Gerbil turning in circles..

[Ryachanira]

I'm not sure if this place is very active anymore, but I figured I'd give it a try...

Nod has started turning in circles. He can't seem to walk straight at all, and he's sleeping all smooshed up against the side of the cage. He falls over on himself when his circles are blocked by something like their wooden house, and he gets REALLY upset when I pick him up. When he stops moving he seems kind of tilted to one side. I'm not sure what would cause this, but I know something is wrong.

Please don't just tell me to take him to the vet, I honestly can't afford to do that right now. I know several people on here in the past have been very adamant about the "can't afford the vet, can't afford the pet" philosophy, but I've already spent ~$500 on this gerbil in vet bills during his 2.5 years of life and I can't afford more than that.

I'm just wondering if anybody has any ideas as to what might be wrong? He is not paralyzed at all, just walking really weird. My only thoughts are a stroke or some sort of brain tumor. Does anybody have any other ideas/suggestions on what to do with him?

Thanks.

[ratbrat21]

Is he really old? He might have had a stroke or something. I had a gerbil born like that. She would run in circles and couldnt stop. The older she got the better it got but she couldnt walk straight. The vet told me she would be fine. I named her dizzy lizzy. Anyways i am thinking stroke or tumor. If you can at all afford maybe letting a vet check him out? I dunno i understand money issues though. Good luck.

[Darksong17]

It could be something as simple as an ear infection or it could be a stroke or pituitary tumor. There is nothing you can do without a vet but watch him deteriorate unfortunately. In the case of an ear infection he needs antibiotics and possibly steroids. In the case of stroke I believe steroids are used. Steroids are also used in the case of a pituitary tumor to keep down swelling and inflammation and improve quality of life for as long as possible.

I fully support the "If you can't afford the vet, you can't afford the pet" mantra. This is why you should always have a good emergency vet fund saved up. If he's really miserable it'd be kindest to at least spend the money to have him humanely euthanized (make sure they use gas to put him under before the heart or abdominal jab otherwise it's extremely painful).

[Ryachanira]

In general I also agree that you should be able to afford a vet, but that is like saying that if you buy a $100 cat you should have $10,000 available for a vet just in case... I have already spent $500 on this gerbil, at some point I have to say no more, especially as he is so old. Honestly, I think $500 is a lot to have spent on a gerbil in the first place, and really... how much more of an "emergency vet fund" should I have saved up for a gerbil? ;) He doesn't seem to be in any pain as far as I can tell, so that is good at least.

His ear was bleeding and really inflamed... oh, about a month ago now? The vet put him on both an oral and topical antibiotic and it definitely seemed to clear up. His ear looks fine now, there is no bleeding or inflammation or pus, it looks healed. So I'm not sure that it's his ear, although given his history it seems a likely candidate. But like I said, it seems fine. Honestly, I am thinking most likely some sort of stroke.

He is pretty old (2.5 years).. when I brought him to the vet for the ear thing earlier this semester the vet was kind of like "... he's pretty old for a gerbil, they only live 2-3 years anyways" like he thought it was really weird I was spending so much on such an old gerb. Anyways... I will continue to monitor him, but aside from the fact that he can only walk in circles he seems alright.

I'll keep you all updated, thanks for the replies. :)

[Rat101010101010]

I am honestly not sure what it is..
I agree that it could be a stroke. (old age).. and I know of a couple of people whose gerbils did that too.
$500 is a lot yes, for a gerbil. But still.

Like many others on this I support it too.
- If you can't afford the vet; you can't afford the pet -
'Cos you can't. Not really.
Anyway I do understand what you mean.
He's old, poor thing, 2 1/2 years old. =[ Sadly.
So I understand though if you want the best for him;
I'd just get him checked out;)


Anyways if you have decided seriously that you can't why not see if you can borrow some money from somebody?
OK then; please keep us updated.
I hope you make the right choice for yourself and Nod:)



~Rae

[ratbrat21]

I to support the saying "If you cant afford the vet, you cant afford the pet" BUT you have to draw thel ine somewhere because unless your rich you cant really 100% go by that saying. If you honestly can't afford the vet then I totally understand. I think in that case its wise to just see what happens. If you think he is suffering and in alot of pain I would seriously have him put down. Thats the way I look at it. If you honestly can't afford the vet then at least have him euthanized if he is in pain. I have had to do that with a few of my rats a long time ago. But its better that then have him suffer for what time he does have left. I am sorry this is happening though.

[Rat101010101010]

How is, Nod?
Yes Jo is correct. I understand that you might not be able to afford it at the moment. You have spent more than loads of people any. [In some cases they refuse to take small animals to the vets, gerbils, hamsters, rats, mice, etc. It's horrible]
So I am glad that you HAVE taken him before and you DO love him. Whatever happens he will love you back. If you take him to the vets then he will love you for that, but, if you don't then [yet again] he will still love you for putting him out of any misery he was in.
I hope that you reply sometime on how he is. I am really sorry about this all. It must be really hard for you.

[MAREENA]

Could be a middle ear infection, most common of all things.

Does he have little scabs in his ears? or is he bleeding from his ear?

[souryuuha]

I Found this:

"Inner Ear Problems

This is another aliment more common in older gerbils, and can be indicated by the gerbil developing a head tilt. The gerbil loses balance and often circles whilst holding its head at a very unusual angle. The principal cause is a cyst in the ear known as a cholesteatoma. These cysts are common in gerbils and are usually untreatable. It is assumed this chronic condition is caused by an infection that is secondary to the cholesteatoma. A possible treatment, which could reduce the symptoms and improve the life of the gerbil, is an anti-inflammatory injection administered by your vet. Than follow up this treatment with antibiotics. "

Use google to find more about it. I will pray for your gerbil, I have one gerbil with the same problem, I already took him to the vet, but today I am taking him to another vet for a different opinion.

[gerbilowner123]

It could be on-going sezures and you might want to see what happens

[kristie]

My gerbil is doing the same thing, he is is really old now, over 4.5years, and i dont want to see him suffer, but dont feel it he will last much longer even if we get him treatment. He is still eating so i think dont think he is feeling too unwell, i dont know wether to just watch him and see how he goes?