My gerbil is sick

Question
My gerbil is sick. He's probably around 2 or 3 years old. Taking him to the vet is too expensive but my mom, who is a nurse and used to work for a veterinarian, and my sister take care of him while I'm at college, and I just found this out this weekend (it was pretty recent) so I'm helping now. He can't seem to open his eyes very much. My mom got him some kind of antibiotics, which she mixed with orange juice and we've been trying to feed him it. I'm hoping and praying that he won't die while I'm at school. What might be wrong with him?

Answer
Hello Laura,

It sounds like old age! My last gerbil suddenly became slow and slept a lot. You could pick her up and she wouldn't move. She didn't really open her eyes either!! She just wanted to sleep all the time!

Signs of old age can appear anytime from the age of 2-4, which is their normal lifespan!

Give the antibiotics a try, and just make sure you are keeping him really warm. Plently of bedding, you can give tissues as well so he have a nice warm bed.

Let me know how he gets on, and if anything else happens and you want to ask anything go ahead!!

I hope he is ok!!!

Thank you,
Charlie.