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> From: Kim Molsberry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Bloody Discharge
> Date: 30 April 2000 22:03
>
> Hello List,
> I have yet another calamity!! My mother gerbil now has a 3 week old
> litter and I was playing with them all and I picked the mom up and she
> was all bloody. I cleaned her up and watched her and when she went down
> to clean herself i picked her up and and she is having a bloody
> discharge. The blood is very sticky and makes strings if you put it on a
> napkin and then put it apart. What can i do? s Do you think she
> miscarried?
> Please help.
> Kim and Gerbils
Sorry about your problems, Kim
This sounds very much like a threatened miscarriage. I have seen this
several times before. Usually, the female goes on to give birth to live
and healthy babies. Of course, it may be that she has lost the odd pup,
but you will never know for sure. However, to be on the safe side I would
try to handle this gerbil as little as possible until she does give birth.
There is something that strikes me as slightly worrying when I read this
post and your previous post. Miscarriage and dragging the back legs are
both common symptoms of listeria infection. To be honest, I don't know
whether gerbils are susceptible to this organism. However, it is common in
chinchillas and listlessness combined with dragging the back legs, is the
main symptom. I am only mentioning this as listeria is something that is
transmissible to humans. Usually, it is a mild illness but is can cause
miscarriage in pregnant women or severe illness in someone who is
immuno-compromised. Just to be on the safe side I would not let anyone
who is pregnant handle your gerbils. Don't get too alarmed. It is
probably not this, but just in case.
Cheers
Sue
