Gerbil Husbandry and Diseases

Question 1

What order and suborder are gerbils?

Answer 1

order: rodentia
suborder: myomorpha

(same as rats, mice and hamsters)

Question 2

what gerbil species is most common?

Answer 2

mongolian gerbil

Question 3

what is the lifespan of a gerbil?

Answer 3

3-4 years (longer than hamsters)

Question 4

what is the urine volume of gerbils?

Answer 4

3-4 mL/day (much less than hamsters, so maybe a better alternative because less cage mess and drink less)

Question 5

T/F: gerbil incisors grow continuously

Answer 5

true

Question 6

Do gerbils have cheek pouches?

Answer 6

yes they are small and NOT extrudable.

Question 7

T/F: mid-ventral abdominal sebaceous glands are active in both female and male gerbils

Answer 7

true

Question 8

T/F: gerbils can adapt to a wide variety of temperatures and do not hibernate or estivate

Answer 8

true

Question 9

What does foot stomping in gerbils indicate?

Answer 9

aggression or excitement

but gerbils are generally more docile than hamsters, mice, and rats.

Question 10

T/F: gerbils are nocturnal

Answer 10

false – active both day and night.

Question 11

how do you sex gerbils?

Answer 11

anogenital distance
greater in males

Question 12

how long is the estrous cycle of gerbils?

Answer 12

4-6 days
and she will go back into estrus within 18 hours of having pups, so they are HIGHLY reproductive.

Question 13

how long is gerbil gestation?

Answer 13

24-48 days (depending on if lactating or not)

Question 14

how fast do gerbils wean?

Answer 14

20-26 days

Question 15

what is the diet of gerbils?

Answer 15

granivorous and omnivorous
(avoid diets that are seed-based because they are low in calcium)

Question 16

what is the preferred bedding for gerbils?

Answer 16

wood chips or corn cob
must be able to satisfy their burrowing instinct just like hamsters.

Question 17

T/F: gerbils drink very little

Answer 17

true provide them with a sipper tube instead of a water dish because they knock the dishes over.

Question 18

what is the best physical restraint method for gerbils and what specific caution should you take with gerbils?

Answer 18

grip scruff of neck and hold the base of their tail

NEVER put them upside down (with back towards floor) or hold tail alone (degloving)

Question 19

which blood collection method should you NOT do in gerbils due to trauma?

Answer 19

cardiac puncture

Question 20

Which gerbil disease is described below:

stress-induced or caused by irritation from porphyrin secretion causing moist dermatitis on the face +/- forepaws.

Answer 20

nasal dermatitis (sore nose)

Question 21

how do you treat nasal dermatitis (sore nose) in gerbils?

Answer 21

remove stressors
clean face daily with water and dry thoroughly
topical therapy (TAB ophthalmic ointment)

Question 22

Tyzzer’s disease in gerbils is caused by Clostridium piliforme, a bacteria carried subclinically in their intestinal tract. It can lead to weight loss, anorexia, diarrrhea, and sudden death. Stressed animals are at highest risk. What is the treatment and prevention for this disease?

Answer 22

tx: suportive care (nutrition, temp, humidity) +/- tetracyclines

prevention: avoid stress, frequent cage cleaning, reduce density, optimal temp and humidity.

Question 23

what age of gerbils is salmonellosis most common in?

Answer 23

juveniles (3-6 weeks)

will cause weight loss, rough haircoat, listlessness, dehydration, and death

Question 24

T/F: salmonellosis can cause hepatitis and peritonitis in gerbils

Answer 24

true and this can lead to death.

antibiotics are unrewarding in treatment of this disease.

Question 25

what tumors are MOST common among gerbils?

Answer 25

female reproductive tract tumors (ovarian and mammary) but they are easy to remove.

incidence if higher in gerbils > 2 yr old

Question 26

Spontaneous seizures are common (occuring in 20% gerbils). What is typically the cause?

Answer 26

stress-related or startle-induced.

they start around 2 months of age and increase in frequency up to 6 months of age.

Question 27

What is the treatment and prevention for spontaneous seizures in gerbils?

Answer 27

treatment not needed. gerbil will resume normal activities within a few minutes of a seizure and will not have another one for 5 days post-seizure.

to prevent these seizures, recommend frequent handling of the gerbils and novel environments.

Question 28

What is the treatment for tail degloving?

Answer 28

surgical debridement and amputation

Question 29

What is a aural cholesteatoma?

Answer 29

a keratin accumulation within the ear.

Occurs in 50% of gerbils > 2 yrs old.

Question 30

What is the treatment for aural cholesteatomas in gerbils?

Answer 30

they can push into the eardrum and cause permanent damage to the inner ear/cause vestibular problems, so its important to treat them.

for temporary relief, you can place medicated ear drops, but for permanent relief, you need to remove the keratin plug.

Question 31

T/F: gerbil tapeworms are zoonotic

Answer 31

true

Question 32

T/F: salmonellosis has a longer progression of clinical disease than Tyzzers disease

Answer 32

true (3-4 days as opposed to overnight with Tyzzers)