopefully you can find lots of advice on nutrition and health which will help you :D

[SBonnier]

That's great Classigerbil! I'm glad he's able to come home. Animals alway do much better recovering at home when they know they have a loving family waiting for them! Good luck with him and I hope he comes back 100% for you and your family.

[fluffyfluff1]

Good luck classigerbil!

[Padfoot]

I'm glad he's doing better. Hmmm... I've never had problems with seed diets... but I do give them treats like apple, lettuce, carrot, dry fruits, ect.

I hope he recovers fully very soon. 8)

[classigerbil]

Update... Well he was moving around quite a bit when I picked him up yesterday, but now he's not. He's sleeping an awful lot, and he's eatten very little. However, he has had some bowel movements today, which is a good sign. I hope he recovers very soon. It's so drafty in my apartment that I've been turning the heat up, but it makes me and my family sooo sleepy. He has eatten a few bites of an apple, some food the vet gave us from a company called Oxbow, he's munched on it some. I can't get him to drink water, but from what I read I understand that an apple can provide that. Has anyone ever given their gerbil a slice of an orange? The pet store said I could, but I'm leary of the acid content of an orange. Anyway, I keep waking up in the night checking on him, and he's still breathing, so I just hope he's going to come out of it okay... just may take a few days. Thanks guys for the encouragement. I'll keep you posted.

[Padfoot]

I'm not sure at all, but I thought you were supposed to avoid citrics with them.. I don't know why, that's why I'm not sure, but I think I read it somewhere... maybe you can put in a bottle with cranberry juice. Since it's sweet he might drink a bit from it. Or a piece of lettuce that has lots of moisture. Good luck and please keep us updated.

[JessicaReed]

Murmum! Wut ^, G?! :D

[Doom Gerbil]

umm
ehh
wot?????/

As far as I know citrus fruits will not harm gerbils but i don't think they are keen on them!!

Orange oil from orange skin is harmful to MALE rats and can cause cancer in them (but not females)



I would avoid citrus fruits myself.

[SBonnier]

Hi Classigerbil, I would try some sunflower seed and spray millet. The sunflower seeds are very high in fat content and they usually love them. You might have to find some already shelled, most health food stores carry them, in case he doesn't have the energy to break them open. The spray millet will also help perk him up and give him some added energy. Hope he gets better. We all have our fingers crossed for you!

Oh, BTW, welcome Jessica! You finally found us.

[JessicaReed]

:D I thought this forum looked nice, so I was all like, "Kewl." LOL!

[classigerbil]

Another Update... well today he has both eyes open, and he has been moving around much better. I have switched to different flavors of baby food, like green beans, squash, rice with applesauce, and carrots. He seemed to prefer the shaved carrots i bought and threw them in with a few sunflower seeds which he has gotten his strength back to open on his own. He is doing better everyday, it has just been a slow process. Just thought I'd let you all know.

[classigerbil]

Hey all, he groomed himself recently. He is improving so much as time goes by. I am sooo happy that he's doing better. Although I'm the one that nursed him back to health after he returned home from the vet, he runs from me now. This makes me sad. I check on him everyday when I get home, give him something to eat, and talk to him, but it makes me sad that he runs from me. Oh well, I'm just glad he is better.

[classigerbil]

Although Ashe is doing better, I am concerned as he seems to not be eating as much. He was eating squash baby food nearly everyday with some gerbil mix, shredded carrots and a slice of an apple. He has become a very picky eater as of the past couple of days. I'm not sure if he's just not wanting what I am giving him to eat, or what is going on. His eyes are still open, he's been grooming himself, and seems to be much better. He's still a bit skittish which I believe is to be expected, and I still continue to check on him everyday when I get home and talk to him. I still put a variety of foods in his cage just incase he finds that he prefers something over the other. I am wondering if that he's much better now, if he just doesn't want anymore baby food. Does anyone have any idea if you can give them slices of fresh vegetables like squash? I know about carrots, but I was curious as to what else he might like to eat, since he's been so picky lately. Thanks.

[SBonnier]

Hi Classigerbil, I would stick to giving him sunflower or pumpkin seeds. I've never seen a gerbil turn their nose up at either one! They are both high in fat and protein and will help him to get back on his feet. Also, my gerbils absolutely love their hay with is a very good source of fiber. I never feed mine any fruits or veggies because of soft stools. Usually once that starts, it's very hard to get them over it. Spray Millet would also help to build his energy up also. You can usually find that in the bird section of the pet stores. I hope he gets better soon for you. Good luck! :)

[classigerbil]

Well SBonnier, he doesn't like pumpkin seeds. And does not like to eat many sunflower seeds per day... go figure. I did happen across a bag of carrot chips the other day and just bought them, and he loves them. I know it's cheaper for me to buy carrots and cut them myself, it's just I like the convenience of buying it already done. Well, our other gerbil Ashley got out of her cage a week ago, and we still have not found her. I'm starting to think that she somehow got out of my apartment, which I thought had to be nearly impossible. I made flyers for the neighbors to make them aware if they see a slightly large mouse, not to kill her. I miss that little girl. I nicknamed them "little girl" and "little man". I have, myself, grown quite attached to the little beings. Also, just wanted to let you guys know I finally added a few pics of Ashe and us to my gallery. Feel free to have a peek. And thanks for all your advice, encouragement and prayers, because if I hadn't found you guys, I don't know what I would have done. I very well may have lost him too. :)

[classigerbil]

Well, we found her. After about 2 weeks of her being missing, she was found, still in my apartment. Go figure. She just found a nice box in my daughter's room to hide out in. We put her back in her cage, and gave her a lot of food and attention. She is still healthy, Thank GOD. Ashe is even doing great, both are doing well, happy and healthy as they can be in their cages. Thanks for all your thoughts, comments, and prayers. Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, and Happy New Year. -- Sheila :D :goodvibes ;) :) :cool:

[SBonnier]

Hey Shiela, glad to hear you found her! I'm also glad to hear the other one is doing better.

I also had an escapee last night! One of my hamsters, who have gotten enoumous, managed to climb out of her water bottle. After thoroughly checking the animal room, she was no where to be found. My Mom, who's scared to death of the rodents, had just come out of the bathroom and I informed her of the escapee. I walked her back to her bedroom and then continued my hunt. I found her in the bathroom under the tub! My poor Mom, if the hamster would of come out while she was in there the whole nieghborhood would have heard her screams! That's the best part, when you find them they give you this innocent look as much to say, "what am I doing in here anyways". :rolleyes: :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to you and your family, too.

[Doom Gerbil]

i'm very pleased for both of you that your MIA friends have returned.
Good luck and I hope they and you have very happy christmases

[Padfoot]

I'm glad you found her 8) I was wondering where were you and how was your gerbie. 8)

I had an escape last week too. don't you love them? Mine were 2 female mice. I found them in one of my drawers, and both gave me a sleepy look like "hey, were are trying to sleep, you know, stop moving clothing around!"

[Doom Gerbil]

My hubby was goign up satairs yesterday and found a gerbil pup (4 weeks old) on the stairs!!!! Another was runnign round on the vivarium (not a good place for a rodent).
Their new cage had the bars too far apart but what I'd underestimated is their ability to jump at that age as the tank is quite deep and they must have had to jump 10 inches to reach the bars!!!!!

[classigerbil]

Yes I've heard that they are excellent jumpers, and you'd be surprised at what small cracks they can sneak their way through. Both had a good Christmas dinner, and are doing well. I'm glad to hear that you all who had escapee's were also found. I know what you mean about the innocent look routine, but they are soooo lovable anyway. I'm just glad that they are both loved, fed, sheltered, and are healthy. I'm glad that all of yours are the same as well. Oh and thanks Mermum for the Christmas email, that was soooo cute. Boy oh boy do I know about the water bottle escape. That's how we lost Ashley a few weeks ago. My daughter, Megan, moved her cage to be closer to her, well it wasn't on a level surface. Ashley managed to chew around the bottom of the water bottle so that it would leak all the water out, push out the bottle, and escape. I'm sure if she could talk, we would have heard her exclaiming, "I'm free! I'm free!" lol... I laugh about it a lot. Also some exciting news I just read a few days ago. J.K.'s 6th book is to be released in July 2005, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I can't wait. Think maybe she'd ever include a gerbil in her story? lol... well it was good hearing from you all too. --She.

[Padfoot]

Good to hear they are both ok. 8) Any christmas presents for the gerbies? LOL.. mine recieved a seed bar per cage (all of the rodents).

Hmmm a gerbil story? Maybe a gerbil is what Harry needs to save the world from Voldemort! Hahaha... I'm too excited about the book coming out. 8)

[classigerbil]

Haven't had anything new to report lately really. I am having difficulties with Ashley chewing up anything holding her water bottle in her aquarium cage. I don't understand it really. After I get it back up, hanging so she can get a drink, she's drinking as tho she were starving to death... you'd think that she'd leave it alone... or so I thought, but no... after awhile I see it laying on the floor again. Oh well, I'm hoping to fix that soon. I'll also be getting her something else to keep her in pretty soon, that may be able to keep her bottle outside of the cage rather than in like Ashe's. He is doing well, he likes to hide out a lot, and he's doing so much better than when he was sick, that I don't think he has a limp anymore like the vet thought he would. He even gets on his wheel and runs... he's sooo cute when he does that. Oh, and I just witnessed Ashley jumping about a week or two ago. She was trying to knock the lid off her cage. It was funny, she looked like a spring in her cage, boing, boing, boing... lol :p Anyway, that is about all for now. Both are doing well, hope you guys are too, just wanted to say hello. Oh, and have a Happy Valentine's Day. --She. :D