Geriatric care

Question
Vegatable and fruit baby food or meats for more protein?  And do you get special liquid vitamins for pets somewhere?
Alice
-------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
We may have the world's oldest male gerbils.  My son got them in a 7th grade science project, and he just started college, so they are at least 5 1/2 years old!  Now they are mine to care for. We have 3 males in the same cage.  They have had the run of a large 3 level ferret cage their whole lives, eat commercial food plus occasional kitchen scraps, spend their days chewing up cardboard, and have always been healthy.  But they are slowing down and spending a lot of time sleeping in their hammock.  We want to make sure they are comfortable, can you suggest any special care for elderly gerbils? Should we be giving them different or softer food? Vitamins in their water?
-----Answer-----
Hi Alice,

Sounds as though you and your son have given them a fantastic life, so well done!!!

More sleeping and less activity is to be expected, and so you need to make sure that now they are older they are always kept in a warm space with plenty of bedding for comfort!! In terms of the food, you don't need to change it, but it may be a good idea to provide vitamins in the water or on the food as this will help them to keep healthy and have the intake they need of vitamins. Not only this, but the vitamins will line the stomach, and help fight illness etc.
You can give extra protein if you wish, in the form of baby food (human baby food is good). This is also much softer and they really enjoy it once a day. I give it to mine sometimes, they love it.

Other than that there is nothing special you need to do!! Keep on as you are, you are doing a fab job!!

Thanks,
Charlie.

Answer
Hi Alice,

Just a vegetable and fruit mixture is best, i don't know whether you can get the Cow and Gate range where you live?? This range is particularly good, the best flavour is:

1. Sunshine Bananna (this is a powder you mix with water to make a smooth paste).

You should be able to buy vitaimins in either a liquid of powder form at your local pet store, if you can't find any there i sell vitamins on my website so take a look!!

If you need anymore help feel free to ask,

Thanks,
Charlie.
www.freewebs.com/gerbilworld