Hi Kathy,
IMHO
There are many benefits of an exercise wheel, that is true. But there are
also many risks. I've had pups crawl under a wheel and then had the mom or
dad start running. And once a first-time mom took a pup in her mouth and ran
on the wheel with it. Luckily, I didn't have any bad injuries. But I have
heard of several incidents where there has been babies seriously injured or
killed.
Another thing I've had happen is for the mom and/or dad to run constantly,
barely tending to the pups. Even if you take the wheel out, the parent could
get aggravated without their wheel and still ignore the pups.
About the exercise thing, I believe that the parents get enough exercise with
5 hungry, squirming, helpless babies, and could live without a wheel for 5
weeks ;)
Paige
Kathleen DiMaggio wrote:
> I would like to hear if others have had any injuries to pups or even adult
> gerbils due to the wheel. It has been my assertion that the benefits of
> exercise far outweigh the minimal risk of injury.
>
> Thank you,
> Kathy
