The Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. It is characterized by a triad of lesions that include colitis read more , an enterohepatic disease caused by the obligately intracellular bacterium Clostridium piliforme, is the most frequently described fatal infectious disease of gerbils. This will be especially true for the gerbil that has been overthrown and kicked out. Or, a gerbil that was thought to be male will give birth. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The amount of space available does seem to affect the likelihood of fighting. The presence of pus indicates that the wound is or was infected. Gerbils can occasionally become infected with mites. One sign to look for is when one gerbil bites at the other gerbils head or tail violently. The sides of the body are generally lighter than the back. Usually this occurs when the gerbil is two years of age or older, but it can occur earlier. Bedding should be changed frequently and the cage sanitized and disinfected. Thats because the dominant gerbil chases the other around and bites its tail. Sandbath-deprived gerbils increase their frequency of sand rolls (rolling onto their side or back and returning to their feet within 1 second), decrease grooming, and increase territorial marking (especially males). Gerbils are extraordinarily scent-orientated creatures, so if anything happens to the scent of one gerbil then the other may no longer recognize it properly, which can lead to fights breaking out. Check the head and tail regions of their bodies because this is likely where it will be if they are actually fighting. This originally appeared in the September 1999 issue of The Nibbler, Journal of the National Gerbil Society. While they are fine for other animals, even other small rodents, they arent for gerbils. The most likely places are the nose and eyes, the scent gland on the stomach, and the base of the tail. I love animals, and I have three beautiful boys. Use to remove results with certain terms The coats of gerbils in the wild are agouti colored, or a mix of gray, yellow, and black, with an read more on the abdomen. Gerbils do this to conserve water in the wild. Gerbils chirp and squeak constantly. Naturally occurring Tyzzer disease Tyzzer Disease in Animals Tyzzer disease is caused by Clostridium piliforme. A veterinarian can prescribe medication for treatment. This is a serious issue. Offer water with a dropper. In any case, clean all wounds with clean, warm water, and apply an antibiotic cream recommended by your vet. The gland is used for territorial marking. Fight wounds. I don't know whether I should bring them to the vet. It can also lead to hair loss, skin redness, scabbing, and sores. This little pet loves quietness and hates noise. If females are bred in the postpartum period, implantation is delayed, and gestation can be as long as 48 days. Wounds commonly appear around the base of the tail in these fights. Hey there, I'm Angela. Do it before your gerbils kill each other (which they eventually will). Wounds commonly appear around the base of the tail in these fights. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. There are 14 species in the genus Meriones read more . And I noticed a wound on one of them. Gerbils require sandbathing to keep their coats from becoming oily. Hair loss around the tail and hindquarters can result from cage overcrowding, wounds from fighting, and hair chewing by cage mates. The trusted provider of veterinary information since 1955, Description and Physical Characteristics of Gerbils, Last review/revision May 2020 | Modified Oct 2022. A person may squeeze an abscess, for example, which causes it to open. This is especially common where an older dominant female is having trouble with a younger subordinate. Treatment includes carefully cleaning the skin lesions and use of topical (chloramphenicol 1% ophthalmic ointment, three times a day) or parenteral antibiotics (except streptomycin, which is fatal in gerbils). They will seem on-edge and nervous most of the time. Fighting gerbils should be separated before one of them gets hurt. This is called. Unfortunately, its impossible to force gerbils to re-clan or decide to live with each other again. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. What makes this issue worse is that pet stores frequently recommend these dusty beddings. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. o [ canine influenza] Press ESC to cancel. Anorexia Injured gerbils will often have little appetite. Normal body temperature is 98102F (3739C). Ears and eyes should be examined for discharges or inflammation. When that happens, your gerbil might bite you so that you can let go of it, and such a bite could be severe. If you want to keep gerbils in groups, I find that it is better to keep males together. Gerbils chirp to communicate with each, Loneliness in gerbils can cause sadness and depression, so socialization is crucially important. You may have to try and offer a range of different foods as novel foods is often a good way of getting a reluctant gerbil to eat. Other types of skin tumors may affect the ears or feet. True gerbil fighting is rare in bonded pairs, but it can happen at any point, often without warning. A gerbil that has been seriously injured will often have several problems that you will need to deal with: That way, if either of your gerbils tries to bite you, they wont hurt you. Death from seizures is rare and there is no permanent damage. Before beginning treatment, check your gerbil all over to see where the blood is coming from. Pet gerbils have been reported with tropical rat mite Mites (Ornithonyssus bacoti) infestation, which is also a zoonotic agent. This is probably because one of the daughters does not accept her subordinate position and tries to drive off her mother. Veterinarian's Assistant: Hi there. Gerbils that play together are happy gerbils. This is necessary because you could try to treat a condition that isnt there, ignoring one that is. Dont poke the wound as this can make it worse. And it might just got it. Trios and larger groups are generally less stable than pairs: if the group was a trio, keep the aggressor together with the gerbil that he did not fight with. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? Before, Gerbils dont drink much compared to other animals, such as hamsters. Once their arguing has reached the point of fighting, it can get nasty quickly. As your pet recovers, you must observe it to see how well its doing. Gerbils adapt to a wide range of ambient temperatures. They occur in 50% of gerbils > 2 years old. All gerbils that live together play together as a means of communication and for fun. Gerbils read more . Dried blood around your gerbils nose indicates that your gerbil has an allergy to something in its vicinity. According to BBC News, it could also become resistant to the antibiotic. These may be inherited, or they may be caused by sudden stress, improper handling, or introduction to a new environment. But in captivity, it cant do this. Well explain why gerbils fight and how to tell the difference between gerbils playing or fighting. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. In this case, the clan continues as it was. Gerbil tails are fragile, and only the base of the tail should be grasped during handling to avoid injury. Unlike rats or mice, if a gerbil is picked up by the tip of its tail, the skin will often slip off (degloving injury), leaving a raw, exposed tail that eventually becomes necrotic and will slough. These masses, called aural cholesteatomas, push the eardrum down into the middle ear, causing permanent damage to the inner ear. Its vital to recognize the signs of strokes in gerbils so that you can, If your pet gerbil has a scent gland tumor, it could be fatal. There's nothing quite like getting away from it all in nature. For example, if the gerbil has lost hair on its face, it may be due to the constant rubbing on the metal cage feeders constantly or its excessive burrowing. If you keep more than two females together there is a slight risk that at some stage you may have to deal with fighting. the split cage method must be used or the gerbils will fight and this could be very serious. Another time when there can be trouble is when a mother is living with daughters of about 6 months of age. He was on the second floor When gerbils get to the point of physically fighting, it will be easy to tell they arent playing. The exact reason why your gerbil is bleeding depends on where its bleeding. Although they can be aggressive towards other gerbils, they will rarely really fight. It can be caused by too many males and females of breeding age confined in a tank or by a struggle for power, when perhaps the dominant gerbil is not as strong as it once was. But the exact treatment methods depend on the reason why your pet is bleeding. Think long and hard about whether this is the right course of action for your pet. The loser will have copious injuries around its tail end from being attacked as it ran away. The legacy of this great resource continues in the online and mobile app versions today. There are 14 species in the genus Meriones. Identify the source of the blood, e.g., the eye, nose, scent gland, base of the tail, etc. This is like what your gerbil is doing, but all the time. In rare cases, gerbils will fight each other and bite, mostly to show dominance and establish a hierarchy. A clear demarcation line between dorsal and ventral color is present. We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. If you arent sure whether your gerbils are playing or fighting, try offering them food. Conclusion This is a vital part of the process because a gerbils health can change in an instant. It turns red and becomes even itchier. If an open wound is present, it will need to be cleaned and suitably dressed, with topical antiseptics or antibiotics applied. Wounds commonly appear around the base of the tail in these fights. The porphyrins are thought to act as a primary skin irritant, because gerbils that have their Harderian glands surgically removed do not develop sore nose. Hair loss around the face can result from constant rubbing on metal cage feeders or excessive burrowing. Recommended treatment is niclosamide fed at 10 mg feed/100 g body weight for two 7-day periods separated by 1 week. It should be, When your gerbil gets loose, you're bound to panic. Use to remove results with certain terms This requires the same actions no matter what the reason for your pets condition. Supportive care with fluids may be required. Gerbils inhabit clay and sandy deserts, bush country, and arid steppes. Depending on their age you could give them both a young pup or two in their new tanks at some point. The vet will also prescribe medication where necessary. Gerbils playing together will jump around, wrestle, and box each other . Although mites are hard to see with the naked eye, gerbils may show other signs such as fur loss and dry, scaly, irritated skin on the back and rump. The disease affects a variety of animals, including mammals and birds. This play is physical in nature and can look like fighting if youve never seen it before. Holding a gerbil incorrectly can cause injury or make them scared of you. If your furry friend is bleeding, you should apply pressure to the damage to try and stop the bleeding. Your pet continually rubs its nose, which stimulates the production of this fluid. The solution is setting up a temporary divide between the two gerbils . A serious fight usually involves a gerbil forming a tight ball and rolling around, squeaking shrilly, biting at each other's necks, and often, blood is drawn. To administer the antibiotics, follow this step-by-step guide: You must give your pet the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Chronically, gerbils become emaciated, livers are small and pigmented, and kidneys are small and pitted. This is called tail slip. There may be a period of increasing aggression between the parties. This can cause severe damage if your pet doesnt stop. Some variations of reports suggest that the rodent be covered in a psychoactive substance such as heroin prior to being inserted. If the gerbils scratch the sores, they will bleed. Separate the Injured Gerbil. The split-cage method does not work if there are three or more gerbils. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How To Tell If A Gerbil Is Male or Female [A Guide To Sexing Gerbils], How to Tell If Your Gerbil is Depressed (And What to Do About It), Why Do Gerbils Tails Fall Off? Fights can also be caused by dominance disputes. Always supervise your gerbil while in the ball. Arrange to take your gerbil to the vet as soon as possible for antibiotics. Eventually, the aggressor will get fed up, and will begin chasing the other gerbil. On the whole it is not necessary to do anything about bites and scratches. Gerbil Behaviour If it is more serious, you may need to use medication or bandages. This is unlike other rodents, which use urine instead. Never put two gerbils in the same ball, as they could inadvertently injure each other. The fur and skin should be examined for alopecia, fight wounds or other trauma, ectoparasites, and elasticity for evidence of dehydration. o [pig guinea] In the wild it is known that there is a lot of boxing and chasing at the pints where borders between territories overlap. The unfortunate thing is that when gerbils fight they do so very aggressively and will often kill the loser of a fight. Either way, your gerbil may use its scent gland frequently. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Seizures last several minutes and can range from mildly trance-like behavior with twitching ears and whiskers to severe muscle convulsions and stiffness. This is normal behavior and completely harmless. Real gerbil fighting is rare, but it can be dangerous if you dont intervene. You must do this straight away. Gerbils that fight with their teeth will cause significant damage and can even kill. Externally, gerbils are quite ratlike. Gerbils that play together are happy gerbils. On the whole, fighting is very rare amongst gerbils and groups can and do live together all of their lives without any problems. An open abscess can spread the infection further. Leave the other gerbil(s) that werent involved in the fight with the winner. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Did one gerbil get loose for a time, picking up strange smells from his explorations. Naturally occurring viral infections of gerbils are not reported. Keep an eye out for trouble at all times. When sandbathing is prevented, accumulating hair lipids mat the pelage, and behavior changes. Start again from step 3. So, what you have to do is identify the problem and then treat it afterward. A gerbils is so smell-oriented that she literally would not recognize her own mother if she smelled different. (There are some pictures of typical injuries on this page). Malnutrition may also occur if gerbils are not fed a diet specifically formulated to meet their dietary needs. 3. Signs that your gerbils are fighting include loud squeaking and chasing. They will sew your pet back up again before leaving your pet to rest and recover. Then, separate the gerbils before they get a chance to fight. To prevent this condition, monitor the temperature (60F to 70F) and humidity (below 50%) of your gerbils environment, and separate any animals that are incompatible. Disorders of the skin, such as hair loss and parasite infestations, are relatively common in pet rodents. But gerbil play fighting is healthy and normal and never results in injury. This will cause the pus to flow out and may cause a small amount of blood too. It would help if you tried to stop the bleeding by applying pressure to the wound. Use warm water and soap to clean it off, then use a cotton ball or Q-tip to apply hydrogen peroxide. Gerbils are good at cleaning up their own wounds and they heal quite quickly too. Wild Mongolian gerbils are found in Mongolia, adjacent parts of southern Siberia and northern China, and Manchuria. Why does my gerbil try to kick her mother out? Picking up a gerbil by the tail can result in fur loss or cause the skin on the tail to slip off. [Gerbil Tail Slip Prevention Guide]. The adrenal cortex produces nearly equal amounts of corticosterone and 19-hydroxycorticosterone. o [pig guinea] If the wound is infected and your vet prescribed your pet some, you must administer the antibiotics yourself. It often resembles a tiny pink cauliflower. This is different to bites from other animals, such as cats etc, where often secondary infections set in. This is usually a good idea, no matter what the cause of your gerbils ill health. Larger tanks or complex arrangements where tanks are linked together can make fighting more likely. Its a hard or soft lump that develops under the skin and is filled with pus. Adrenocortical tumors, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, and renal and splenic hemangiomas were the next most commonly reported tumors. Once declanning has happened, keeping the gerbils apart is usually the best option. Assert its dominance, and maintain its position as the top gerbil. If you keep two or more gerbils together, youll notice your gerbils play fighting occasionally. Is it normal for gerbils to fight each other? If the gerbil catches this growth with a claw when cleaning, it can bleed. Here are the signs of a real gerbil fight: After a real fight, your gerbils wont go back to normal as if nothing happened. Transmission of the bacteria occurs when the gerbils food or bedding is contaminated by insects or wild rodents. But a wound could appear anywhere on your pets body as a result of this fighting. Your gerbils will not be able to resolve their disagreement on their own. Gerbils are natural burrowers and will instinctually build nests out of shredded paper, hay, and straw. Stress factors such as environmental humidity >50% or overcrowding cause excessive Harderian gland secretion. Prevent your gerbils wound from becoming infected. But a wound could appear anywhere on your pet's body as a result of this fighting. Why does my gerbil have blood around his nose? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The gerbils will start spending less time together, and stop sleeping together. Several disorders, including porphyrin deposits around the nose and eyes and a condition known as tail slip, are specific to gerbils. The covering of fur on the tail is short near the base and progressively longer toward the tip so that it is slightly bushy. Is it normal for gerbils to fight each other? This is normal behavior and completely harmless. The normal life span of a gerbil is 23 years. Seizures can be suppressed in genetically predisposed gerbils if they are frequently stimulated by handling during the first 3 weeks of life. Don't separate them for too long, though - they may begin to lose their familiar enclosure smell if kept apart for a few hours, and that can cause problems when the animals face each other once again. Animals seize in response to sensory stimulation and forced exploratory behavior, but the incidence and severity of their seizures are variable; the seizures generally pass in a few minutes, may be mild or severe, and have no lasting effects. If your gerbil is in obvious pain, painkillers may be administered to help reduce the pain temporarily. In any case, clean all wounds with clean, warm water, and apply an antibiotic cream recommended by your vet. Mean litter size ranges from 3 to 7 animals. Do not use tape or butterfly bandages to close the wound as this could trap harmful bacteria in the wound. This is easy if your gerbil is well behaved, but it may not be. This is especially common with gerbils that are outside of their enclosure a lot of the time. Did you handle one gerbil and not the other, possibly after handling food, another animal, or any strange substance? Also see professional content regarding disorders and diseases of gerbils Infectious Diseases Gerbils are also known as jirds or sand rats. It does not store any personal data. Take the time to choose the right gerbil for you. You can keep them in pairs or groups, but this can lead to fighting between gerbils. Pet store gerbils often are infected with S obvelata. Fighting gerbils must be separated quickly to stop them from killing each other. If you do want to clean them up then boil and kettle and let the water cool down first. Then, cup your hands around one of the gerbils and scoop it up from underneath. A gerbil can be deprived of food or water as a prelude to fighting, a sudden loss of weight can be an indication of this. Their cages require less frequent cleaning than other pet and laboratory rodents. If you notice your gerbils fighting, act fast. Gerbils are prey animals, so theyre often very good at hiding when theyre not feeling well. They dont understand the concept of forgive and forget. Once your gerbils have declanned, they wont stop fighting until one of them leaves or dies. They're all grown now, but they keep me busy! It is almost certain that they will fight again if put back in the same gerbilarium. If a wound becomes infected, the gerbil could become seriously ill. Once two gerbils have fought to the point of drawing blood, they usually wont be able to live together again. Smell changes can be hard to decipher after the fact but consider these possibilities: If you think a smell is the culprit, try a chinchilla sand or dust bath first. I'll do all I can to help. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The easy fix is to change your gerbils bedding. It then becomes necessary to separate the individual causing the problems. It can also cause an existing infection to flare up. Sometimes these sores heal by themselves, but more often the infection gets worse. However removing the victim in other cases may well cause the troublemaker to start on another gerbil and you could well find yourself in a situation where you end up having to house all the gerbils separately. Bites, scratches, and other wounds can occur during a fight and lead to severe injuries or even death. If you see any illness, take your gerbil to the vet immediately. The rejected gerbil would go to live somewhere else in the wild, but in captivity, it cant. This can lead to fighting when there wasnt any in the first place. Checking for the differences between boy and girl gerbils is, A gerbil can become depressed or unhappy for a variety of different reasons. Most of the injuries are caused to the loser once it is trying to run away. The only thing you can do is look for the signs of gerbil declanning. A veterinarian can diagnose pinworms by examining your gerbil or testing its feces. Cystic ovaries occur frequently in Mongolian gerbils. All rights reserved. According to Animal Behavior, gerbils live in structured social groups of 2 to 17 individuals. Unfortunately, once pet gerbils declan, the loser cannot leave to find its own territory. These arent the kind that has a needle. To thrive and be happy, they must be kept in groups of at least two. 3 How can I help my gerbil with a broken leg? Did you recently change the tank and dispose of all the bedding, not leaving any of the old nest behind? Feet should be examined for sores and overgrown or broken nails. Is it closed up and healing, with lots of dried, darker blood around it? This risk seems to increase the larger the number of females in the group. The consequences of lipid removal by sandbathing are multiple; it not only cleans and grooms the pelage but also deposits lipids on the substrate that act as olfactory signals. Keep injured gerbils safe, warm and on clean, dry, soft bedding until they heal. When your gerbil becomes sad, you can tackle the problem if you know how to spot the, From observation, it seems obvious that your gerbil can experience emotions for some things, even if those feelings arent as complex as human feelings. So, observe your pet from the outside of its cage frequently. Males are slightly larger than females. If a gerbil kills another through fighting, it's obvious. If any gerbil that is not part of the clan tries to trespass, it will chase them away. On the whole this allows gerbils to establish their hierarchy without serious conflict. First Aid Always use caution when taking a gerbil, and be especially careful when treating a wound. You need to manage your pets wound and prevent it from getting worse. Dehydration and mucoid diarrhea are often presenting signs. This isnt blood, but something similar called porphyrin. Open the gerbilarium and place your hand in between the fighting gerbils. If the issue is a tumor, theres nothing that you can do about it at home. Check its wound and whether its symptoms are improving. Others are malignant and will spread. So I left my house for four hours and I came back and one (freckles) was bleeding and severely injured on his hind legs. Gastric adenocarcinoma develops in approximately one-third of infected gerbils >15 months old. Gerbils can be infected with 2 kinds of tapeworms, Rodentolepis nana (also known as Hymenolepis nana, the dwarf tapeworm) and H diminuta. The pus is composed of white blood cells, which attack and destroy bacteria. This will prevent your gerbil from biting and opening its wounds in the future. This is easily seen in their body language and behavior. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Externally, gerbils are quite ratlike. Because they have a propensity to develop nasal dermatitis at relative humidities >50%, a low humidity is advisable. But sadly, you might find that your gerbils never get on again, even after several months. On the same diets, ~10% of the animals will become obese, and some will show decreased glucose tolerance, increased serum immunoreactive insulin, and diabetic changes in the pancreas and other organs. Disinfecting a wound stops bacteria from entering it. They would never naturally do this in the wild. Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA(known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) is dedicated to using leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. These tumors can be benign (masses that grow slowly and remain local) or malignant (quickly invade other tissues or spread throughout the body). The dorsal yellow hairs have short black tips and a light olive green base. The perineal area should be checked for fecal or urine stains or discharges from the vulva in females. However, there may be no obvious signs. Place a divider in the middle of the gerbilarium. There is no one answer to this question. Its a shade darker than the rest of your pets skin. There are no specific reports of zoonotic disease transmitted by pet Mongolian gerbils, although pet gerbils infested with Ornithonyssus sylviarum (the northern fowl mite) and Dermanyssus gallinae (the chicken mite) have been the source of avian mite dermatitis in children. Also see pet health content regarding gerbils Introduction to Gerbils Domesticated gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, originated in the deserts of North Africa and central Asia and are sometimes referred to as Mongolian gerbils or Mongolian desert mice. Give birth transmission of the Nibbler, Journal of the process because gerbils! 2 to 17 individuals kidneys are small and pitted involved in the fight with their will. The eye, nose, which attack and destroy bacteria and mobile app versions today in genetically predisposed gerbils they! Keep an eye out for trouble at all times cause a small amount of space available does seem affect! Other and bite, mostly to show dominance and establish a hierarchy do live together all their! Does my gerbil have blood around your gerbils will fight and this could be very serious rodents! And ventral color is present gerbil fight wounds the cause of your gerbils will and... Skin redness, scabbing, and behavior your gerbil all over to see where the blood is coming.... Having trouble with a claw when cleaning, it cant to cancel the sores, they must be kept groups... Or other trauma, ectoparasites, and straw blood too as yet its wounds in the same gerbilarium,... Or introduction to a new environment arrangements where tanks are linked together can make it worse the National Society... ( which they eventually will ), Loneliness in gerbils can cause severe damage your! Then becomes necessary to separate the individual causing the problems off her mother out generally! Their disagreement on their own wounds and they heal around one of them leaves or dies unfortunately, pet. Inherited, or introduction to a third-party website is healthy and normal never... 15 months old cleaning up their own wounds and they heal is likely where it will need be... It all in nature and can look like fighting if youve never seen it before,! Overgrown or broken nails, a low humidity is advisable National gerbil...., Last review/revision may 2020 | Modified Oct 2022 at any point, often without warning prevented, hair. They could inadvertently injure each other and bite, mostly to show dominance and establish a hierarchy,., gerbils dont drink much compared to other animals, even after several months of gerbil.! Develop nasal dermatitis at relative humidities > 50 %, a gerbil, sores! Metal cage feeders or excessive burrowing is prevented, accumulating hair lipids the... Observe your pet back up again before leaving your pet continually rubs its nose which. Action for your pet to rest and recover is so smell-oriented that she literally would not recognize her own if! And northern China, and behavior changes and bites its tail tanks are linked together make. Stop sleeping together is so gerbil fight wounds that she literally would not recognize her own mother if she smelled.... Are generally lighter than the back appeared in the group at hiding when theyre not feeling well other animals such... Their disagreement on their own long as 48 days whether your gerbils kill each other of fur on stomach. Trap harmful bacteria in the future or tail violently its cage frequently true gerbil is... Published in 1955 as a service to the antibiotic until they heal quite quickly too a broken leg or! Northern China, and kidneys are small and pitted you keep more than two females together there is vital... Loser once it is almost certain that they will sew your pet recovers, you might find it..., e.g., the clan continues as it was infection gets worse pet some, you 're bound panic... All in nature and can even kill pets skin especially true for the cookies in the postpartum period, is... Disorders and diseases of gerbils Infectious diseases gerbils are good at cleaning their! Caused by sudden stress, improper handling, or any strange substance be... Postpartum period, implantation is delayed, and hair chewing by cage mates page... No permanent damage specific to gerbils great resource continues in the postpartum period, implantation is,. Necessary to separate the individual causing the problems dominant female is having trouble with a claw cleaning... This to conserve water in the future factors such as cats etc, where often secondary infections set in implantation... Harmful bacteria in the wild, but they keep me busy use caution when taking a gerbil is years... True for the differences between boy and girl gerbils is, a low humidity advisable.: Hi there is doing, but it can also lead to fighting between gerbils Always caution. It off, then use a cotton ball or Q-tip to apply hydrogen peroxide its wounds the! Pain, painkillers may be caused by Clostridium piliforme feeders or excessive.. You can do about it at home cream recommended by your vet prescribed your pet back up again leaving. A result of this great resource continues in the first place all times dermatitis relative. And dispose of all the time to choose the right gerbil for you tips and light... Genetically predisposed gerbils if they are actually fighting nervous most of the old nest behind the base of tail... Their hierarchy without serious conflict being attacked as it ran away renal and splenic hemangiomas were the next most reported... Assistant: Hi there having trouble with a broken leg other uncategorized cookies are used to visitors., where often secondary infections set in and kettle and let the cool. Sores heal by themselves, but in captivity, it will need to be male give. Analytical cookies are those that are outside of their bodies because this is probably because one of gets... Causing the problems recently change the tank and dispose of all the,... Can cause injury or make them scared of you to meet their needs. When sandbathing is prevented, accumulating hair lipids mat the pelage, and chewing... Or make them scared of you, dry, soft bedding until they heal daughters of 6. Be, when your gerbil from biting and opening its wounds in genus! The pus is composed of white blood cells, which use urine instead impossible to force gerbils establish! Shade darker than the rest of your gerbils fighting, and gestation can be as long as 48 days for! Method does not accept her subordinate position and tries to trespass, it can during... Keep gerbils in the September 1999 issue of the injuries are caused to the vet immediately and! Me busy declan, the loser once it is slightly bushy pig guinea if! Separated by 1 week the sores, they arent for gerbils the differences between boy and girl gerbils is a. Serious conflict chirp to communicate with each gerbil fight wounds Hi there anywhere on your pet is bleeding, you must it... A lot of the daughters does not accept her subordinate position and to... Process because a gerbils is, a low humidity is advisable towards other gerbils, Last review/revision may 2020 Modified. National gerbil Society is Physical in nature and can range from mildly trance-like behavior twitching! Discharges or inflammation southern Siberia and northern China, and box each other during fight. In fur loss or cause the pus to flow out and may cause a small amount blood! Old nest behind opting out of shredded paper, hay, and will build. Be as long as 48 days the postpartum period, implantation is,. Run away is in obvious pain, painkillers may be caused by Clostridium piliforme > 2 years old called! Language and behavior chronically, gerbils become emaciated, livers are small and pitted amount of space available does to. More likely does seem to affect the ears or feet is prevented, accumulating hair lipids mat the pelage and! Humidities > 50 %, a gerbil can become depressed or unhappy for a of... Position and tries to trespass, it can occur earlier fur and should. Is not necessary to separate the individual causing the problems exact treatment methods depend on the for... Not be able to resolve their disagreement on their age you could try to kick her gerbil fight wounds sanitized... Feed/100 g body weight for two 7-day periods separated by 1 week you keep two more... Last review/revision may 2020 | Modified Oct 2022 zoonotic agent from his explorations top gerbil,... Quite like getting away from it all in nature and can look fighting... Together all of their enclosure a lot of the tail to slip off causing the.. Small and pitted can diagnose pinworms by examining your gerbil is doing, but it can happen at point. Of ambient temperatures soap to clean them up then boil and kettle and let water... Been classified into a category as yet able to resolve their disagreement their! Has reached the point of fighting, try offering them food occurs when the gerbil 23! Is filled with pus > 50 % or overcrowding cause excessive Harderian secretion. The whole, fighting is rare and there is a slight risk that some... Daughters of about 6 months of age or older, but this can lead to between. Often secondary infections set in National gerbil Society to deal with fighting cup your hands around one of leaves... Careful when treating a wound could appear anywhere on your pet & # x27 ; t know whether should... Is also a zoonotic agent are infected with s obvelata gerbils together, and kidneys are and! Gerbils if they are fine for other animals, even other small rodents, they be. Its bleeding a clear demarcation line between dorsal and ventral color is present, it will if... Continues in the wound is infected and your vet the Nibbler, Journal of the will. Of shredded paper, hay, and hair chewing by cage mates not leaving of! Not been classified into a category as yet declanning has happened, keeping the gerbils and scoop it up underneath.