My Gerbil Is Sitting In A Corner Of Its Cage, It Won't Open Its Eyes, & It's Breathing Very Slowly. Is It Dying?

My girlfriends gerbil has been experiencing the same syptoms over the past 4 days. We took it to the Vets yesterday and were given some antibiotics to syring feed to it. They advised that you keep the gerbil warm using a heat pad or a hot water bottle under its cage. Make sure you give it plenty of bedding and seperate it from other gerbils if its still in the same cage as others.
Also a bit of personal advice, if your gerbil is not eating or drinking, grind up some of their food to a power and mix it in with a few drops of water.
Gerbils stop eating when they are run down with an illness or when their depressed. Yet if they do not eat, they die.. Make sure you get him/her some food as they are not smart enough to realise this. - force feed with syring if nessecary.
I wish you and your gerbil all the best.
Good luck!
Sam

My gerbil is doing the same thing. I'm worried it's something I've done. Yesterday she was completely fine, moving around acting completely as normal but I took her and her sister out and put them in another box to change their bedding. Today she is just lying still with her eyes closed breathing really fast and won't open her eyes. I'd like to think it's just a problem with her eyes but she's really not herself either. She's usually quite timid, but I just scooped her up out of her cage today with no problems at all and she didn't move when I held her. I was with a friend last night who had two gerbils and one ate the other when it died so I've taken her from her cage and put her in another box. Not sure if this is a good idea but I didnt want the other gerbil getting ill or eating her when she's dead.

Your gerbil is exhibiting signs of illness or pain.  It is possible that your gerbil is dying.  It would be best to have your gerbil examined by a veterinarian.  If your gerbil continues to have labored breathing, stops eating and drinking it will die.  

If your gerbil has his eyes closed and is not moving he may be dying.  If the gerbil is moving around this could be an eye infection, or ocular trauma.  Have your gerbil examined by a veterinarian.

I am sorry to say that if you have had him/her for a long time, it probably is. At most I believe they live about 3 years. Sorry.

You need to take it to the vet and hopefully   they will be able to sort it out.

TAKE IT 2 THE VET IMMEDIATELY!  It could have a serious case of a gerbil disease...  How old is it?  Let me me know wut happens by commenting on this answer...

Sounds like a respiratory infection.

I would watch it and see what happens, in a day or so if it is not back to normal I would bring it to a vet...but it should not become a financial problem...good luck

Your Gerbil is either may have been shocked when you were putting it in / taking it out the box or it may just want some time on its own ( If it continues to stay in that position for 1 - 2 more days I recommend seeing a vet )
Finally your gerbil may be suffering from old age, it may have an eye problem or a differant disease like diharia.

I Would Also Recommend Seeing A Gerbil Site Or Buying A Gerbil Guide Book To Help.

Yes it is