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Small pets

Is my gerbil having a seizure? :(

7 replies

Titsalinabumsquash · 12/11/2014 19:08

I have 2 female gerbils, they're usually happy and healthy, the more frisky of the two has suddenly (last few minutes) frozen in one spot (not her usual favoured place to hang out) but every 30 seconds her back leg with thump, but she's still staring and the rest of her is perfectly still.

I've not seen her do this before, is she having a seizure because it doesn't seem to be stopping (going on 5+ mins now every 30 secs for a minute at a time) should I try and pick her up?

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youbethemummylion · 12/11/2014 19:10

My male gerbil does this occasionally I was told its like a warning to other gerbils so they do it when freaked out by something. He sits stock still and thumps his back legs its really quite loud he does give up eventually though.

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Gileswithachainsaw · 12/11/2014 19:11

No don't try and pick her up. She may freak out and bite and run off and fall and hurt herself.

Doesn't sound good I'm afraid poor thing :(

I'd turn the light off and leave her somewhere warm and quiet. Take the other one out the cage for now.

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toomanyeasterbunnies · 12/11/2014 19:13

Similar thing happened to our guinea pig. I couldn't bear it so took him to vet and he was put too sleep. :(

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Gileswithachainsaw · 12/11/2014 19:13

I didnt know that ignore me then Blush

I thought you meant she was lying in her side

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Titsalinabumsquash · 12/11/2014 19:17

She's still going. The other one is snuggled up to her. Sad

They're about a year old, she's not on her side, she's on 3 legs (one front one up) but one back one is still just thumping, she's become slightly more alert, twitcher her nose and she's moved a few cm across.
The only other cage I have is a tiny transport one, I don't want to make her worse but everything I've read says if it is a seizure it shouldn't be going this long unless it's going to cause real damage. Sad

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Titsalinabumsquash · 12/11/2014 19:23

She's just suddenly jumped as if she's had an electric shock and bolted into her tunnels at the bottom of the tank. I guess I'll just leave her and see what happens, I can't hear any thumping anymore at least.

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MagicSwirlinShip · 13/11/2014 18:15

Like youbethemummylion said, it happens when they are startled and is quite normal. Just coming into a room, or a sudden noise like snapping shut my old phone would make our gerbil do this. A gerbil treat may help them get over the trauma.

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