I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to agree with Tony. I took my mama to the vet today (turns out she's ok, just has a minor eye irritation), and it only cost me $12. Maybe there's another vet in the area that may be more reasonable? Just a suggestion, to calm your husband's nerves and wallet ;)
-Jess > $44 prt gerbil?! Thats a *pardon me language* a rip off... our local vet > here (it's a practice, but we see their hamster/gerbil/mouse savvy vet) only > charges �10 per session, plus any medication req'd... > > Thats about $14-$15 plus the medication > > Tony P > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jean M Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 4:30 PM > Subject: took babies to vet/Jean > > > > Well, I took Persian (formerly "Jumper," but she jumps less & purrs more > > now) and Scratchy, my 5-1/2 week old babies, to the vet today. My > > husband was aghast that it cost $44 per gerbil and said, "Those gerbils > > are costing us a lot (toys, food, bedding, vet, etc.). We'll do it this > > once, but not again." (sigh) He's not an animal lover in any sense of > > the word, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Anyway, I was going to > > have the vet examine just one of the gerbils so I could pay only the $44, > > but then I decided I'd best have her examine both of them. It turns out > > that they have respiratory infections, even though they aren't yet > > clicking. The one with the worst nose may have some skin infection thing > > going on, too. She said the corn cobbing bedding is not as good as > > paper-based bedding since there's more dust in it and a fungus tends to > > grow in it. She recommended using Care Fresh or Yesterday's News, for > > example. Anyway, she gave me an antibiotic to give them 2x per day for > > 10 days, and she gave me a sample of block food that's supposed to be > > healthier for them than mixes I was buying. (I think it might be called > > "High Performance," or something - I don't have the bag right with me at > > the computer.) She said that handling the babies from a young age is a > > good thing, but to not have too much activity going on around them and to > > not handle them excessively. > > > > Anyway, I got home and checked out the nose on the last gerbil from the > > last litter and *she* had a little drainage, I think, *and* I noticed she > > was clicking, so I called the vet and she said I can give her the > > medicine, too. Maybe I'll get lucky and these babies will survive. She > > said the ornicycline is kind of a lower-grade antibiotic so it doesn't > > work as well as this other stuff she gave me (something pink, I don't > > recall the name of it.) > > > > Actually, there's a certain peace of mind that comes from having them > > under a doctor's care, as silly as it may sound. The receptionist told > > me, too, that vet visits for a dog or cat run about $35, but they spend > > less time with the pet and give less information *and* gerbils don't have > > to be vaccinated and all. At least, that's what I'm planning to tell my > > husband so he doesn't hit the roof tonight. ;-) > > -Jean
