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I have a female gerbil. She is not a young one...not sure exactly how old she is. I think I've had her at least 3 years. She had been having babies regularly, but hasn't had any in over a year. Recently I thought she was pregnant again. She had been getting quite round looking. She has a hard time getting up on top of her house (where I keep the food bowl). Sometimes I have to pick her up to get her to her food. She is eatly and drinking normally. She just looks sort of lumpy. What could be wrong with her. She moves like she just isn't comfortable.

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Age: 3; Female

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Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $8

Relist: I still need help.
There doesn't seem to be any improvement, but she hasn't gotten worse. She does go on the exercise wheel and she's still eating and drinking.

I think it would be a good idea to bring this important companion to the vet for a check up. She's not terribly old, so I'm not thinking age is a factor, but that she's been breeding a lot could have caught up with her and caused some problems.

To be sure, bring a sample of her recent droppings with you when you go to the doctor so they can do routine labs on it, hopefully ruling out parasites or other types of intestinal infections/bacteria.

It's important to limit their breeding. They really shouldn't be allowed to have as many pregnancies as they might decide on their own to have Images available only to Customers.

Do you have the male as well? How is he doing? Any of the same symptoms? It might be wise to separate them at this time, just until the cause of this little girl's problems are identified and treated.

Please let me know what the vet says ok?

Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it.

You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

Reply to TheCaretaker's Post: Yes, I still have the male. He is perfectly fine. They take real good care of each other. I don't really know where to take her. I guess I'll have to check with my vet to see if they look at such small animals. I hope he doesn't charge me as much as he does for my cat. Do you think she is pregnant again? She looks really big. When she stands on her hind legs, she looks so round in the middle.

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on June 27 2006 at 7:21 PM

How long since they last mated? Is he interested in her (that way) now?

As long as she's eating and drinking normally, you're probably ok to just watch and wait for now, but it's always a good idea to have someone ready to call and visit for medical care.

Get back to me about the mating and current interest he's showing in her ( or isn't).

Oh, and are they the only two now? Are the last babies out of the nest/burrow?

Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it.

You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

Reply to TheCaretaker's Post: He has been interested in her all along. Although in the last couple of weeks since she has been exhibiting this change, he hasn't tried to mount her. Today I just saw him sniffing her. She hasn't had any babie in over a year or maybe longer. I hadn't removed the last litter quickly enough and he mated with one of his offspring. Mama hasn't gotten pregnant since. He goes thru the motions, but no results in a year or more. I thought maybe she was past the age for babies, but then she started to get so round I thought I had been wrong. I just don't remember her ever looking this uncomfortable when she was pregnant before.

As long as you see her continue to eat and drink well, keep watching.

His lack of real mating interest would indicate that she's expecting.

Here is a website with wonderful information about a mating pair and the offspring.

http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/breeding.html

Now, if she doesn't have her pups within the next several days OR she seems to stop eating and drinking (or in any way causes you concerns), I strongly feel that we owe it to our animals to be safe, rather than sorry and you should bring her to a doctor.

If she does give birth, you've got to be positive to remove the babies before either the adult male mates with them OR they mate with each other!

You will let me know what happens right?

Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it.

You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.

Reply to TheCaretaker's Post: Yes, I'll let you know. Thank you so much for your help. I hope it's just babies.

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