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Small pets

very poorly gerbil - how long till we call it a day?

2 replies

mustdash · 27/09/2011 11:39

I'm crying as I write this, because I am so upset for my DD. Can't believe it's bothering me, because before we got them I'd always say I wasn't a small furries person!

Her beloved gerbil is very very poorly, and despite an emergency trip to the vet on Sunday, and lots of antibiotics and pain killers, he seems to me to be going downhill.

He has lost lots of weight, and is mainly sitting quietly with his eyes closed. He has had very soft poo, but it isn't really runny. I think he is drinking a lot, though I haven't seen him at the water today. He took a little banana and chicken this morning (on the advice of the local gerbil rescue, who have been lovely).

My question is really, how long do we watch him in this state before we say enough is enough and have him PTS. We have had to take this decision before for cats and dogs, and when the time came, it was always very clear when it was the right thing to do.

Once before when he had a chest infection, the vet told us that with small beasties whatever is going to happen will happen quickly - they'll be visibly better or very clearly not with about 24hrs. That time, he was better within hours. Really not so this time.

I don't think DD1 realises how sick he is, which is maybe a good thing, but how long do I wait till we have "the talk", or do we just say "lets take him back for the vet to have another look" if he is no better tomorrow?

Of course, it might all be out of our hands, but any advice at all would be very welcome. Sorry this is so long and rambly. Sad

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GypsyMoth · 27/09/2011 11:41

No advice!

But I understand your distress, we lost a rabbit last week and we were all upset, still are. The kids took it well, but I had 2 big teenagers crying their hearts out!

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GypsyMoth · 27/09/2011 11:42

My 3 year old wanted the details and asked questions, took it better than the others did

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