I would get them both to a gerbil-knowledgeable vet ASAP! The remaining
foot will probably need to be amputated and she should have a course of
antibiotics as a precaution against infection. The mother should be checked
as well- weight loss in spite of appetite could indicate numerous things
and should be followed up.
Jill
----------
> From: Ann-Marie L. Roberts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Mutilated Gerbil
> Date: Thursday, November 09, 2000 7:58 PM
>
> > Hi. I was feeding all my gerbils yesterday when I noticed my 9 week
old
> > Siamese female was limping. Concerned, I took her out, and to my
horror,
> saw
> > that her left hind foot was mutilated. It is mostly chew off, altough
> still
> > attached is twisted around and dead. The other half is a stump covered
in
> > dried blood. I was shocked- she was in with her normally placid mother
> who
> > had never done anything like this. I took the mother out, and after
> feeling
> > her, realized that she is very thin. I am not sure what to do about
> either-
> > the skinny mother who is eating well but not gaining anything, and the
> > half-mutilated baby. The baby looks good otherwise and is moving
around
> > well. Any ideas? Thanks
> >
> > Sarah
> >
> It's possible that the mother was trying to chase her out of the nest. I
> have had gerbil moms do this with older litters when it was time for a
new
> litter to be delivered.
>
> Is there any other gerbils in the tank? If there is a male in there, the
mom
> may have felt that the nine week old female was a threat to her, by this
I
> mean, the mother may have felt that the younger female may try to
challenge
> her for the male.
>
> Ann-Marie Roberts
> T&T Gerbils, member of the AGS
> Pup Count Project creator and maintainer
> Please visit my website and pup count project at:
> http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Reserve/1928/
> The American Gerbil Society
> http://www.geocities.com/amergerbsoc/index.html
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