Any time you notice a change in behavior (such as the head tilting) an
experienced gerbil vet should be consulted right away. It's possible that
it could be a growth or tumor in the ear or brain. It's also possible she
could have an ear infection- ornacycline is not an ideal antibiotic for
gerbils and you can't rely on one drug to treat all infections. Ornacycline
can work well preventatively (often for URI in pups) or in a pinch until
you can get to a vet, but it isn't safe to assume that it can treat all
infections. Baytril would have been a good choice, or possibly a sulfa
drug.
I would take Tana's advice and get her to the vet ASAP- gerbils are tough
little critters and with proper treatment she may have a chance.
Jill
----------
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: My Gerbil is dying...
> Date: Tuesday, November 07, 2000 5:11 PM
>
> It's probably too late for Cricket but I figured I'd ask so that I can
learn
> for the future.
>
> Several weeks ago we noticed that Cricket was turning her head to the
side as
> if she was looking at something sideways. After a little while, we
noticed
> that her balance was messed up. She would fall over when trying to climb
or
> walk up hills of mulch. After a little more time passed she started
"rolling
> over". She tilts her head so far around underneath her that she flips
over
> on her side. By now she can no longer walk or stand. When she moves,
all
> she does is spin around and around in the same place. She can't hold her
> food to eat and can't reach the water bottle.
>
> She hates to be held so it's hard to feed her. I tried holding her but
she
> got frantic and started to panic and squeak. I can hold seeds and nuts
to
> her mouth and she takes a few bites but she usually knocks the food away
as
> she spins around. I've been trying to give her water with a small
syringe
> but she hasn't gotten much.
>
> At first (when her head had just started to tilt) I thought it might be
an
> ear infection so I put her on Ornacycline for about 1 1/2 weeks. But it
had
> no effect. She just got worse.
> She is in a glass fish tank that she shares with one other female. We
use
> Aspen bedding.
>
> I don't know what to think and I don't know what to do. It's so sad
watching
> her struggle.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks!
> Debbie
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