- Provide a soft bed, and keep the cage clean and free of stress.
- Offer your gerbil plenty of food and water, and if it is unable to eat or drink on its own, you may need to syringe-feed it.
2. Provide pain relief.
- If your gerbil is in pain, you can give it a pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Be sure to follow the dosing instructions on the medication label.
3. Be present for your gerbil.
- Spend time with your gerbil and talk to it in a soothing voice.
- Your presence can help to comfort your gerbil and reduce its stress.
4. Be prepared to let go.
- When the time comes, it will be important to let your gerbil go peacefully. It is difficult to say goodbye to your pet, but it is the kindest thing you can do if your gerbil is suffering.
Here are some additional tips that may be helpful:
- Handle your gerbil gently and avoid picking it up if it is uncomfortable.
- Keep the cage in a quiet area of the house, away from other pets and children.
- If your gerbil is losing weight, you can offer it a high-calorie diet such as a mixture of seeds, nuts, and dried fruit.
- If your gerbil is having difficulty breathing, you can open the cage door.
- If your gerbil is dying, you can stay with it until it passes away.