gerbils

Gerbils can suffer from a number of health problems, but Tyzzer's disease is a very serious infectious disease that affects the liver and is usually caught from mice. Good hygiene, the use of good quality bedding and burrowing material will help prevent this disease. What causes Tyzzer's disease? Tyzzer's disease is caused by the bacteria Clostridium piliforme. The [...]

We are all familiar with the phrase "A healthy pet is a happy pet" - but there is probably also something to be said for keeping your gerbil happy in order to maintain its health. If you know your pet you will probably quickly recognise the signs that suggest it is not well. What are the [...]

Luckily gerbils generally don't suffer from parasitic diseases, especially if they are kept in a clean, dry, warm environment. However there are some that you should keep an eye out for, just in case. What parasitic diseases do gerbils suffer from? Although parasitic diseases are rare in gerbils, they can occur, however parasitism of the [...]

Nasal dermatitis is also known as "sore nose", "facial eczema" and "facial dermatitis". Incidence of the disease is higher in weanlings than in adults, but is a fairly common condition seen in gerbils. What causes nasal dermatitis? Trauma, stress, hypersecretion/accumulation of Harderian gland secretions, and superficial bacterial infections, ie Staphylococcus spp, have all been associated with the [...]

Two medical conditions of gerbils that demand special mentions are nasal dermatitis and Tyzzer's disease, therefore these are covered in separate factsheets. However, there are other medical conditions that affect gerbils that are briefly covered here. Do gerbils suffer from problems in their old age? Older gerbils commonly develop a number of spontaneous neoplasms (abnormal mass [...]

Taming a gerbil requires some patience to gain their trust, but it will make handling your gerbils much easier and it is also extremely rewarding. How can I go about taming my gerbil? Here are some simple steps to follow: Give new gerbils a few days to adjust to their new home before handling them [...]

Generally, frequent handling will keep your gerbil quite tame. If your gerbil is difficult to handle, and all else fails, bribery with their favourite food, for example sunflower seeds, can help make a gerbil more amenable to handling. Gerbils are particularly difficult to catch if they escape from their cage, so bribery with their favourite [...]

Gerbils are generally very healthy robust little creatures who never have a day's illness in their lives, however just occasionally they do suffer from various ailments. If recognized early, your vet can treat most of these successfully. Gerbils are incredibly healthy compared to most other pet rodents, and 90% of them never need veterinary treatment. [...]

In the wild gerbils live in burrows and spend the most of their time foraging for food, so you should try to mimic this environment for your gerbil when creating a home for him. Your gerbil will need plenty of room to eat, sleep and run around. Does my gerbil need a companion? Gerbils should [...]

In the wild, gerbils live partly on dry seeds, but these are emergency rations for when something more nutritious is not available. Gerbils need some animal protein in their diet, so they will eat insects; but also eat fresh vegetable material. What should I feed my gerbil? It is recommended to feed a good variety [...]