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welcome | facts | choosing | feeding | looking after | care | links | leaflets To be able to make a decision whether or not your gerbil is well, you need to know what is “normal” for them. Like children, behaviour in gerbils can be inherited or learnt. Some behaviour is instinctive, such as suckling their mother as soon as they are born. The rest of a gerbil’s behaviour is learnt from parents and by observation, and then becomes instinctive. Animals continually learn throughout their lives. They rely heavily on sight, sound and smell. Verbal signals are avoided as they could result in detection by a predator. The functions of behaviour are to eat, to avoid being eaten, and to reproduce. Click on a link below to find out more: |
Gerbils are diurnal and sleep for short periods throughout the day and night. In the wild this means that they are alert and on the look out for predators when they leave their burrows. The constant temperature in the burrows protects them from the freezing temperatures at night and the hottest temperatures during the day. Gerbils go out and forage for their food when the temperature suits them best. Solitary gerbils can suffer behavioural problems and
can pine for company.
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If you provide the correct care, diet, environment, exercise and attention to your gerbil it will normally stay fit and healthy, and will be bright, alert and eating and drinking normally. Younger and older pets are often more susceptible to illness due to lowered resistance. Handling your pet every day gives you the opportunity to examine him for signs that may indicate illness. Gerbils should be bright and alert. Monitor their food intake to check that they are eating and drinking normally. Any change in normal behaviour may indicate an underlying
problem. eating or drinking more or less than normal
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Gerbils do not often get ill but, because of their size,
if they do get sick they can deteriorate very quickly. If your gerbil
looks ill, take him to the vet immediately. |
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As with all rodents, gerbil’s teeth continue to grow throughout their life. Should your gerbil be injured and a tooth become misaligned, the opposite tooth will grow as it has nothing opposing it on which to grind. Gerbils require fibre in their diet and gnaws to ensure the teeth are evenly worn and to prevent overgrowth. Overgrown teeth can cause a number of problems including abscesses, inability to eat and, in extreme cases; can grow back into the gerbil’s face. Regular clipping of the teeth may be necessary to prevent
any problems associated with overgrown teeth; your vet will be able to
do this for you. Trimming of teeth is not painful for the gerbil, although
they may wriggle a lot! Indication of dental problems may be saliva around
the mouth or on the chest or front paws, an inability to eat or teeth
grinding. Seek veterinary advice if you are at all concerned
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Overfeeding with green food is the most common cause of
diarrhoea. You should stop feeding green food immediately if your gerbil
has diarrhoea and allow it only to eat its gerbil mix. Take your gerbil
to the vet immediately as loss of fluid through diarrhoea can be life
threatening.
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Gerbils can catch colds from humans so, if you have a cold,
you should keep the handling of your gerbil and its food to the minimum.
Your gerbil will have a runny nose and sneeze if he has a cold and should
be kept in a warm room. Isolate the affected gerbil from the rest of
the group as colds can spread through colonies. Take him to the vet if
the condition has not cleared in two to three days, or if you have any
concerns at all.
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Tyzzers Disease is a very serious liver condition and your gerbil will have diarrhoea, look tired and weak and will lose appetite. Take your gerbil to the vet immediately if your gerbil has these symptoms, as this disease is often fatal. Good hygiene in the gerbilarium and using good quality
bedding and burrowing material will help prevent this disease.
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