I've had her for 5 years;;I know they only usually live for 2, but she's my baby. Her name is snowflake. {How cliche.} She lays down in the cage and she's breathing really heavy. When she gets up, she runs around, then has to pause because she can't breathe. She's breathing so hard, she's shaking horribly. Her ears are folded back, eyes are narrowed, and she looks like she's in pain.
2007-02-14 05:33:41 · 17 answers · asked by Cherrykins 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
There's no way I can get her in to the vet. We have a foot and a half of snow.
2007-02-14 06:01:28 · update #1
I'm afraid so. Sorry to hear that, I had a hamster for 5 years and he could have lived a little bit longer but he got cancer. But I'm pretty sure that is what's happening.
2007-02-14 05:39:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, it does sound as though Snowflake's body is failing. Five years is a good long life for a gerbil, and I'm sure you gave her the best of care.
For now, all you can do is keep her comfortable. Keep her warm with a heating pad under the cage, or a hot water bottle. Make sure not to get her too warm, though. If she's up to it, you can hold her and let your body heat help her regulate her temperature. If she's in pain, she may be irritable and not appreciate being handled, though. If she stops eating or drinking, you can see if she will eat a bit of oatmeal, made with water or Kitten Milk Replacer instead of regular milk.
If she makes it through until the snow clears, you can take her to the vet. There's a good chance that the vet will not be able to do anything, but they will be able to humanely euthanize her so she does not have to suffer. It's the worst feeling in the world when an animal under your care is hurting, and nothing you can do will make them better.
Best wishes to you and Snowflake.
2007-02-14 07:37:13 · answer #2 · answered by ShootingStar Gerbils 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She is very old and gerbils usually live for about a 1-2 at the most. Her breathing may be the result of and infection. Take her to your vet and have her checked out they might be able to help her get better or if there is no helping her they will give the option of euthanizing or give her something for the pain.
2007-02-14 05:41:08 · answer #3 · answered by purdy'smom 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It definitely sounds like it is a possibility that her time has come to move on. I would hold her and comfort her as much as possible. Does she have a cold? Or congestion? Rodents are very prone to that type of thing and she may need a decongestant from the vet. Do you have any on hand?
Good luck to you. I lost my friend Pinky (my rat) 2 years ago.
2007-02-14 06:17:26 · answer #4 · answered by nebraskahickchic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry to hear about Snowflake's situation. It's best to call a vet ASAP and describe the symptoms.
Good luck.
2007-02-14 05:40:39 · answer #5 · answered by C = JD 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wow, your lucky your gerbil has lived that long. and her age shows you've taken VERY good care of her. it sounds like she is dying though :( maybe you could call your vet, since you can't actually go to the vet. the vet maybe could recommend something to do until the snow lets up. im sorry you're having to go through this, and i hope she makes it.
good luck!
2007-02-14 08:40:31 · answer #6 · answered by ferrets4ever 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to verify that your gerbil died. i does no longer propose getting yet another gerbil for the single that maintains to be alive. I had a gerbil as quickly as and after some weeks desperate to purchase a 2nd as an better half. the 2nd in the present day attacked the 1st one and bit her. We tried the trick of conserving them in separate habitrails with the connector tube blocked. After some weeks we reintroduced them and #2 became nevertheless very aggressive. We ended up conserving them aside continually. Cinnamon (#a million) became an exceedingly severe high quality gerbil, truly VERY sociable. He'd greet us continuously or perhaps greet the cats and chase them in his ball. #2 became purely an a$$hollow and needed no longer something to do with all of us or something. We had them some years and as quickly as they handed we've been given 2 new ones collectively. They have been given alongside purely wonderful, besides the indisputable fact that that they had a clutter. (The puppy save informed us they have been the two lady as quickly as we offered them so we've been shocked.) We gave daddy lower back to the save. yet that they had gotten alongside wonderful. besides, sorry to reminisce approximately my gerbils. It became a protracted time in the past. except you purchase them collectively, i does no longer introduce a clean one - that they had combat. as long as you spend high quality time familiar with your gerbil he/she would be waiting to no longer prefer an better half. supply him TP rolls and a ball to run in that is all she needs!
2016-09-29 02:51:47 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does sound like she's dying but our guinea pig did something like that too. We took him in and he had a kidney stone. You need to get it to the vet. Atleast if she's dying they can put her down for you and it will make both of you feel better.
2007-02-14 05:54:11 · answer #8 · answered by Goofy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take her to the vet. Don't let her suffer I know you won't want to loose her cos she's been a good friend but!!!! Help her to die in peace. Sorry
2007-02-14 05:55:36 · answer #9 · answered by bubbles1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like my hamster before she died. I'm sorry, but she probably is dying, that's exactly what happened to my hamster before she died. she ended up going into what looked like a seizure and then passed away. :(
2007-02-14 05:40:26 · answer #10 · answered by Ridin' Dirty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋