My gerbil is awake but eyes closed, not eating, falling. What's wrong?

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.

Thanks for reaching out about Gerald and including photos. Squinty eyes can be due to infections or inflammation of the eyes, or even congenital problems. A veterinary visit can assist with the first two. Maintain good nutrition and husbandry. Discontinue any dust baths, if offered. Any chance of an aerosol spray into the eyes. Good luck.

Nightingale sounds very sick. My best advice is for you to get him to a vet for an exam as soon as possible. His symptoms are not specific for any one illness or disease process so there is not much I can tell you without examining him myself. Your vet will need to see him to get this figured out and to get him the proper treatment. Best wishes.

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.

This could just be Biscit's personality or he could be not feeling well. If he is eating good and willing to play or move around some, then you may not be that concerned. If not or you aren't sure, I would have a vet take a look at him to see if there is anything else going on. Your vet should be able to get him started on the proper treatment plan to help him feel better if needed. I hope this helps!

Hello, I would recommend taking Lightning into your veterinarian as soon as possible. It sounds like she is very weak, possibly from illness or pain, and requires immediate medical attention. Hair falling out can be a sign of skin mites in gerbils, and the discomfort can lead to a lack of appetite and energy. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.