[Raven81]

I have had my rescued gerbils for 3 years, unfortunately as they were rescued we have no idea how old they were when we got them except that they were fully grown.

Over the last week or so one of them has a lump growing on the side of her face. The skin is not broken, it is just a large, hairless lump which has quickly grown. 

She is OK in herself, still eating, drinking, digging and playing.  I have got her out a couple of times and examined the lump which doesn't seem to worry her at all - I have stroked and pressed it and she doesn't react to it at all.

I know the day is close where I have to take her to the vet to get put down.  I couldn't put an elderly gerbil through surgery, and to be honest she probably wouldn't survive the anaesthetic, even if they could/would operate.   

[Paul Plots]

If the animal is not in pain then I'd leave well alone... only thing is how do you tell if a gerbil is in pain?

Eating and behaving normally so I guess you're right.

[joyfull]

I seem to remember that mice are prone to tumours and growths (many years ago our school mouse which we all took turns on taking home for the weekends and holidays had loads of such growths) so perhaps gerbils are the same. If she doesn't flinch when you touch it then don't worry, as soon as she shows any signs of it hurting or it restricting her from her daily routine then you know the time has come  .

[evie2]

Hamsters are prone to lumps too, ours had one removed with surgery but 18 months later she had one develop very quickly in her ear and had to be euthanised

[Raven81]

I know that when the time comes it is fairer to eunthanise.

It is so difficult as she is so well within herself, if she had stopped eating or seemed to be in pain it would make the decision far easier. 

[Paul Plots]

I'm not sure if this is right or not but I think I heard that gerbils will attack weaker / sickly members within their own group.

If this is correct then I'd keep a closer eye on the ailing one just in case.
Sorry if the information is wrong... I don't want to unnecessarily alarm you but it occurred to me reading the latest post.

[sneezer]

Hi I had a mouse which developed a tumor, I took her to the vet and basically she was in no pain and the advice was to just keep an eye and if the lump started to interfere with her mobility or quality of life then it would be time- unfortuantely the lump grew very quickly but the fact she was in no pain up to the end made things easier for me.  

[spottymint]

I'm not sure if this is right or not but I think I heard that gerbils will attack weaker / sickly members within their own group.

If this is correct then I'd keep a closer eye on the ailing one just in case.
Sorry if the information is wrong... I don't want to unnecessarily alarm you but it occurred to me reading the latest post.

I had 2 gerbils as a kid, one had a stroke. The other one cleaned it & looked after it, it just looked like it was sleeping for days on end, never waking up. No signs of attack, so hopefully will be ok.

Lumps in rodents are normally tumours, after having rats opperated on, they never really got over it & died within a few months. I would let them be until they begin to suffer than euthanaise.

[Raven81]

She's still going strong!!! Kept me awake half the night digging in the wood shavings as usual!
Even still hunting for treats.  I honestly don't think she knows theres anything wrong with her.

[Raven81]

Just a quick update to say the gerbil died this morning.    She was running around last night so it must have been quick.  I don't think the other gerbil has noticed!!

[Yorkie]

Oh dear.  At least it sounds as though it was quick and she wasn't suffering.

[Snap Dragon]

Aah bless her.

She was happy up to the end and spared you the sad trip to the vets.

RIP little gerbil (I don't think you mentioned her name)
xx

[Paul Plots]

Happy one minute and gone the next... sad but not the worst way to go. 

[Raven81]

Aah bless her.

She was happy up to the end and spared you the sad trip to the vets.

RIP little gerbil (I don't think you mentioned her name)
xx

That was exactly my feeling, we knew it would happen sometime soon.

Her name was Sandy.

[joyfull]

RIP Sandy, xx