How to Know if a Gerbil is Ill
When buying or caring for a gerbil, you need to be able to recognize signs of illness. You also need to be able to prevent illnesses and injuries. There are many ways to do this. You could take your gerbil to the veterinarian every time they appear ill, but that could get expensive.
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Things You'll Need
- Gerbil care instructions (PetSmart will give you this for free when you buy your gerbil)
- A veterinarian experienced with gerbils and willing to treat them regularly.
Instructions
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What to Look for and Avoid
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Inspect the gerbils carefully. Be sure they are healthy and in good condition.
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Check the store's policy on care of sick animals. They should have a room where sick animals are quarantined. Sick animals placed with healthy animals could infect the others. If you find sick and healthy animals together, go somewhere else.
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Hold the animal to check for illness. If their body is not firm, they could be sick. Keep in mind that a sleeping gerbil may appear to be dead, as it barely moves while sleeping. If it is warm, it is just sleeping. If it is cold but alive, it could be sick.
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Look for bright eyes, alertness when awake (they are sometimes a little groggy when they first wake up) and lack of nervousness. The gerbil should be inquisitive.
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Avoid gerbils with runny or sticky eyes, runny nose, sneezing, wet or dirty bottom (could indicate "wet tail," which is severe diarrhea), matted fur or gerbils that seem lethargic. These are all signs of illness.
Prevent Illness and Injury
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Water your gerbil every day. If the water appears dirty or has urine or feces in it more than once a day, you may wish to buy a water bottle instead of using a bowl.
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Change food out any time it is dirty or has water, feces or urine in it. If it needs to be changed often, you may wish to get a food container that holds more food but protects it from getting dirty.
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Keep the gerbil's cage out of drafts, and keep it out of direct sunlight. If the gerbil gets too hot or too cold, they have nowhere to go.
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Sit down when holding the gerbil to prevent injuries should he jump out of your hands. If the gerbil does jump, be as still as possible to avoid stepping or sitting on him.
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Move the gerbil into another container while cleaning the cage, and use small amounts of cleaning solution on a rag.
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Rinse the cage, toys, water and food dishes very well any time they are cleaned to avoid poisoning the gerbil.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not buy any bedding made of fluffy cotton wool; it can harm the gerbil if they eat it.
Do not use straw as bedding, as the sharp edges can also harm the gerbil.
