Trixie's Weekly Update

Trixie is holding on. She still weighs about 60 grams. She has slowed down. Breathing is becoming more labored. She is still eating and drinking on her own with supplement food from me. She starting to like bread crust. So I have been feeding that also. She now likes to sit in my lap in her pouch where it is nice and warm. She is losing some muscle mass.

She still likes to chew on paper plates. She still grooms Bud. Bud grooms her and trys to keep her warm. I am still giving her twice a treatments. She is still peeing and pooing. The poo is getting a little less. Trixie will tell me when it is time to go. Not today.

I have not seen her in the wheel in the past couple of days. She is still very spunky. Eyes and ear bright as ever. Still purrs when I hold her. She still likes to sit on my shoulder when she wants to. She will sit there for minutes. My shoulder must be a warm place.

I know her time is coming soon. Her fur is starting to shed a little. Why do gerbils have such short lives? I wish Trixie could live to four (December 8 birthday) but I know that is not to be. I will cherish everyday that she is here with us. Trixie loves being with her people.

Send her comforting wishes.

Trixie - Weekly Update

I am going to keep a weekly posting on Trixie's progress of her condition. She did well this past week. We are still feeding her the extra food she needs to stay active so she can do as near normal gerbil stuff as she can. Trixie is still eating, chewing, playing a little with her buddie Bud. She gets cooked noodles everyday (one noodle at least 3-4 times a day) with a little bit of her favorite baby food. Gerber's Oatmeal, banana and apple.

She is still getting her twice a day treatment of her medicine and the Povidone Scrub for her sore. She still loves to come out and climb all me. Lately, she has been loving just to perch on my shoulder. She purrs more often now.

I think she is losing a little bit of her muscle mass in her back legs. She has to struggle just a little to climb on their wooden house. Trixie does not climb the Crittertrail tubes anymore. She trys to jog in the wheel a little.

I weigh her every week now. She is still maintaining her weight around the 60-62 gram mark. She has not lost weight since I started feeding her the extra food. She does eat her normal gerbil food when hungry. She loves her pumpkin and sunflower seeds (unshelled). I did see her drink from the water bottle so I know that she is not getting dehydrated.

Patches the Gerbil

A new gerbil came into my life yesterday. A 3 year old male name Patches. I am fostering him as he is very ill and his owners can't give him the 24/7 care he needs right now. He suffered a stroke over a week ago and might have had a relapse Saturday night. They couldn't cope so I offered to care for the little guy since I am working at home for the time being. He lasted the night so I got him in to see my vet this afternoon. His teeth needed clipping. I think that would help him overall. Patches is helpless like a young gerbil pup. I have been feeding him with a syringe and his liquids also. He has responded well. He is much more fiesty than yesterday afternoon.

I got him to drink from the water bottle for a little bit. That is progress. I am switching his Karo/water solution to organic baby apple juice. He is still getting baby food with a syringe but I am hopefully once he gets strong enough that he can lap up baby food on his own.

I will keep all of you posted.

Honeybear - Possible Sick little gerbil

My little gerbil Honeybear might be sick. He has been having labored breathing for the past couple of days. She still does all her normal gerbil stuff but when she is sleeping or eating the hard breathing is very noticeable. She is over 3 1/2 years old. Her BF Buddy is 3 years old also. I am taking her in to the vet this afternoon to have her checked out. If it is respiratory infection then we can treat her. Otherwise we would just have to enjoy her and make her comfortable.

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Back from the vet and $70.00 later. The vet first listened to her heart to see if he heard anything. He did not hear anything. The vet took X-rays. Used the dental x-ray machine. He did find something and showed me the x-rays. Honeybear has a slight collasped lung on her left side and is retaining some fluid. Which is the cause of
hard breathing. The lump that HB had a few months back was on her left side.

He weighed her (91 grams). He prescribed Lixotinic (Lasix) with furosemide. They are a vitamin supplement and a diuretic to help with the water problem. .2ml twice a day oraly. He said give the medicine to her for a long as she needs. Probably the rest of her life to help ease her breathing. He gave her the first dose in the
office. The medicine is slightly sweet so she took the medicine ok. She was such a good girl at the vet's. So calm and tame towards the doctor. Didn't bite once. Buddy came with her for support.

When she went for X-rays, the vet carried her in the towel I brought and she looked so adorable with her little head sticking out.

Money doesn't matter. It was worth it to know what the problem was.

Sick Little Gerbil Digger

Since Tuesday, little Digger (one on the right) has been sick. Eyes closed. Little or no appetite. Not thirsty. Ruffled fur. Cool to the touch. I took her to the vet that Tuesday. The vet could not find what is wrong. Her eyes, lungs and heart are fine. Hesaid to keep her warm and jsut do your best. I temporary kept her in a separate cage with 2 small water bottles to keep her warm. After a few hours she was warm enough so i could put her back with HoneyBear. I have them isloated in one Crittertrail 2 cage. They usually have a #3 attached also. Digger immediately climbs to the top of the cage and stayed there. Warmest place. We hand fed her and offered the water bottle. She did eat and drink. She seemed so weak and tired. Her buddy took careof her by grooming and keeping her warm. She has made improvements slowly over the past few days. This morning I found them both in the lower part of the cage under tp where their nest is usually. Digger is feeding herself from the food bowl and hopefully that she is drinking from the water bottle. I lowered it for her. I give her a pea everyday for its vitamins, softness and water. She loves the pea. I have high hopes for her. Her coat is even looking lots better.

Added note 04/30/2007: We lost little Digger April 20th. We think it was dental and jaw problems. Even getting her teeth clipped didn't help.