One of my female gerbs, Joan, recently became very ill- she's over 3 years
old. She had the absolute worst URI I've ever seen in a gerbil- her
breathing was just these short, wheezy gasps. I fully expected to have her
put to sleep when I went to the vet, but I decided to give the aggressive
antibiotic/nebulizer therapy the vet recommended a try.
Within 48hrs I saw an improvement, so we continued with at-home antibiotic
treatment, continued to improve but then began to regress, so we changed
meds and she began to improve again. She was on the meds for 1 month, and
now, 1 1/2 months later she is doing great! Even though she is older,
whatever time she has left she can enjoy in her little gerbil ways.
I can only wish that this cost $100! She went to the vet twice at $55 per
appointment, one antibiotic was $5, the next $15, plus $15 for a supply of
hand-feeding formula of pulverized seeds and nuts- roughly $150.
Only you can decide what's best for your pets- to me, $100 is a great price
for surgery. Scent gland removal is a simple procedure. If the gerbil is
otherwise healthy, I'd go for it- there's a high probability he'll be back
to his old self in no time, and can live out the rest of his life happy and
healthy.
Please keep us updated on his progress and what you decide!
Jill
----------
> From: Deb Rebel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Diagnosis on Jasper what to do now?
> Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001 9:49 AM
>
> >I took my jasper to the vet on monday and she took a
> >look at him. SHe said That he probably had a tumor,
> >and it could be removed... for $100 :-(
>
> That's not unreasonable for surgery.
>
> >She gave me some antibiotics for $15 because thats all
> >I could afford.
> >Jaspers alost 3 now, 2.5 years ago, and I had a friend
> >offer to give me the surgery money cost but is it worth
> >it?
>
> Only you can decide that. He's near the end of his life,
> but he could also do well and have another year or so.
> Or just months.
>
> This is the downside of owning a pet, making financial/
> life quality decisions. :(
>
> >I just break down when I try to give him the
> >antibiolics, he squirms around in my hand squeaking,
> >and his buddies basil and Quincy just watch, when I
> >put him back in the cage they go running to him and
> >lick what I spilled on him off and comfort him. It
> >just makes me so sad :-(
>
>
> You need to make the decision. Either the surgery,
> or this will continue. And get worse.
>
> >I do find small amounts of blood in the cage still...
> >so.. what do I do?
>
>
> You have the ability to have the surgery done, and
> you have to weigh quality of life before and after
> (with or without) the surgery. Or have the animal
> put down.
>
> Those are your three choices. They're difficult.
> I've had to do this and it is never easy.
>
> Either you can have the animal put down, and it
> won't suffer anymore.
>
> You can leave it as it is, which sounds like you
> have a scent gland tumor, and it will not get better,
> and the bleeding will continue. The antibiotics are
> merely to prevent secondary infection because of
> the bleeding...they're treating symptoms and not
> the cause.
>
> Or have the surgery, and your gerbil will get better,
> and what time he has left will be much improved.
>
> There is a chance of complications because the
> animal must be anesthetized, but odds are things
> will go well. He may only have months after the
> surgery, or it may be a year or two (very outside
> chance, but).
>
> Whatever decision, you should make it soon.
>
> Deb
> Rebel's Rodent Ranch
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