>we took 2 of our gerbils to the Veterinarian today to get their
>teeth clipped (they were splintered and too long). Both were
>still doing fine before (eating, nibbling cardboard), but now that
>we are back from the Vet they can't nibble anything at all.
It could be that to get a crack or something the vet was forced
to trim them very short...'too short'. Else the crack would keep
on and the gerbil would be right back with the crack going
even farther.....
>They are frantically trying to eat their normal food, but can't get
>anything off.
I would offer some soft food, like applesauce, cooked oatmeal
cooked cream of wheat, and fruit medly baby food. You can
also feed them with an eyedropper or needle-less syringe.
>What can I do? I'm cooking them oatmeal right now, what else is
>there for them to eat until their teeth have grown back enough
>for them to be useful again.
See above. I have had a few that I've had to trim myself,
(hubby is not amused about being drafted as assistant to
hold in these matters) and to take care of a further problem,
they've been trimmed a little too short.....
>I'm really angry at the Vet right now (she hasn't called back yet
>after my call)
Do simmer. You need to be on good terms with your vet.
Do ask though, if there was a problem that she had had to
trim so short for? And should you keep an eye out for further
cracking?
If they answer no, then, *GENTLY* tell them what's going
on, and to trim longer next time. Be polite, although it may
be hard.
>and very worried about our two gerbs.
They will be fine if you give them care, as it sounds like you're
doing. A week to two weeks and they should be back to
munching what they want to.
>Has anyone had anything like this happen before?
Yes.
Another thing you can add to the diet while they are recovering
is something called 'Reptocal', it's sold as a mineral suppliment
for iguanas and snakes. The original use is to dust the crickets
or feeder animal with it before feeding the snake, lizard, frog,
or other reptile; to add missing things to the diet.
I use just a teensy on fresh food (like apples or greens) when
feeding, especially if I have a broken tooth or rehydration recoveree
[had respiratory or diahrrea problems and on the rebound]...and
given to lactating females to help with milk production.
With soft food feeding, a tiny pinch sprinkled on applesauce
or fruit medly baby food, then fed, will help. It gives calcium
amongst other things....
***************************
Someone that I knew that raised their own rats to feed their
snakes (they always put the animal down just before feeding,
and fed their snake in another area other than their normal
cage) started to feed it to the baby (pinkie) rats it with cream
a few hours before feeding...and would give the rats the leftover
'salad' they would make up for their iguana...and found that the
rats started having larger, healthier litters when they got 'leftovers'
dusted with reptocal all the time.
I use it quite sparingly; between that and the milkbone dog
biscuits I feed once a week, it keeps my gerbils and hamsters
healthy and I get large litters (from the hamsters, anyway).
[gerbils, I'm still working on what makes them 'happy campers'
and producing pups <g>]
**********************
>Susanne
Deb
Rebel's Rodent Ranch
P.S. If you want, email me privately, and let me know how
your gerbils are doing. I'd like to know.....
