If your gerbil feels too hot or too cold
, he may have heat stroke or hypothermia. 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.
What does a gerbil seizure look like?
Mild seizures usually have the gerbil displaying a
trance-like behavior with twitching of ears and whiskers
. Gerbils with severe seizures, other other hand, will suffer from convulsions, stiffening of muscles, and jerking of the whole body.
What can cause a gerbil to have a stroke?
If your gerbil feels too hot or too cold
, he may have heat stroke or hypothermia. 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.
How do you treat a red nose in a gerbil?
Your veterinarian will begin by cleaning the porphyrin deposits and irritated parts of the face and
applying topical medications
to encourage healing. If your gerbil has scratched to the point that there are lesions, further treatment will be necessary.
Why is my gerbils ear bleeding?
Gerbils can sometimes develop benign growths on their ears, and these can grow quickly. It often resembles a tiny pink cauliflower.
If the gerbil catches this growth with a claw when cleaning, it can bleed
. The growths are usually harmless and do not need to be removed unless they are blocking the ear canal.
What do you do if your gerbil has a tumor?
Your veterinarian will likely recommend
surgical removal of the tumor
because as it grows, it may become cancerous and spread to other locations in the body. Early removal of tumors or cancers allows for the best outcome with the least chance of complications and recurrence.
What happens if you drop a gerbil?
Shock: Shock can occur if a gerbil is dropped or even surprised; this can lead to
convulsions
. Usually, gerbils will recover naturally.
How long do gerbil seizures last?
Rarely, seizures last more than a minute and can be a sign of serious brain injury. Death from seizures is uncommon, with fewer than 1% of gerbils dying after a seizure episode. After the seizure the gerbil may take
up to ten minutes
to recover to normal function.
Why is my gerbil standing still?
Standing Up
Gerbils that
are nervous or interested in something may hold their hands together when standing
, almost as though they are praying. If your pet is just curious, his hands will be a bit further apart.
Is it normal for gerbils to have seizures?
Gerbils can suffer from spontaneous epileptiform seizures (epilepsy). These seizures may be precipitated by sudden stress, handling or introduction to a novel environment. Incidence of this syndrome is
about 20% in natural populations
.
How do you treat a gerbil wound?
If you suspect your gerbil has a wound, change the bedding to towels to prevent infection. Arrange to take your gerbil to the vet as soon as possible for antibiotics. If you are not able to get to your vet within 24 hours, clean the wound
with salt water or diluted Hibiscrub
to reduce the risk of infection.
What bedding do you use for gerbils?
Carefresh or cardboard shavings
– This is soft, cozy bedding that is great for tunnelling. It’s digestible, and gerbils can’t get tangled up in it. Shredded paper – A long as the paper is ink- and dye-free, shredded paper can be a good choice of bedding, and has the benefit of being cheap too.
What illnesses can gerbils get?
- Campylobacteriosis.
- Salmonellosis.
- Hantavirus infection.
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis.
- Rabies.
- Rat bite fever.
- Tularemia.
- Hymenolepiasis (dwarf tapeworm infection)
Why are gerbils eyes crusty?
Gerbils normally secrete a
sticky, reddish- brown material
from the corners of their eyes called porphyrins as part of their body chemistry and metabolism.
What do you do if your gerbil breaks its leg?
It is best to take your gerbil to see a veterinarian immediately if you suspect it has fractured a bone, as the injury could worsen or the bone could mend improperly, affecting your gerbil’s mobility.
