My gerbil won't eat or drink, is still, breathing fast. Vet needed?

This cannot wait until Monday. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

He might be suffering from a severe respiratory infection, which is the most common medical condition in rats. you need to take him to the vet urgently in order to get treated, he will need antibiotics and medications to help him breath.

If he will allow, check his teeth for overgrowth or misalignment. Also, look for obvious signs of infection or injury. This may include redness, swelling, bleeding, bruising or discharge. If you see anything suspicious, he will need to be seen by your veterinarian for confirmation and treatment. If his teeth are fine, clean his cage and sanitize bowls, water bottle, toys and hides. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Maintain a stable temperature and keep him as stress free as possible. If his symptoms persist, a veterinary exam will be needed.

Without a physical exam, it is difficult to determine what the lump is and what her medical status is currently. Ideally, she should be examined by your veterinarian. Antibiotics can be dispensed for minor infection. A fine needle aspirate can be done to collect samples for pathology. She is "old" for a gerbil, but more information would be needed before determine a course of action, let alone euthanasia.

Hello, Many small rodents already naturally carry the bacteria that causes upper respiratory infections, but the bacteria can overgrow when they have another illness that is suppressing their immune system, are under some stress (such as a move), or in unclean conditions with poor diet. It sounds like in your case, it's more likely to be one of the first two reasons. You can read a little more about it here: https://www.petcoach.co/article/mycoplasma-infections-in-mice-and-rats/ I would recommend having Ophelia seen by a vet to start some antibiotics. We generally use a combination of two antibiotics to tackle this difficult bug- most commonly, a combination of enrofloxacin and doxycycline. These can be compounded into a flavored liquid for easier medicating. I hope this helps! Thanks for using PetCoach!

I am sorry to hear that. If you feel that your gerbil is extremely ill, you should seek veterinary attention, either to try and make it well again or to help end its suffering. I of course understand this is never an easy decision but sometimes it is the kindest thing we can offer. If you would like to post a more detailed question regarding your gerbil, myself or someone else would be happy to try and help. Hope this makes sense.

Thanks for reaching out about Skye. The main answer is she needs to be seen by a veterinarian, because if the leg if fractured, it is painful and will not heal unless stabilized. Offering food by hand is the only way to feed if she is not eating on her own. Even if not fractures, pain medications could help. Good luck.