Unwell gerbil

[SisterFrancisBeaverhausen]

I am looking after a friend’s gerbils whilst they are away for the holidays. There are 2 females and they are around 3 years old. One of them isn’t looking well, I was warned that about a month ago she was quieter than normal but by the time she arrived at ours she had rallied and she was her usual self. This evening however she is barely moving with rapid breathing, eyes half closed and messy fur. Her abdomen seems bloated as well. I haven’t noticed any diarrhoea and the other gerbil seems fine. I have seen her eating this evening. I am expecting the worst (and google isn’t helping me to feel better!) but selfishly I am also worried about my own hamster if it is contagious, should I be concerned? Do any experienced gerbil owners have any words of advice? I kept gerbils as a child but I am more experienced with hamsters.

Thanks

Can you take it to the out of hours vet? My gerbil was not right a few months ago, kept in overnight. Given fluids and antibiotics and is now ok.

I’m worried about causing her more distress to be honest, I’ve texted her owners to see what they want me to do. She has just climbed up onto her little bridge. Her sister keeps bothering her and getting squeaked at for her trouble, typical siblings!

Update - she was no better this morning so we went to the vet. She diagnosed heart failure and gave her an injection of frusemide. If it works she can have more but it’ll be expensive because she can’t have it orally - the dose would be too tiny and there’s a risk her sister would eat whatever we hide it in. I’ll keep her as comfortable as I can until her family come home. I’m relieved that at least it’s not infectious so my boy is safe.

And the out of hours vet price list was up in the waiting room - it would have been eye wateringly expensive to get her seen last night