At 08:42 PM 7/25/00 -0400, GeckoX wrote:
>GML,
>
>One of my baby gerbils is not eating and seems to be *extremely* weak
>compared to the other pups. It seems too weak to even open its eyes. It
>was born on the 26th of June along with the other babies...so I dont know
>what could be happening.
>
>One observation I made was that the pup was constantly licking the glass
>of the tank for hours at a time...I figured it might have been looking for
>food/water so I tried giving it some, but it didn't accept it. I looked
>for toxins on the glass but there's no residue of anything that might be
>harming it...
>
>PLEASE HELP,
>Jason
Jason,
How did you offer him the food/water? He is at that age where he probably
isn't nursing, but may not have figured out the water bottle. You can
spray water on the sides of the tank and let him lick it off. Try small
pieces of carrot or apple. I've had some luck getting cooked oatmeal into
gerbils who didn't want to eat. A dab of honey and they seem to love
it. Also, if you haven't tried already, you could try an eyedropper or a
needleless syringe to get fluid into him. Just be very careful. Hold him
partially upright, give only a tiny drop at a time, and watch him
closely. If you think he's not swallowing it stop. You don't want him to
choke. I think the water on the sides of the tank should do the trick,
though, since pups have an instinct to do that. I'd try that first,
definitely.
Out of curiousity, is this the runt of the litter? Sometimes they have
more trouble around weaning time than others, I guess because they are
smaller they get dehydrated more easily. Just guessing there.
Also, does he show sign of illness, like clicking noises when he breathes,
or overly fluffy fur? If so he probably has a respiratory infection and
needs antibiotics. Ornacycline (tetracycline for birds) is ok, but don't
use any other antibiotic without checking with a veterinarian first.
Tana and The Little Rascals
http://thesanctuary.tripod.com
http://gerbils.freehosting.net
http://www.geocities.com/tinypaws68/
ICQ #: 44846928
