Gerbil is tense and wobbles

[Kelethin]

I just got a gerbil about 3-4 weeks ago. It's about a year and a half old. It is/was VERY active.

When I woke up this morning, my gerbil (Skatterz) was walking around seeming very tense/tight and he was wobbling around (like a stiff drunk). I called two of my local vets and they do not tend to gerbils and I couldn't personally get in touch with either of them to at least find out what is wrong with my gerbil.

It doesn't look like he ate any food from his bowl (which is usually near empty each morning), but I did get him to eat a few pieces of food from my hand. He usually (almost always) drinks a lot right after he eats, but didn't this time.

It looks almost like he's had a stroke. He's moving very slow and wobbles with his steps (all of his legs look/move fine) He's just laying down inside his nest right now and I can tell that he doesn't feel good (looks pretty weak).

Does anyone know what's wrong with my gerbil? I don't know what to do... There doesn't seem like there is anything I can do... And it's making me feel horrible.

[Carissa]

Hmm I dont know but a few of my hamsters/mice had this happen..Does she/he kind of fall while walking somtimes? I hope he gets better.

[Chin Addict]

hi
i adopted a rat once that had bad head wobbles i just couldn't leave him in the petshop.
i put him on a diet of foods high in vit B or thamine that particular vit helps with brain cells and can help with brain injuries but you also need to make sure your gerbil takes folate acid too because if he is low on folate acid he will not be able to absorb the vit B you give him.
my ratty Bobbles(RIP) really loved cooked brown rice and this diet actaully almost stopped his head wobbles but you need to take your boy to the vets to have it checked out if he is not eating than there could be something else wrong.
good luck hope this helps i don't know that much about gerbils as we do not have them in NZ but check the net for foods high in vit B that he can eat

[Padfoot]

Gerbils commonly have seizures. This is because blood sometimes doesn't reach their brains as it's supposed to. It usually occurs when something scares the gerbil. If this was a seizure, then the gerbil should be fine after a couple of hours, maybe a bit tired, but walking and eating normally. It is still recomended that the gerbil sees a vet. Good luck and let us know how he's doing.

[andreaS15]

Can he move all his limbs?
Sometimes gerbils can also have strokes, and these will leave them weak (as do seizures), some strokes paralize parts of the gerbil. I had one who's left side was paralized after a major stroke.