Not sure what killed my gerbil.

External Since: Apr 12, 2006 Posts: 1

I had my gerbil put down Monday, but I'm not totally sure what finished him
off.

He was fine the previous day, but that day I noticed he looked awfully
straggly, both his eyes were closed and he was reluctant to move. When he
did he 'bumbled' around without much coordination, at one point falling of
one of the ledges in his tank rather than jumping down as he usually would.

The vet couldn't tell me what was wrong, but she did remark that he was cold
and de-hydrated. He never went without water, or food. He was almost three
years old. I appreciate he was getting old, but the deterioration was so
quick (i.e overnight) it left me baffled.

any ideas what caused it? somebody mentioned stroke, but he didn't seem
paralysed down one side.

External Since: May 05, 2006 Posts: 43

"DANIEL OLIVER" wrote in message

> I had my gerbil put down Monday, but I'm not totally sure what finished
him
> off.
>
> He was fine the previous day, but that day I noticed he looked awfully
> straggly, both his eyes were closed and he was reluctant to move. When he
> did he 'bumbled' around without much coordination, at one point falling of
> one of the ledges in his tank rather than jumping down as he usually
would.
>
> The vet couldn't tell me what was wrong, but she did remark that he was
cold
> and de-hydrated. He never went without water, or food. He was almost three
> years old. I appreciate he was getting old, but the deterioration was so
> quick (i.e overnight) it left me baffled.
>
> any ideas what caused it? somebody mentioned stroke, but he didn't seem
> paralysed down one side.
>
>

stroke doens't always result in the sterotypical paralysis of one half of
the body. it could have been a minor stroke that affected certain systems
of his body causing the other problems, could have been a lot of t hings..
sorry for your loss.