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<< Gerbil Illnesses

Common Gerbil Illnesses

Abscesses
Abscesses are swellings formed as a response to
bacteria. An abscess can be hard or soft, and is
formed over an area of the body in which there has
been an injury which has allowed bacteria to get
through your pet’s skin. In an attempt to stop the
spread of the bacteria the body forms an abscess
capsule around the afflicted area. This will be full of
pus, and can be painful to the touch. Abscesses can
form anywhere, but a symptom to look out for is
localised hair loss above the lump. If you notice that
your pet has an abscess, it’s best to take your pet to
the vet to get it treated so that the infection doesn’t
spread or cause your pet more pain.

If the abscess has burst by the time you notice it, then
you’ll need to gently rinse it out with a gerbil antiseptic,
and dress it with a piece of gauze and micropore tape
in order to stop other gerbils from nibbling at it. If you
haven’t done this before then we recommend that you
see a veterinary nurse first for a demonstration.

Gerbils can suffer from a lot of the same health problems as

we do

Allergic Reactions
Just like humans, gerbils can have dangerous allergic
reactions to materials in and around their home. If you
notice that your gerbil has a runny, red nose, crusty or
watery eyes, wheezing breaths or is sneezing a lot,
then your gerbil may be having an allergic reaction. It’s
advisable to change the type of bedding that you are
using for their cage, and to take them to the vet, who
may be able to provide some relief and advice. Another
reason to take your pet to the vet is that It’s also
possible that your pet could have an underlying
condition, one that is not caused by allergies.

Broken Limbs
If a gerbil suffers a fall or has the wrong bedding, then
they can break their small limbs. Signs of broken limbs
are distorted legs, limping, unwillingness to move, and
pained vocalisations. A broken bone is very painful, so
a trip to the vet is needed.

Coughs and Colds

Like humans, gerbils may occasionally catch a cold.
Symptoms are very like ours, often with sneezing,
runny noses and wheezing. Colds are capable of
developing into more serious illnesses, so it’s best to
avoid handling your pets whilst you are unwell.

Some coughs and colds can be transferred between you and

your gerbil

Dehydration
Gerbils, though desert animals, need constant access
to water whilst being kept in captivity. If they don’t
have enough they can enter a serious state of
dehydration - your gerbil will be lying limp in its cage
and not moving around if their level of dehydration is
severe.

To prevent dehydration, make sure that you keep your

pet out of very warm places, such as areas that are in
direct sunlight, near radiators or fireplaces. It’s also
crucial to regularly check that your pets’ water bottle is
full of clean water and is not blocked. To check for
blockages, run your index finger over the ball in the
spout to see if it’s wet. If it is, it’s not blocked, but if the
spout is dry then the water bottle has a blockage and
will need to be replaced immediately.

Diarrhoea
A big indicator of poor health in gerbils is their
droppings. If you notice that your gerbils’ dropping are
wet, then your pet could be suffering from diarrhoea,
which has a number of causes, including the
potentially fatal Tyzzer’s disease. Since gerbils are
prone to this disease, it’s important that this particular
species of pet be taken to the vet quickly for a
diagnosis.

Eye Infections
If your gerbils’ eyes are swollen, puffy, red or runny,
then they could be suffering from an eye infection. This
could be due to your pet having something stuck in its
eye such as a piece of hay.

It’s important to not try to remove things that are

caught in your pets eyes by yourself - this can often do
more harm than good. If your pet appears to be in pain
then we recommend taking them to the vets so that
they can get the proper treatment.

It’s very easy to misdiagnose eye infections, as many

of their symptoms are very similar to those that your
gerbil would have if it were having an allergic reaction
or a cold. You might be better off taking your pet to the
vet for a professional diagnosis.

Healthy gerbil eyes will be very clear and bright

Fits
Some gerbils are prone to fits or ‘seizures’ as soon as
they start their adult lives. Seizures can be brought on
by a number of things, particularly experiences which
your gerbil finds stressful. If not handled enough when
young, then handling your gerbil may be one of these
stressors. During fits, your gerbil may suffer muscle
spasms, or may simply freeze for a few minutes. It’s
wise to be aware that very severe seizures can result in
brain problems.

Hypothermia
Hypothermia is the state in which your pet becomes
very very cold - too cold for it to function properly. If
your pet is in a cold place, in a draught, or is damp
then they are at risk of developing hypothermia.

Overgrown Nails
Since gerbils are kept in captivity, their nails don’t
usually experience the wear and tear of their wild
counterparts. This means that their nails are unlikely to
wear down naturally, meaning that they are at risk of
becoming overgrown. If your gerbils’ nails are long
enough to start curving back towards their foot, it’s
time to give them a trim. We’ve created a page to help
- have a look at our How To Trim My Gerbils’ Nails for
more information.

Overgrown Teeth
Many rodent species have teeth that grow throughout
their lives - gerbils are no exception. Since they eat
very tough foods in the wild, their teeth need to keep
growing to keep up with the wear and tear. In captivity,
they sometimes don’t get all the rough foods and
materials they need to keep their teeth worn to a
reasonable length.

Symptoms of overgrown teeth involve the inability to

eat, as well as the presence of small nicks and cuts
over their body. These are caused by little teeth grazes
as they try groom themselves with overly-long teeth. If
your pet’s teeth get too long they will need to be taken
to a vet to get them treated.

To prevent your pet’s teeth from becoming overgrown

in the first place, many owners have had a lot of
success with gerbil chews and gnaws. These are
specially-made wooden items that are safe for gerbils
to chew on, enabling your pets to regulate their own
tooth length.

Parasites and Infections

Unfortunately, gerbils can contract a number of
different kinds of parasites, such as fleas, ticks, mites
and fungal infections. Gerbils can suffer from both
internal and external parasites, so as well as keeping
an eye on your pet’s body, it’s good to keep checking
its weight so that you can diagnose some problems
with its stomach and digestive system too. You can
read in more detail about parasites in our Gerbil
Parasites page.

A number of animals can live on or under your gerbils' skin -

learn what to watch out for

Respiratory Infections
Respiratory infections are serious in gerbils - like a lot
of other pet rodents they will attempt to hide
symptoms until the disease becomes very advanced. If
your gerbil is wheezing or ‘clicking’ as it breathes, then
the condition is very serious and it will need to be
taken to a vet immediately. Other symptoms include a
lack of appetite, a temperature, a runny nose and
coughing or sneezing.

Respiratory infections can be caused by a number of

factors, from high humidity to the wrong types of
bedding (many wood shavings can cause this - never
give your pets pine or cedar). It’s wise to be on the
lookout for symptoms of this condition so that you can
take your pet to the vet promptly. It’s also important to
move the affected gerbil out of the enclosure away
from its friends (unless it’s a juvenile that’s not yet been
separated from its mother, in which case they will all
need treatment). Infections can be spread, so it’s best
to keep it on its own in a separate container (with lots
of food, bedding and water) until the infection has
passed and they can rejoin their friends again.

Stroke
Gerbils can have strokes just like humans. This will be
quite scary for both of you, but it won’t necessarily
lead to anything permanent. However, it’s quite
common for the animals to lose the use of one of their
legs, or to have a slightly distorted body afterwards.

If you think your gerbil has had a stroke, we

recommend you take them to the vets - it could be a
different underlying condition, or if it has been a stroke,
then the vet will be able to examine them and inform
you of any extra care your pet may need going
forwards.

Scent Gland Tumours

One of the most common problems with gerbils are
tumours in their scent glands. The scent glands are
located on a gerbil’s stomach, so tumours will appear
as bumps there. This problem can occur in either
gender, but some reports suggest that the tumours are
more commonly found on males, possibly because
their scent glands tend to be a little larger than
females’.

Scent gland tumours can cause a number of problems.

If left untreated the tumour can grow and spread to
other areas, disrupting bodily functions and eventually
proving fatal. Another problem that can occur is
bacterial infection - if the gerbil tries to get rid of the
tumour itself then it will scratch and bite the area,
leaving the tumour susceptible to infection. If you think
that your pet has a scent gland tumour, it’s best to get
it treated by a vet as soon as possible.

Tumours
As well as scent gland tumours (above) gerbils can
develop tumours anywhere else on their little bodies.
Some of the most common tumours are of the skin,
testicles and teats, but it’s wise to be aware that they
can develop on any part of your pet’s body.

Tyzzer’s Disease
Tyzzer’s Disease, like wet tail, is a bacterial infection of
the digestive system. It’s a dangerous disease that will
need veterinary attention as soon as possible if the
animal is to survive. Symptoms of Tyzzer’s Disease
include diarrhoea, lethargy, untidy hair, a strange
posture, pain, and dehydration.

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Comments
Bradley, 29 May 2020

Please someone help my gerbils eye is bleeding

Adrianna, 24 May 2020

I don't know why my gerbil is making this high

pitched noise when I scratch his back upwards
gently plz anyone in the comments tell me why..

Kaylee, 31 March 2020

My gerbil has a red open skin patch with no hair

around it. I've been searching around and can't find
nothing, please help

, 6 August 2019

Awesome happy pets

Holly, 1 March 2019

My little friend carrot lives in one of your wonderful

qute cages however Carrie has a pink lump above
his eye I have noticed today and he will be taking a
trip to the vet! Your article has helped me know what
was wrong with carrot and without this article he may
have passed away I'm so great full so is carrot we
will be visiting the vet tomorrow so I hope all goes
well for him. We are truly greatful for this article thank
you omelet from holly and carrie

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