My gerbil is dying
Discussion
He was beside himself for days after his brother died (long time ago) and has led a rather lonely life, poor nipper, gerbils are never happy living alone.
He's getting old, has slowed down, eats and plays less and sleeps more. And he's doing what all old gerbils do in the days/weeks before they die, just standing still, laboured breathing, looking a little sorry for himself
He's getting old, has slowed down, eats and plays less and sleeps more. And he's doing what all old gerbils do in the days/weeks before they die, just standing still, laboured breathing, looking a little sorry for himself
My old dog is getting like that,sleeping all the time a bit off his food.
He is 13 this year..and still hasnt learnt to play with a ball....
He was a rescue dog and to be honest has about as much personality as a dead gerbil
Sorry to hear about your little friend go get him a playmate. Then at least he die happy.
He is 13 this year..and still hasnt learnt to play with a ball....
He was a rescue dog and to be honest has about as much personality as a dead gerbil
Sorry to hear about your little friend go get him a playmate. Then at least he die happy.
jessica said:Poor dog. Its sad when they reach the end. Gerbils do downhill pretty swiftly if they get ill/frail. I would have got him a friend, but...
My old dog is getting like that,sleeping all the time a bit off his food.
He is 13 this year..and still hasnt learnt to play with a ball....
He was a rescue dog and to be honest has about as much personality as a dead gerbil
Sorry to hear about your little friend go get him a playmate. Then at least he die happy.
chim_knee said:Over the age of 6-8 weeks, you've got no chance.
gerbils are never happy living alone. ?
The last time I introducted two singles to give them a better life together, it took 3 months of work, special cages, lots of cuts and bleeding hands on my part, and when I finally thought they were ready I stayed up till dawn holding the critters together through the night to make absolutely sure that after their 'friendship training' they wouldnt kill eachother when I set em both loose in the same cage.
Its a lot of work and stress for them. Years later, when one went downhill I spent £150 treating him at the vet, and the other one just turned on him in his state of weakness. They were too old to become proper mates. Gerbils make good pairs and colonies, but dont make such chummy pals after the age of 8 weeks.
angrys3owner said:Sorry to hear that. 20 years is a bloody good life for a cat though
Our cat died last week... had been ill for a while but in his last few days he got slower and slower and stopped eating - poor old bugger. I guess 20 years is a good go at life for a cat though.
Matthew C said:We had a pair who were only 18 months old (half way through their lives) When one died, the other followed a week or two later.
My sister had two gerbils (two sisters), and I seem to remember that the second one died within hours of the first.
Dont wolves choose to die when they get captured, just as dolphins kill themselves when unhappy, if they dont like the prospect of life following a change.
Tyre Smoke said:
I have a good recipe for Gerbil Rissotto if you want it?
This is a website dedicated to all forms of the internal combustion engine, do you really feel the need to post that your rodent is old?
Get a life FFS!
Nurse! Nurse!
That's a bit harsh Tyre Smoke.
(I prefer a nice casserole meself)
sorry to hear about the gerbil.
our first family dog was a welsh collie and she was an absolutely brilliant dog. when she got to about 12, she became the little old lady of the house. she slept more and more during the days. despite that - she went on for another 6 years.
she also had a limp. essentially she got a front paw trapped in a car window when trying to jump out when she was very young. however, in true Usual Suspects style she would limp around like a severly wounded creature until she saw a cat. her busted paw would suddenly straighten up, and all signs of the little old dog dissappeared in an instant. much to the dismay of the cat who had obviously concluded that "crippled dog" was no match.
jessica said:
My old dog is getting like that,sleeping all the time a bit off his food.
He is 13 this year..and still hasnt learnt to play with a ball....
our first family dog was a welsh collie and she was an absolutely brilliant dog. when she got to about 12, she became the little old lady of the house. she slept more and more during the days. despite that - she went on for another 6 years.
she also had a limp. essentially she got a front paw trapped in a car window when trying to jump out when she was very young. however, in true Usual Suspects style she would limp around like a severly wounded creature until she saw a cat. her busted paw would suddenly straighten up, and all signs of the little old dog dissappeared in an instant. much to the dismay of the cat who had obviously concluded that "crippled dog" was no match.
UKBob said:
He's getting old, has slowed down, eats and plays less and sleeps more. And he's doing what all old gerbils do in the days/weeks before they die, just standing still, laboured breathing, looking a little sorry for himself
Are you sure you haven't been over-cooking the Richard Gere treatment with him??
UKBob said:
...getting old, has slowed down, eats and plays less and sleeps more... ...just standing still, laboured breathing, looking a little sorry for himself
I wouldn't worry, everyone in my office displays these symptons and have done for years.
I only remembered gerbils from when I was a kid and never really saw the point in keeping them. However, my daughter has brought home the pre-schools 2 gerbils for the Half-Term holiday and they are great fun. I have become emotionally attached to Sooty and Liquorice, I can understand your angst.
Tyre Smoke said:
Has you gerbil made a living will?
You might want to consider euthanasia........
>> Edited by Tyre Smoke on Friday 17th February 13:42
I think there's a clinic in Switzerland that could help.....you need the little fellas permission, 1 sqeek for 'yes', 2 sqeeks for 'no', 3 sqeeks for 'yes you can put me up your butt'
andy 308gtb said:
Has you gerbil made a living will?
You might want to consider euthanasia........
>> Edited by Tyre Smoke on Friday 17th February 13:42
Tyre Smoke, have you ever considered applying for a job as a presenter on 'Animal Hospital'?
Good point. He could put Rolf down...
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