Teeth

As with all rodents, gerbils’ teeth grow constantly so it’s important to always provide them with wooden blocks, suitable branches and toys, and appropriate nesting materials to shred – these all help to prevent overgrown teeth. Check their teeth regularly and ask a vet if you are concerned.

Coat

Gerbils need to groom regularly to keep their coats clean and healthy. Provide a small amount of chinchilla sand in a shallow dish each day to help keep their coats healthy. Remove the sand and sieve it clean afterwards.

Digestive upsets

These are more likely to infect young or stressed gerbils, but any age can be affected. Signs of infection include depression, rough hair coat, hunched posture, loss of appetite, dehydration, and watery diarrhoea. Because this disease is contagious, a sick gerbil should be separated from other gerbils and you should contact your vet immediately, as it can be serious. Be aware that gerbils can transmit salmonella to humans, so always wash your hands after handling them.

Tail slip

Picking up a gerbil by the tail can result in fur loss or cause the skin on the tail to slip off. This is called tail slip. The portions of the tail that are exposed by skin slippage often rot, and they must be treated by amputation. This problem can be prevented by never picking a gerbil up by the tail.

Irritation of the face and nose

Environmental stressors, such as incompatible cage mates, high humidity, and overcrowding, can cause gerbils' tear glands to secrete an excess of porphyrin, a red-brown pigment around the nostrils and eyes; this can cause skin irritation, which leads the gerbil to scratch and hurt itself.

Inner ear problems

Many gerbils over the age of 2 can develop growths inside their ear – these can affect their balance, as the growth can push into the inner ear. If you notice signs of incoordination with your gerbil, remove things it may be able to fall off from its cage and seek advice from your vet.

Our articles are not a replacement for face-to-face vet advice. It’s important to consult with your vet on a regular basis to raise any pet concerns that you may have.