HELP! I think my gerbils legs are broken!

[mcveigh]

OK my kids got a new gerbil each today. they already had one each but I've read it's better if they have another gerbil around for a friend.

the older male and the young male get along fine but the two females started fighting immediately (go figure)
so the new youg one I had in box on top of a dresser so the cat couldn't get to it.

while I was out side she somehow got out of the box and fell to the tile floor. about 7Ft

her back legs arent working right. her back might be broken but her legs move a little so maybe they are broken and not the back.

I found a few web pages and they all seemed to say do nothing except give her plenty of food and water and no toys to play with so she doesn't injure herself more. If she is eating and drinking and her stool looks normal she should be fine.

can anyone confirm or deny this? I will take her to the vet on monday.

After 11 years I'm pretty sure that the gerbil's problems have been solved.
admin allisolm

 

[Monel Funkawitz]

If its legs are broken, I'd "off" it. I can't let animals suffer, and there would be little to none for a vet to do anyway.

 

[Eli]

I would just do as the websites suggest. Taking it to the vet seems a little extreme...

They're like what, 4$?

Sorry. I shouldn't say that, I'm not really like that.. I respect all life. It was just my first reaction.

 

[mcveigh]

OK now she is biting her toes and feet and making them bleed!!!

 

[Walleye]

Originally posted by: Monel Funkawitz
If its legs are broken, I'd "off" it. I can't let animals suffer, and there would be little to none for a vet to do anyway.

i'd let the vet at it first before offing it.

if you do need to off it, either use a .22, or a boot heel... something quick.

 

[Walleye]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
OK now she is biting her toes and feet and making them bleed!!!

she probably cant feel the toes then... she may have broken her spine...

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
OK now she is biting her toes and feet and making them bleed!!!

"*nibble*

Hey.. I can't feel my legs.

Cool.

*nibble*"

 

[HappyPuppy]

If the vet puts casts on its legs, post some pics.

 

[mcveigh]

asshat

 

[stickshift]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
OK now she is biting her toes and feet and making them bleed!!!

whoa.

unfortunately i know nothing about pets, but i'd be interested to know what the actual problem was (once you can confirm whats up with it)

 

[Walleye]

Originally posted by: stickshift

Originally posted by: mcveigh
OK now she is biting her toes and feet and making them bleed!!!

whoa.

unfortunately i know nothing about pets, but i'd be interested to know what the actual problem was (once you can confirm whats up with it)

like i said, it's my best guess that she broke her back...

 

[notfred]

Feed it to the cat.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: notfred
Feed it to the cat.

With no functioning rear legs, the cat would probably bat it around a few times, get bored and walk away.

 

[cavemanmoron]

sorry for your pet,

if its biting its feet, its better off if you kill it and buy a new one.

Please don't let it suffer,but,don't take it to the vet,as they would prob charge like $200 or even more to try to save it.

If you have a pointed shovel,you can use that to kill it,and bury it {if you have a yard}

Do not hide this from your children,it is part of life,that pets die,as do people too...

 

[Colt45]

better put it out so it doesnt suffer too much, make it quick though.

 

[Azraele]

I don't know how good a vet would be with an animal so small. The best you can do try to keep it comfortable and call the vet on Mon.

You can do a simple test to see if she has feeling in her toes. Pinch them (not too hard). If she pulls back or reacts to the pinch, she can feel. No response is a bad sign.

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
sorry for your pet,

if its biting its feet, its better off if you kill it and buy a new one.

Please don't let it suffer,but,don't take it to the vet,as they would prob charge like $200 or even more to try to save it.

If you have a pointed shovel,you can use that to kill it,and bury it {if you have a yard}

Do not hide this from your children,it is part of life,that pets die,as do people too...

it may come to that I hope not.

i'm reminded of a Robert Heinlein quote about how one day you'll have to put your own dog down, and it's best to do it quick and not farm it out.

 

[Azraele]

BTW, how much rear leg function does she have? Any?

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: mcveigh
OK now she is biting her toes and feet and making them bleed!!!

"*nibble*

Hey.. I can't feel my legs.

Cool.

*nibble*"

rofl. That shouldn't be funny but it is

 

[Monel Funkawitz]

You guys are funny. How is a vet going to fix a gerbil's back or broken legs?

Right now that animal is in a living HELL. Do what you think is right and what YOU can live with.

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: Azraele
BTW, how much rear leg function does she have? Any?

hard to tell they seem to move some but I wonder it's her ab muscles pulling them up

 

[Azraele]

Here's a link that may be of help.

If it's a closed break, not much. Make sure the gerbil is warm and eating. Baby gerbils that are still nursing will stop eating and starve themselves to death if they are hurt, so you will have to nurse them by hand. If the gerbil eats and drinks, it will probably recover in a day or two and be hopping around as usual.

 

[mcveigh]

thanks Azraele she is only about 8 weeks old, so I don't know if that makes her a baby still. she eats normal food, and she ate a little bit a few minutes ago so hopefully that is good.

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
thanks Azraele she is only about 8 weeks old, so I don't know if that makes her a baby still. she eats normal food, and she ate a little bit a few minutes ago so hopefully that is good.

:beer:Hope the gerbil gets better. At least you aren't abusing it like some peopel do:Q

 

[imported_Papi]

More than one female with males will cause problems if I remember correctly.

Same with more males with one female.

They will breed and you will have to remove the other grbils. best to just have two, one female and one male. Remove the male after they breed.