If they do not, take them to the vet immediately. Gerbils are great pets for people who want a low-maintenance companion. They took the assigned diet for an additional three weeks. The falls if they are of great height taking into account the size of the animal can cause serious injuries like fractures, contusions and even the death. If your gerbil appears to have a reddish nose, its nose is likely running and it may need treatment for an allergic reaction or respiratory issue. As a result, you can make your gerbil feel more comfortable by providing a dark, quiet space to live in, where it wont be disturbed. Gerbils are very sensitive to temperature changes, and something as innocent as keeping your buddy's cage too near an AC vent can cause problems with your little pet. Signs that your gerbil may be ill include lethargy, loss of appetite, rapid weight loss or gain, and aggression. Unfortunately, this damages the skin irreparably and can cause tumors. The outer layer can come off; this is known as de-gloving and is extremely painful for them. there is a mouse strain, a rat strain, etc. You will notice a hard lump forming around the scent gland if your gerbil is sick. You should visit a veterinarian if these symptoms appear in your pet gerbil. "Told me that my gerbil is probably sick.". The two fighting gerbils will stand facing each other, perhaps pressing noses. Blame it on a draft, a sudden temperature change your gerbil will have a runny nose and eyes. If youre concerned about your gerbil, the best option is to contact a veterinarian. The symptoms of a stroke include difficulty moving or complete paralysis, lethargy, and closed eyes. To prevent this from happening, go to your veterinarian quickly for proper treatment. Other Animal Species. Spray and clean the enclosure with an antibacterial spray. Visit your vet to confirm the diagnosis. Unfortunately, there is nothing that you can do to help a gerbil that has a stroke. Your gerbil's health issues may not have been caused by allergies. As soon as you find something, take your gerbil to the vet. Do not use sawdust or anything pine or cedar based. This might involve separating them to live in new groups, administering antibiotics, or cleaning their cages more often. However, its not uncommon for one gerbil to grow bigger than the other. The mother may be starving, Gerbils are omnivores, so they can eat animal and plant-based foods. Wrobel did a study of the relationship between symptoms of grief . Causes: Falls, fights, wheel with bars. Once your gerbil dies, youll need to deal with the body quickly. Why Do Gerbils Tails Fall Off? This prevents them from disturbing the animal or making it stressed. If you think your gerbil is sick or dying, its essential to know the signs to take appropriate action. When your gerbil is in the final stages of life, you can be a bit more relaxed with the number of treats you feed it. Scent gland tumors are more common in male gerbils, but can occasionally be found in females. Even if a gerbil survives every health issue that comes its way, it wont grow that old. If you're taking a dying person's blood pressure regularly, you're likely to see it drop in the days and weeks before death. A gerbil with diarrhea is easily dehydrated. Treatment: Change the type of bedding. . However, as the owner, youll want to keep your gerbil as comfortable as possible while its dying. About 20% of gerbils will develop seizures. Thats because of the gerbils genetics. It also prevents them from becoming malnourished, which can make death a more uncomfortable experience. Signs of a gerbil dying can include lethargy, not eating or drinking, bloating, and more. According to Physiology and Behavior, a female gerbils heart rate is around 300 BPM during pregnancy. While each seizure wont cause lasting damage, their continuation can cause issues. This drops to around 250 during lactation. Gerbils are hardy rodent pets that rarely get sick, but one disease that they are particularly susceptible to is Tyzzer's disease. Alternatively, switch it off for a few days. So, take your pet in for your vet to look at. Signs of infection include diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, rough hair coat, a swollen or bloated abdomen, or fetal death in a pregnant female. It can also hypertrophy. Dental overgrowth: it is not a frequent condition in gerbils, but it can be the case if they have any malformation in the mouth or do not wear them properly due to a bad diet or bad lodging. Lastly, some people may not know how to save a dying gerbil. The loud noises and bright lights of a house can also cause stress. Contact your Fort Collins vet immediately if your pet gerbil . If youre concerned about your gerbil, the most significant thing to do is seek advice from a veterinarian. Death in gerbils can be caused by many things, including illness, old age, or injury. Gerbils from Asia rather than black rats were responsible for repeated outbreaks of the bubonic plague in Europe, a study suggests. Gus, the Class Pet Who Slit His Wrists on a Tape Dispenser. Another common sign of gerbil death is loss of appetite. Gerbils numbers would increase, he said, whenever a hot summer followed a wet spring. Burying your gerbil in the backyard is the best way to show it respect and say your goodbyes. [Gerbil Tail Slip Prevention Guide]. Lethargy is another frequent indication that a gerbil is dying. Cedar pine bedding can be particularly irritating for gerbils. The bacteria attack your pets liver and cover it in lesions, although you cant see this. It looks like theyre licking or nibbling at each others fur. Both in the wild and in captivity, gerbils are prone to violence. If you have a gerbil near death, its critical to do everything you can to preserve its life. Be sure to observe your gerbil each day and note the progression of any growth day-to-day. This cant be done at home. This stops blood from feeding oxygen to each part of the body. Despite its status as a healthy rodent, your gerbil is quite sensitive to bacterial, viral and parasitic infections. Superficial wounds rarely need intervention and heal quickly. The blockage causes brain damage, which in turn causes the symptoms of a stroke. Any change in their behavior such as lethargy, weight loss, sudden aggressiveness, dirty hair or agitated breathing can be indicative that something is not right. So while fur loss isn't a definitive sign of old age, it's still worth noting. gerbil definition: 1. a small animal, similar to a mouse with long back legs, that is often kept as a pet 2. a small. If youre concerned about your gerbil, the first step is to contact a veterinarian. can feel like a death sentence. The significance of recognizing the indicators of a sick gerbil cannot be overstated. It must be borne in mind that some cutaneous diseases of gerbils are zoonotic. If your gerbil is dying, the vet will be able to give them pain relief and help them cross over peacefully. If youre unsure whether your gerbil is alive or dead, the best thing to do is contact a veterinarian for help. While some gerbils die suddenly and unexpectedly, others spend a few days deteriorating and display symptoms that make it obvious theyre in their last few days of life. Reduce the rooms temperature if its higher than 75 degrees. If you have to, lower the water bottle so your gerbil can reach it more easily. If they suddenly stop doing their usual activities and start to watch something, this is out of curiosity. ", http://www.merckvetmanual.com/pethealth/exotic_pets/gerbils/disorders_and_diseases_of_gerbils.html, http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/gerbils/gerbil-health/signs-of-gerbil-illness.aspx, http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/gerbils/health. The face is the first affected area, before the legs and trunk. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If your gerbil died suddenly, no doubt youre sad and want to understand why it happened. This is due to the social nature of the gerbil and how they need interaction to thrive. It is basic that they are housed in a proper cage, have a good diet and clean water always available. Unfortunately, neglect is one of the most common reasons why captive gerbils die. Remember that some gerbils may hide their symptoms of illness, so you should be observant of your gerbil's behavior and . Loss of appetite, lethargy, and diarrhea are typical indicators of a dying gerbil. Some gerbils show neurological symptoms or go into heart failure, depending on where the toxin strikes. But it can be difficult to figure out what caused your gerbil to, Apples are one of the most commonly eaten fruits. who knew. Other posts. If you have any questions about the health of your gerbil, it is wise to call your . Wounds and cuts: either by fights, by scrapes with elements in the cage or by self-mutilation, a gerbil can show wounds in any part of his body. But it should get better gradually. Antibiotics will clear up respiratory infections and infected wounds. I separated her from her sister. This usually . The best time to do this is when youre reading a book or magazine and have time to spend with your pet. They occur in both people and gerbils (as well as other animals). Gerbils are especially susceptible because of the structure of their brains. This can be caused by several factors, such as exposure to cold temperatures, smoke or fumes, or a dusty environment. If youve never kept gerbils before, one thing that might surprise you is their seizures. Five years old, or any longer, is exceptionally old for a gerbil. gerbil is unresponsive when you pick it up, Why Do Gerbils Tails Fall Off? There is no specific health issue called gerbil sudden death syndrome. However, gerbils can die suddenly when their owners least expect it. Provide an extra layer of bedding to trap heat and offer gerbils a place to bury into for warmth. He began making what looked like involuntary bodily movements (such as kicking his legs occasionally), and he displayed lack of mobility and closed eyes. Gerbils that fight with their teeth will cause significant damage and can even kill. This is normally due to a severe health problem, or worse,, Many people underestimate how much sleep the average gerbil needs. Some of these issues can be resolved at home, e.g., by cleaning your pets cage. In most cases, nature will take hold and run its course. [Gerbil Tail Slip Prevention Guide], Your gerbil collapses onto its side or back, Your gerbils feet and legs twitch violently, Other gerbils playing or fighting with it, Being moved around too quickly when you handle it, Swollen abdomen, caused both by weight gain and bloating, Difficulty controlling one side of the face, and subsequent difficulty eating and drinking, Labored breathing (wheezing, with a clicking noise), Remove your gerbil from its enclosure immediately once you notice its passed away, Take your other gerbils and put them somewhere safe, e.g. Other rodents use urine, but gerbils use a sticky orange substance to conserve water. Something may be able to be done to save them, but the sooner you seek help for them, the better their chances are. Therefore its critical to get your gerbil to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Thats how these seizures became common because the gene pool is so small. Gerbils are healthy animals, but they are prone to fatal health conditions, including heart failure, seizures, strokes, and respiratory disorders. Gerbils can eat, Gerbils that are the same age and live together are usually the same size. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like ASLAP, Hamster breeds, Myomorpha and more. I make sure to take good care of all the animals that come into my life. Gerbils most commonly have seizures when they're 2-6 . The scent gland itself is a small bald patch on your gerbils belly. Treatment: If you tough about putting on a cast, good luck! I love animals, and I have three beautiful boys. Infinity Sports. They are often malignant, especially in the male because it is often on his ventral gland. For example, if there is a limited food resource, the dominant pair will hog the food for themselves. Consider moving one of its friendly brothers or sisters in with it. A gerbil with heat stroke is weak, dehydrated and can convulse and die. If you feel like your gerbil isnt acting like itself, check its scent glands, which are found on its belly. You could also take pictures of your other pets for ease of diagnosis. Dermatological problems: either external parasites, ringworm or scabies. . These may be unrelated to seizures caused by genetics. Tularemia. If your gerbil dies suddenly, remove it from its cage, get rid of any bedding, and clean the enclosure with antibacterial spray. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. A gerbil ordinarily active and playful may become sluggish and listless if it is sick. What are the signs of a gerbil dying? Other gerbils may grieve the loss. Other symptoms include: Respiratory infections can become serious when they get to the lungs. It has been demonstrated that in Mongolian gerbils, a unilateral hemispheric cerebral infarction can be produced following unilateral occlusion of the carotid artery because of the absence of connecting arteries between the basilar and carotid systems in these animals. Encourage it to keep eating, providing treats if it refuses pellets. Your gerbil will show slimming, dejection, hair loss and diarrhea to promote dehydration. This is because the body will decompose and attract bacteria. They may have noticeable symptoms, like weight gain. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/03\/Know-if-a-Gerbil-Is-Ill-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Know-if-a-Gerbil-Is-Ill-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/03\/Know-if-a-Gerbil-Is-Ill-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1247658-v4-728px-Know-if-a-Gerbil-Is-Ill-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"