Gerbil help vet prices please.

[Thesmallthings]

I know this isn't the right place but I need advice and Google is not helping.

Ds10 has a pair of gerbils, they are a year old. Yesterday I found one had had it's tail degloved. Most likely by the cat.

I took it to my vets today. It's not infected thank God. Speedy, is eating, playing, weeing and pooing fine. You honestly wouldn't be able to tell.

Consolation was 35. The surgery they wanted 250.
I don't have it. I brought some antiflamtry pain killers from the vet to. And was told to keep bathing it with salt water and told what signs if infection looks like but hes as happy as can be right now. Even said it could heal on its own if the dead bit falls off with no infection. Which is what seems to be tapping now.

I was put in touch with rspca would will help with vets bills as I get some housing benefit.

My question is does any one know what their prices are like? They said consultation is 7 pounds so I'm hopeful the surgery will be a decent price

Also how do I get him to take his liquid medicines. He won't take it on its own. Nor mixed in with yogurt. .

Has any one delt with degloving in a gerbil before?

A few years ago one of ours lost its tail and was absolutely fine. I remember using a tiny syringe for medicine and watching for infection but all was well and he lived until about 8 years old!

PDSA offer funds to people on housing benefit so you are covered there - not sure what they will offer. Wishing you the best though!

Hiding.... 8 years is bloody amazing. They generally live 4ish years. So 8 year is a crazy age to get to for a gerbil.

I think we've been very lucky that there's been no infection.

Can you contact other vets re prices? I’ve recently paid £115 for a big lump removal on hamster including initial consultation, op and follow-up appointment. And I’m in the south east.

That's good news OP! Hope he makes a full recovery.

I just my to know how the cat did it! You need to keep the #!#*! Cat away?

Good news OP . Best wishes for full recovery.

It's not a fucking cat or what ever swear word you wanted to put there. She's a cat acting like a cat. Even my very upset 10 year old can reason with that and didn't blame the cat.

She normally sits on with window ledge calmly watching them, she's never show interest into getting them or showed signs of hunting them.
Inwould put money on her seeing a tail poking through the topper cage and thinking its fun to catch .

Obviously now she will be shooed away from watching them and locked out of the living room at night and when no one is at home.

Thought I'd add a pic of my little fighter. Ginger his brother is curled up behind him.

And a pic of their home. I may not have insurance and be seen as a irresponsible owner by some but they are loved and we try to give them the best life we can.

Forgot the pics.

A lovely gerbil house. I wish them all the best and it is clear they have the best possible care. I had gerbils as a child in the 70s! Fascinating creatures but sharp teeth!

Your vet sounds expensive (although I don;t know what the process involved is with a tail amputation) - For my dog to be neutered and have a tooth removed was £195 at my vet recently as a comparison.
i'm glad the PDSA is able to help, hope the little chap gets better soon.

Hard work, they are fascinating I love watching them making their tunnels. Thankfully nethier of ours have bit us or even tried., even when iv been cleaning speedy tail which cant be nice for him. but I have seen others and they really can bite and draw a lot of blood.

Kurri the op will literally consist of putting him under for 15 minutes, cutting the tail and closing the end. Really nothing fiddly or complicated.

The vets in had gone to is a big brand name and was cheaper then our towns smaller vets. It's crazy how much they can charge.