Which antibiotic have you been giving?
Dehydration is a sign of underlying illness and often kills them first, but
it is not the problem itself.
It sounds to me like you definitely have a disease of some kind going
through your colony (Tyzzer's, or a respiratory ailment). If this is true,
there is a good chance the remaining gerbils may be affected as well.
Jill
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From: Hev <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: more deaths
Date: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 10:18 AM
I lost my 2 female gerbils yesterday. It was horrible, the first Momma I
found dead and half eaten in her cage, her mate had to be pulled off her as
he was munching though her, why do they do this? My 2nd Momma I found dead
at the end of the day, well she actually died in my hand, I'm so upset. I
am thinking that it is dehydration, what causes it? I have put fresh water
in their cages every day, change their litter regularly and feed them fruit
and veg as well as normal gerbil food.
If anyone can help me find out what cuases dehydration I would be very
grateful.
On a lighter note - being left with 2 cages - one with the male in and the
other with a 8 week baby and 3 week baby, I thought the best thing to do
would be to introudce them, we did it with a great amount of trepidation
and hurrah they all took to each other <great sigh of relief>.
I'm almost too scared now though to have them together as I know more
babies will result and to go thru this again is so heart wrenching.
I know it wasn't respitory disease as they are over this and have finished
the antibiotics. Both gerbils were extremely cold and thin when they died
despite being dripper fed with pedailyte.
Thanks again
~Heather
