Caring for Your Pet Gerbil

Gerbil care sheet;

Life expectancy 3 – 4 years
Adult weight 70 – 120g
Heart rate 300 – 400 bpm
Respiratory rate 90 – 140 breaths per min
Body temperature 37 – 38.5 degrees
Food consumption 5 – 8 g/day
Water consumption 4 –7 mls/day
Sexual maturity 10 – 12 weeks
Duration of oestrus 4 – 6 days
Gestation 24 – 26 days lactating
27 – 48 days non lactating
Litter size 3 – 7
Birth weight 2.5 – 3.5g
Weaned 2 – 26 days

Housing

Gerbils are sociable animals but should be housed with the same sex. They should be introduced before sexual maturity which is six to eight weeks of age. You can also keep breeding pairs together. Adult females are more likely to fight than males even if they are siblings or have been kept together since birth.

The tank should be plastic or glass, but never wire as they are unsuitable for burrowing (unless half and half as illustrated). Tanks need a deep substrate of about 15cm. This can be sawdust, wood chippings, or a mixture of peat and hay. As well as this, separate nesting bedding sho

uld also be used, this can be shredded paper or toilet tissue. Gerbils like to burrow and create tunnels so this should be taken into consideration when choosing a substrate. A separate sand bath can also be provided; these are used to maintain the condition of the coat.

Gerbils like to play so cardboard tubing and fruit tree branches can provide entertainment and also something for them to chew. The tank should be kept out of direct sunlight and away from radiators to prevent overheating and humidity should be kept at less than 30%.

Diet
Gerbils are omnivores and in the wild would feed on coarse grasses, roots seeds and occasional invertebrates. In captivity they can be fed on commercial rodent mixes with additional fresh fruit and vegetables. Gerbils may become selective feeders so things that are high in fat such as sunflower seeds should be kept to a minimum and given only as a treat.

Water should be changed daily and most gerbils will drink out of a water bottle.

Handling and restraint

Care should be taken when handling gerbils and they should be handled low to the ground  or near to a table top in case dropped as limb fractures are common from improper handling. Gerbils rarely bite, unless they are not used to being handled. They should never be picked up by the tail as the skin can strip away and expose the bone. Scruffing the gerbil stimulates an immobility response although should only be carried out by experienced handlers, or by holding around the whole body with the thumb under the gerbils chin.

Common conditions of Gerbils

Dental disease
Incisor malocclusion is common in small rodents. This means the incisors become overgrown causing problems with eating. Signs include lethargy, dehydration, anorexia and small scant droppings. Treatment can include regular burring but removal is not a practical option due to the length of the roots and a fragile skull. If the root is not removed in its entirety, there is also a chance that the tooth will grow back.

Gastrointestinal disease
Enteritis is inflammation of the gastro intestinal tract. This will result in diarrhoea, starey coat, hunched posture and skin tenting which is a sign of dehydration. General supportive treatment should be initiated such as fluids to counteract dehydration and possible change in diet as this is one of the main causes of enteritis.

Gastric dilation is also common in gerbils, gaseous distension of the stomach may be caused by feeding inappropriate diets. Gerbils are unable to vomit thus causing the stomach to distend. This is a painful condition and clinical signs include tooth grinding, difficulty breathing and lethargy. Gastric dilation can be confirmed using radiography and abdominal palpation by a veterinary surgeon. Treatment is essential as it is a life threatening disease, this can include reducing the gas in the stomach by inserting a needle in to release the gas. Drugs to increase gut mobility can also be given and pain relief is essential.

Illeus is when there is a cease in gastric motility, food is not being digested and is festering in the intestines causing a problem. Illeus is similar to gastric dilation though can be caused by intestinal impaction or a foreign body which then causes gastric dilation. Signs include small scant droppings and can be confirmed using radiography or abdominal palpation. Illeus can be caused by abdominal surgery, malocclusion anorexia or post anaesthesia.

Bacterial disease
Gerbils are prone to a disease called Tyzzers disease. This disease can be caused by poor hygiene and overcrowding. This disease is spread through faeces. Acute clinical signs include lethargy and death. Chronic signs include weight loss, diarrhoea, head tilt, in-coordination and death.

Treatment is rarely successful for this disease, prevention is aimed at improving husbandry and hygiene.

Parasitic disease
Both parasitic and fungal diseases will cause alopecia and dermatitis. They can be identified using hair plucks which are examined under a microscope to determine the exact infestation so that the right treatment can be administered.

Tail slip
This is common after incorrect handling. If the tail is grasped, the skin may deglove leaving exposed muscle and bone. If this should occur, the only treatment is amputation above the injury site.

Nutritional problems

Obesity
obesity is very common in gerbils as they can become selective feeders, picking out things such as sunflower seeds which are very high in fat. Protein levels should be 22% and fat levels should be under 4% to avoid obesity. The nutritional values can be found on all good rodent foods.

Health checking

If you are buying a gerbil, take all of the following into consideration when choosing your pet.

• Eyes – clear, never cloudy, no discharge or matting below the eyes.
   
• Ears – clean, no signs or redness or parasites
   
• Nose – clear passageways, no sneezing or discharge
   
• Teeth – all present, none overly long
  
• Mouth – free of sores or inflammation
   
• Whiskers – sufficient number, balanced in length
   
• Legs and feet – well formed, all toes and nails present and healthy
   
• Tail – normal in size and shape
   
• Rectum – clean, no matting or discolouration of hair
   
• Coat and skin – hair is smooth and thick, no patchy hair loss, no skin lesions or rash
   
• Skeleton – symmetrical, no internal lumps or bumps that would suggest abnormal internal growths.
   
• Weight – appropriate for his size and age, not skinny or overweight.