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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 12, 2004 22:11:37 GMT -4
At the health club they can check body fat with calipers or with some electronic gizmo that sends electricity through your feet. I also know that "normal" for people can vary a lot, even besides body fat to muscle ratios.
Petey the gerb has always been big. There are some I am looking at suspiciously as they are now just over two years old. In fact, it was almost two years ago I got my first six gerbils from a breeder: Chrissie, Crystal, Tommy, Dill, Cliffy, and Phil. Dill seems "bigger" lately.
So, is there any way to check for abnormal size in a gerb, and excessive fat tissue? Or do I merely guesstimate with a pinch around the middle?
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Post by jeannie on Jul 12, 2004 22:45:49 GMT -4
I use a kitchen gram scale that I ordered just to weight everybody - it's a great way to monitor their weight, so you get a sense of when somebody is not feeling well.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 13, 2004 0:00:42 GMT -4
I'd better get a scale. But I wonder about weight variances owing to age, either up or down.
If I had time I'd run them around more in play bins. . . if only. . .
Dill looks too big and soft in the middle; he has also gotten very calm and docile, which I hope is a reflection of his relations with me other than some malady. I assume so.
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Post by jeannie on Jul 13, 2004 0:08:02 GMT -4
After what I've seen in recent months, I would be more worried about gerbils losing weight. A big gerbil is probably just fine - and is just starting to getting up there, with a slowing metabolism, and mellowing out.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jul 13, 2004 7:08:32 GMT -4
I suppose. They are a mellow bunch now, the Gang of Four. I let Tommy climb all over my back yesterday, right after Sam did. He had a nice time sniffing away at the fragrant remnants of Sam.
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