>From: Tasha Rieck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: Tasha Rieck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: GERBIL RANT
>Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 19:22:37 CST
>
>Does anyone remember when I posted, asking opinions about taking a pair of
>gerbils into my Biology class? Well, I ended up bringing Alyssa and
>Ashwin, and their older triplets, as well as 6 2 day olds. This was
>approx.
>two weeks ago that the finally went in to stay. Well, today I walked into
>Biology and Mrs. Wiltgen says, "Tasha, go look at your gerbils, I think
>there's something wrong with the white one." I went back, expecting the
>little runty to have a bald back (which she was in the process of out
>growing) or some other minor thing, as every time ANYTHING happens my class
>goes bonkers. Well, the lil white one was walking round the cage in
>circles. Her head was tilted to one side and she was very cold. Isn't
>that
>either a broken spine or brain damage from the gerbil being dropped?
Hey Tasha,
One of our gerbils was dropped as a pup, and exhibited pretty much the same
symptoms as your white one, minus the cold and lurching around. Paige was
told it was broken spine or head trauma and we never did determine which.
BUT....the good news is that Blaine survived, continued to grow and is now
almost as big as his cagemate and very fat and sleek and sassy! He
continues to lurch around, (stopped moving in circles within about 36 hours
I think) head still somewhat tilted, but compensates well for his
disability. When he's moving he's less unstable than when he's still. When
he eats, I've noticed he often props himself against the cage class, or the
food bowl because he'll sometimes just tip over! But he plays with Lance,
his cage mate, they sleep together, he's playful.....in short, acts like a
normal healthy gerbil except for his unsteadiness.
I hope your little guy survives, and does well in spite of her disability.
Ronni
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