My son got two gerbils four years ago. One of them died about a month ago, must have happened during the night as we just got up and found him lying there. The other one seemed to get a new lease of life after his wee pal died and has been running about and digging in his cage as usual. This morning he just didn't look right. One side of his face is all swollen and one of his eyes looks crusty. He seems to be breathing very heavily but he is still moving around the cage, albeit slower than normal, and seems to be eating, but I haven't seen him drink.

I don't really know what to do for him. His cage is usually cleaned out on a Sunday (I'm a stickler for routine ) but I don't want to be stressing him out any more than I have to. I realise 4 is a good age for a gerbil and it may be that his time is just up but it's quite distressing watching him I just want him to be comfortable and I keep wishing he would just quietly go to sleep and slip away. Luckily neither of the kids have noticed anything is up so far.

I don't really know what kind of advice I'm looking for to be honest! Is it worth trying to clean his cage or will it upset him? Should I just let nature take its course or take him to the vet?

Well from your description he is suffering so vet ASAP I would say, they can ether help him or PTS gently waiting for nature just prolongs his suffering.

Sadly these wee creatures aren't long lived all you can do is give them the best life you can while you have them which I am sure you have done, now last loving thing you can do is get him help at the end of his life.

I would ring the vets first thing tomorrow. It sounds like he has maybe a absess or tumour, if the former some antibiotics should help.

He's a fine old age for a gerbil.

Yes, he's a great age. Our small pets always seem to live a long and happy life - the hamster my son had before the gerbils was nearly 5 when he went!

Since I have typed my original post, he seems to have perked up a bit - not breathing quite so heavily and moving around faster. Will definitely give our vet a wee phone in the morning. He's just down the road, so easy enough to get to. I don't like seeing the wee soul suffering and want to do what's best for him.

Thanks for the replies

how is little gerbil now?

Four is a damn good age for a gerbil. I've been keeping them since the 70s and can count on one hand how many made it to four.

Aw, thanks for asking. He's gone He seemed a bit better before we went to bed, was climbing up his ladders and doing that feet thumping thing they do but when I got up he was lying peacefully in the corner. He was a great age though and he was a right wee character. Will bury him beside his wee pal once the kids are away to school/nursery. I admit to having a wee cry this morning....

I'm sorry you've lost your little furball. Unfortunately, being prey species, small animals like rodents and rabbits hide pain very well, so that by the time an owner notices something is wrong, it is usually too late as the illness is already well advanced. This coupled with the fact that small furries tend to go downhill very quickly and the chances of recovery are slim. 4 really is an amazing age for a gerbil though, you must have given him a great life to get him that far.

Thank you He was fine one day, not the next so he went downhill really quickly. He was a bit of a vicious wee git, once managed to nip one of the cats paws when she got a little to close for comfort (she never went near the cage again ), so I knew something was wrong went he didn't lunge for my fingers as soon I gave him fresh food in the morning, lol He was well loved though and will be missed, him and his wee pal.

oh no

That's the thing about gerbils, they don't live very long (I had some as a child and always got very upset when they passed away) but I agree, 4 is a great age so you must have been a good owner (or gerbil had good gerbilly genes)

Perfectly understandable to have a little cry!

best wishes

Thank you. I always had gerbils or a hamster when I was growing up as well, I had forgotten how attached you get to the wee things. They were actually my son's gerbils, but needless to say mum ended up being the main carer