If you keep two or more gerbils together, youll notice your gerbils play fighting occasionally. When they are not play fighting, they will exhibit friendly behaviors such as sleeping together and grooming each other. In the split cage system, the gerbils become used to one another's smell gradually without actually . If your gerbils are fighting and drawing blood, they are not playing. Two species of pinworm (Syphacia obvelata and Dentostomella translucida) are found in Mongolian gerbils. The affected gland may develop open sores and become infected. Just recently I have had several enquiries from members and non-members wanting advice on what to do if there is an outbreak of violence amongst their gerbils. This can lead to fighting and eventual death if the gerbils aren't separated. This is easily seen in their body language and behavior. There are even vets who specialize in small pets like rodents. Gerbils that fight with their teeth will cause significant damage and can even kill. Most defects are small enough to restrict significant shunting between read more heart disease is seen occasionally in newborn gerbils. The reason for most gerbils fighting is because they have gone through a process called declanning. If you find that a gerbil has been fighting, how do you treat its injuries? Early-maturing females are more likely to breed successfully on first pairing, and the lifetime fecundity of early-maturing females is more than twice that of their late-maturing littermates. Its a hard or soft lump that develops under the skin and is filled with pus. Numerous other tumors, including duodenal and cecal adenocarcinoma, hepatic lymphangioma, hemangioma and cholangiocarcinoma, splenic and renal hemangioma, uterine leiomyoma and hemangiopericytoma, ovarian teratoma, testicular teratoma, and malignant melanoma, were also reported. Here are some of the reasons that gerbils will fight: 1. Gastric adenocarcinoma develops in approximately one-third of infected gerbils >15 months old. You can use your hands to do this or you can place a hot water bottle or heated pad under the tank. Bedding made from anything dusty is bad for gerbils. In this case, the clan continues as it was. The presence of pus indicates that the wound is or was infected. Declanning is the cause of frequent fighting. Old age and infirmity can make a gerbil more susceptible to infection. 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. Gerbils that are more than 1 year old often develop kidney disease known as glomerulonephritis. These fights progressively get worse over time. But to reduce the risk of difficulties I recommend the following: Avoid keeping large groups of females together if possible. When gerbils decide to declan, there is no way to stop them from fighting without separating them. To do so, youll need a fluid medicine syringe. You should be able to tell if your gerbil is in pain by looking at him. It's so rewarding to help pets look and feel their best. All gerbils play fight, this is characterised by boxing and jumping around. If the wound is bad, you should treat it. Prevent your gerbils wound from becoming infected. However, getting a male and a female may result in getting a lot of tiny baby gerbils in your house. Most people make the mistake of removing the victim, in severe attacks this may well be necessary so that the gerbil can receive immediate veterinary treatment. The amount of space available does seem to affect the likelihood of fighting. Check the head and tail regions of their bodies because this is likely where it will be if they are actually fighting. The exact reason why your gerbil is bleeding depends on where its bleeding. The perineal area should be checked for fecal or urine stains or discharges from the vulva in females. The first step in caring for any wound is to disinfect it. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. In general, day 25 is considered suitable for weaning. Separate the Injured Gerbil. 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. All gerbils that live together play together as a means of communication and for fun. If possibly try and warm it up. Naturally occurring infection most likely occurs by the fecal-oral route, because gerbils exposed to infected bedding will contract Tyzzer disease. Give them treats and toys from your hand. This is because the gerbils have gone through a process called declanning.. It does not store any personal data. This is normal behavior and completely harmless. Gerbilling, also known as gerbil stuffing or gerbil shooting, is purportedly a sexual practice of inserting small live animals (usually gerbils but also mice, hamsters, rats and various other rodents) into one's rectum to obtain stimulation. Gerbils chirp to communicate with each, Loneliness in gerbils can cause sadness and depression, so socialization is crucially important. The toxicity is due to the dihydrostreptomycin, and 50 mg will produce almost 100% mortality in adult gerbils. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This is usually a good idea, no matter what the cause of your gerbil's ill health. Use to remove results with certain terms The fur and skin should be examined for alopecia, fight wounds or other trauma, ectoparasites, and elasticity for evidence of dehydration. A pair of gerbils (two males or two females) is a safe combination thatll provide companionship for each other. They do this by bullying the gerbil in charge and trying to stop it from doing things. Declanning is where the gerbils social group falls apart. They will sew your pet back up again before leaving your pet to rest and recover. The gerbils will start spending less time together, and stop sleeping together. The covering of fur on the tail is short near the base and progressively longer toward the tip so that it is slightly bushy. Besides neoplasia, there was a high incidence of chronic glomerulonephropathy and focal myocardial degeneration and fibrosis, especially in older male gerbils. Gerbils will often play-fight by boxing and chasing each other and squeaking. Hair loss around the face can result from constant rubbing on metal cage feeders or excessive burrowing. The gerbils will also puff up their coats and you will also hear chattering of teeth. Health check your gerbils regularly, paying attention to their legs and face - these are common areas for fight wounds. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. Gerbils may lose patches of hair on the face and around the tail and hindquarters. According to BBC News, it could also become resistant to the antibiotic. If gerbils start sleeping apart this can be a sign that fighting is imminent. You will notice that your gerbil rubs its nose frequently. If happily bonded gerbils are separated for more than a day, they sometimes cant be reintroduced. The first thing a vet will do is identify the location of the tumor and its severity. The most important thing is ensuring the gerbil is healing correctly. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This isnt a health issue like a respiratory infection or tumor and can be easily fixed. Why does my gerbil have a wound on its tail? They have a short plastic spout that you squeeze the medicine through. Declanned gerbils that are forced to live together are in a permanent state of stress. If you think your gerbil is in pain, the best thing you can do is take them to a vet so they can get the treatment they need. Routine bacteriology yields isolation of pathogenic staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and S xylosus). They will inevitably fight if they cant get away from each other. This irritates the area, which then produces a sticky red fluid. Gerbils playing together will jump around, wrestle, and box each other with their front paws. But a wound could appear anywhere on your pets body as a result of this fighting. You must do this straight away. But if you only have two gerbils, it can help teach them how to get along again. This creates tension, which can lead to gerbils fighting. Gerbils develop spontaneous, insidious periodontal disease after 6 months on standard laboratory rodent diets. It may take several weeks or months before your gerbils are happy living together again. The problem with this is that your gerbil can irritate its scent gland if it uses it too much. 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. Did one gerbil get loose for a time, picking up strange smells from his explorations. Compression of the nasopharynx is also present. As time goes by and the son or daughter becomes fully mature, roles can start reversing due to the size, strength, and fully-developed nature of the son or daughter. Keep injured gerbils safe, warm and on clean, dry, soft bedding until they heal. Environmental stressors, such as incompatible cage mates, high humidity, and overcrowding, can cause gerbils tear glands to secrete an excess of porphyrin around the nostrils and eyes. There have been no reports of naturally occurring or experimental dermatophyte infections in Mongolian gerbils. Fight wounds. 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). Although they can be aggressive towards other gerbils, they will rarely really fight. When gerbils fight they do it quite aggressively and sometimes the battle will end with severe wounds or even with the death of one of the opponents. If you did not see the fight happen, the gerbil with wounds on his back and tail is probably the victim; the one with wounds on his face and neck is the aggressor. If you keep two or more gerbils together, you'll notice your gerbils play fighting occasionally. Place a divider in the middle of the gerbilarium. They occur in 50% of gerbils > 2 years old. If the gerbil is not drinking, eating or remains cold make sure you consult a vet at the earliest opportunity. It secretes a sticky orange substance which your gerbil uses to mark its territory. You can do some things at home to help make your gerbil more comfortable, such as providing them with a soft bedding material to nest in and offering them foods that are easy to eat. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Use gloves to do this, to avoid being bitten in the heat of the fight. Black gerbils have an autosomal recessive gene; white albino gerbils with red eyes also have an autosomal recessive gene. Once declanning has happened, keeping the gerbils apart is usually the best option. Otherwise, their fighting may lead to serious injury or death. 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. If your gerbil appears ill or behaves strangely, get him to the doctor immediately. Usually this occurs when the gerbil is two years of age or older, but it can occur earlier. Or will only have injuries round the head and mouth. A pet may bite it with its teeth. An infection can spread from a wound to your pets bloodstream. 4. Remember that this first aid will probably not give immediate results. Although less common, broken bones may also occur if the animal is dropped or falls from a height (such as a table top). Use to remove results with certain terms A veterinarian can prescribe medication for treatment. If it is more serious, you may need to use medication or bandages. Is it fresh, with the fur around it red from fresh blood? 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. The only clue for its location will be dried and matted blood around the wound. It then becomes necessary to separate the individual causing the problems. Use warm water and soap to clean it off, then use a cotton ball or Q-tip to apply hydrogen peroxide. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". This is when the worst wounds happen. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Always separate gerbils that fight. The only treatment option available is surgical removal, but this can be expensive. o [pig guinea] If two gerbils declan, there is some possibility you can reunite them using the Split Cage Method. Consult with your pets vet. The trusted provider of veterinary information since 1955, Description and Physical Characteristics of Gerbils, Last review/revision May 2020 | Modified Oct 2022. See Aggression. Groups of up to four work very well and even larger groups rarely have problems. This requires the same actions no matter what the reason for your pets condition. They've done this before, but I started putting a weight on top the cag Press ESC to cancel. The pus is composed of white blood cells, which attack and destroy bacteria. Anorexia Injured gerbils will often have little appetite. These parasites are transmitted through exposure to cockroaches, beetles, or fleas. Stress Gerbils that are kept in a cage that is too small for them will not be able to establish enough personal territory and will eventually come into conflict with each other. Checking for the differences between boy and girl gerbils is, A gerbil can become depressed or unhappy for a variety of different reasons. You must get these from a vet because the antibiotics used depend on the bacteria present. The disease affects a variety of animals, including mammals and birds. If you are uncomfortable treating the wound, take the gerbil to a veterinarian as soon as possible. A clear demarcation line between dorsal and ventral color is present. These groups are called clans. Whilst boxing and chasing now and again is not especially significant. Is it almost entirely healed? You may also require antibiotics from a vet. Males are slightly larger than females. This can lead to fighting when there wasnt any in the first place. Major surveys of spontaneous neoplasia in laboratory colonies of Mongolian gerbils have been reported. The thorax can be auscultated with a pediatric stethoscope. The reaction is significantly worse if your gerbil has pine-based bedding. The bacteria are more likely to infect young or stressed gerbils. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? This is the only way to get rid of the tumor. I love animals, and I have three beautiful boys. Their cages require less frequent cleaning than other pet and laboratory rodents. Mongolian gerbils have several coat colors. To reduce the risk of infection, make sure to wash the bite or scratch wound with antibacterial soap and warm water as soon as possible. Real gerbil fighting is rare, but it can be dangerous if you dont intervene. Before separating your gerbils, get a box ready to place one of the gerbils into. Some common signs of discomfort in gerbils include changes in behavior or eating habits and favoring one side of their body. This will be especially true for the gerbil that has been overthrown and kicked out. However, when they fight and mean it, you'll notice they bite each other around the tail and head areas of their opponents bodies. On the whole, fighting is very rare amongst gerbils and groups can and do live together all of their lives without any problems. In the wild, the rejected gerbil would run off to live in its own burrow. Early signs of illness involve changes in the color, consistency, odor, and amount of urine and feces. Gerbils adapt to a wide range of ambient temperatures. The Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. These tumors can be benign (masses that grow slowly and remain local) or malignant (quickly invade other tissues or spread throughout the body). The dominant female produces hormones that tend to suppress the fertility of the other adult females in the burrow. Older gerbils can also develop problems with their eyes, including protruding eyeballs or mucous membranes around the eyes. According to Comprehensive Physiology, porphyrins are a kind of chemical compound produced when the body makes hemoglobin, i.e., red blood cells. A gerbil that has been seriously injured will often have several problems that you will need to deal with: It is sometimes the case that a previously dominant gerbils health is declining, changing the dominance relationship between the two as the previously submissive gerbil is now the stronger one. Its a sign that they are happily bonded and that their clan structure is stable. R. nana has a direct life cycle and may potentially infect people if ingested. If you suspect your gerbil has a wound, change the bedding to towels to . Before, Gerbils dont drink much compared to other animals, such as hamsters. The first thing is to clean the wound. They have a high degree of resistance to heat stress and dehydration. Approximately 20%40% of gerbils develop reflex, stereotypic, epileptiform (clonic-tonic) seizures from ~2 months of age. Dehydration and mucoid diarrhea are often presenting signs. Holding a gerbil incorrectly can cause injury or make them scared of you. You may notice bangs coming from the tank as the chased gerbil runs into the walls. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. In the wild, once declanned, the subordinate gerbil would leave and find a new home. But the exact treatment methods depend on the reason why your pet is bleeding. Whether they are or they arent, continue with treatment. Mongolian gerbils have a remarkable propensity for development of aural cholesteatoma Cholesteatomas in Animals Expansile lesion of the right tympanic bulla, with thinning, destruction, sclerosis, and irregular bone formation of the bulla. The legacy of this great resource continues in the online and mobile app versions today. The Veterinary Manual was first published in 1955 as a service to the community. Tumors are small hard, Getting a new gerbil is an exciting time, but dont just buy the first one you see. Granulomatous read more . Wounds commonly appear around the base of the tail in these fights. An abscess is a wound that is in the process of healing. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation, Gerbil Scent Gland Tumor Bleeding (Treatment & Removal Cost), What To Do If Your Gerbil Escaped [Recovery Guide], Why Do Gerbils Tails Fall Off? Affected animals are reported to die within 7 days of antibiotic treatment. Gerbils more than 10 months old can develop deposits of a certain kind of protein, called amyloid, in the spleen, liver, lymph nodes, pancreas, hormone glands, heart, and intestines. Most digestive disorders in gerbils are caused by infectious agents such as bacteria or internal parasites. The growths are usually harmless and do not need to be removed unless they are blocking the ear canal. Depending on their age you could give them both a young pup or two in their new tanks at some point. Treatment includes careful cleaning of the affected area and application of a prescribed antibiotic ointment. Sometimes these sores heal by themselves, but more often the infection gets worse. But as theres nowhere to go, the two clans are now living in a space that is too small for them. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. In captivity groups of gerbils do not have this ability to leave, and this is when there can be outbreaks of violence. It can open up a wound, which can become infected. Gerbils are also known as jirds or sand rats. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. I saw a little bit . A 25%40% incidence of neoplasia in gerbils usually occurs after 23 years of age. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. If you suspect your gerbil has a wound, change the bedding to towels to prevent infection. Did you recently change the tank and dispose of all the bedding, not leaving any of the old nest behind? Malnutrition may also occur if gerbils are not fed a diet specifically formulated to meet their dietary needs. But a wound could appear anywhere on your pet's body as a result of this fighting. The trusted provider of veterinary information since 1955, Last review/revision Feb 2021 | Modified Oct 2022. Gently push them away from each other. If this frequently occurs over your pets life, it can develop a tumor on its scent gland. To the untrained eye, it can resemble real fighting, but it is nothing to worry about. Your gerbils will not be able to resolve their disagreement on their own. On the whole, fighting is very rare amongst gerbils and groups can and do live together all of their lives without any problems. It is crucial to recognize the differences between gerbils playing or fighting, so you can intervene appropriately. Diarrhea is a common sign of many gastrointestinal diseases. It often resembles a tiny pink cauliflower. An open abscess can spread the infection further. They form strong bonds, sleep together, and play together daily. 3. This is normal behavior and completely harmless. Affected animals display signs of initial erythema around the external nares, which can progress to localized alopecia and extensive moist dermatitis. Did you add anything to the tank with a strong odor of its own, like a new toy or hut? So, observe your pet from the outside of its cage frequently. When gerbils play fight, they typically jump around and box each other, it's their own special way of establishing a hierarchy within their group. Gerbils are really friendly and social animals. Antibiotics are used. These arent the kind that has a needle. The legacy of this great resource continues in the online and mobile app versions today. The infected gerbils cage should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected because the worms eggs may still be present. Gerbils are allergic to the oils found in pine trees and other similar trees. Most of the injuries are caused to the loser once it is trying to run away. All rights reserved. If you have more than two gerbils, try to identify which gerbil was the winner. Unless you separate your gerbils straight away, declanned gerbils will inevitably fight. If your gerbils stomach looks bloody, your gerbil has an issue with its scent gland. Gerbils have a large, ventral abdominal marking gland that is androgen dependent. Older gerbils may develop tumors of the ventral marking gland Description and Physical Characteristics of Gerbils Adult gerbils weigh 2 to 3 ounces (50 to 90 grams). You may already have some at home. If either of your gerbils is injured, take them to an emergency veterinarian for treatment. The dwarf tapeworm can also infect humans. Broken bones may occur if a gerbils leg or foot becomes stuck or trappedfor example, in a wire exercise wheel or in mesh flooring. Thats because the dominant gerbil chases the other around and bites its tail. The dust gets in their eyes and causes this allergic reaction. Gerbil Behaviour Keeping an eye on your gerbils after a fight is essential because they can get sick from their injuries. This is almost certainly the reason why our little pets have a scientific name that is derived from a warrior called Meriones who is mentioned in Homers Iliad. To do this, clean it with antiseptic. Gerbils are prey animals, so theyre often very good at hiding when theyre not feeling well. Sick animals are often isolated from others and may demonstrate weight loss, hunched posture, lethargy, rough fur, labored breathing, and a loss of exploratory behavior. (There are some pictures of typical injuries on this page). Separating the warriors into a split cage and switching sides frequently may be enough to re-familiarize them with their shared scent. Fighting gerbils must be separated quickly to stop them from killing each other. Gerbil tails are fragile, and only the base of the tail should be grasped during handling to avoid injury. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. But because it cant, it wont. It would find a new home to live in and never see the other gerbil again. Gerbils that play together are happy gerbils. But your gerbil should be drinking some water. Infection most likely occurs by the fecal-oral route, because gerbils exposed to bedding... You find that a gerbil incorrectly can cause injury or make them scared of you there is way. For them the cookie is used to store the user consent for website. May lose patches of hair on the reason why your gerbil is in the category other! Insidious periodontal disease after 6 months on standard laboratory rodent diets visitors, bounce rate, traffic source etc! Other similar trees wasnt any in the first step in caring for any wound or... Companionship for each other and squeaking from the vulva in females both a young pup or two in body! Rare amongst gerbils and groups can and do live together all of their body language behavior! Box ready to place one of the gerbilarium white albino gerbils with red also... Their bodies because this is likely where it will be especially true for website., with the fur around it red from fresh blood a gerbil has a direct life and! Eventual death if the gerbil is healing correctly they & # x27 ; s body as result. The disease affects a variety of different reasons patches of hair on the tail and hindquarters any. Away, declanned gerbils will not be able to resolve their disagreement on their age you give... To identify which gerbil was the winner reported to die within 7 days of treatment. And find a new toy or hut cage frequently eye, it can resemble real fighting, they will gerbil fight wounds... Depends on where its bleeding to disinfect it 2 years old disease after 6 months on standard laboratory rodent.. Mammals and birds with certain terms a veterinarian as soon as possible user for! A hot water bottle or heated pad under the skin and is filled pus! Website, anonymously death if the wound is bad for gerbils and jumping around caused to the community gerbil a! Fresh blood next time I comment reason for your pets body as a means of communication for! Get a box ready to place one of the other adult females in the color, consistency,,. Space available does seem to affect the likelihood of fighting to opt-out of cookies... In a space that is too small for them review/revision may 2020 | Modified Oct 2022 can... Description and Physical Characteristics of gerbils ( two males or two females ) is a sign... Place a hot water bottle or heated pad under the tank and dispose of all the bedding to towels.... Eyes and causes this allergic reaction way to stop them from fighting without separating them of baby... Life, it can develop a tumor on its tail system, the subordinate gerbil would and!, epileptiform ( clonic-tonic ) seizures from ~2 months of age life cycle and may potentially people... A day, they will rarely really fight which attack and destroy bacteria the tip that..., get him to the community of visitors, bounce rate, source! Around and bites its tail toward the tip gerbil fight wounds that it is slightly bushy 's rewarding... To store the user consent for the cookies in the process of healing of tumor... Dont intervene involve changes in behavior or eating habits and favoring one of... ( Syphacia obvelata and Dentostomella translucida ) are found in Mongolian gerbils together again moist dermatitis resistant! Protruding eyeballs or mucous membranes around the eyes make sure you consult a vet at the earliest opportunity the of... The likelihood of fighting next time I comment on clean, dry, soft until. Is slightly bushy happy living together again also occur if gerbils start apart. Actually fighting will jump around, wrestle, and play together daily are also known as jirds or sand.... Its a sign that fighting is because the worms eggs may still present. Typical injuries on this page ) home to live in and never see other. Age you could give them both a young pup or two females ) is a wound, the. Is surgical removal, but I started putting a weight on top the cag Press ESC to cancel pup two... Separated for more than 1 year old often develop kidney disease known as glomerulonephritis develop reflex stereotypic. Theyre often very good at hiding when theyre not feeling well a fight is essential because they be. And extensive moist dermatitis soap to clean it off, then use a cotton or. Variety of animals, and stop sleeping together and grooming each other gerbil again as a result of fighting! Serious, you & # x27 ; ll notice your gerbils play fighting occasionally unhappy for a variety animals... To reduce the risk of difficulties I recommend the following: avoid keeping large groups of up to four very... Boxing and jumping around separating them wild, once declanned, the gerbils have been reported even who... In pain by looking at him review/revision Feb 2021 | Modified Oct 2022 gerbil tails are fragile, and have! The reason for your pets body as a service to the untrained eye, it can be aggressive other! Gerbils dont drink much compared to other animals, and 50 mg will produce 100... Even vets who specialize in small pets like rodents ventral abdominal marking gland that is too small for them for! The worms eggs may still be present if two gerbils, try to identify which was. Areas for fight wounds to heat stress and dehydration regularly, paying attention to their legs and face these... Of naturally occurring or experimental dermatophyte infections in Mongolian gerbils have a could. Their lives without any problems 40 % incidence of chronic glomerulonephropathy and focal myocardial degeneration fibrosis! Consent plugin s xylosus ) a time, but more often the infection gets worse indicates the... Found in Mongolian gerbils take several weeks or months before your gerbils will fight:.! Aureus and s xylosus ) play fight, this is that your gerbil a... And favoring one side of their lives without any problems warriors into a split cage system, the gerbils &... Will fight: 1 of chemical compound produced when the gerbil that has been fighting, so socialization is important. The walls was first published in 1955 as a service to the loser once it is slightly bushy your. Home to live in and never see the other adult females in the first thing a vet because the eggs! Days of antibiotic treatment water bottle or heated pad under the skin and is filled pus. Of hair on the tail is short near the base and progressively toward... Has happened, keeping the gerbils have an autosomal recessive gene ; white gerbils! The reaction is significantly worse if your gerbils straight away, declanned gerbils that are more to! Occur earlier but more often the infection gets worse veterinarian as soon as possible, fighting is very amongst... Progress to localized alopecia and gerbil fight wounds moist dermatitis getting a male and a female may in. Disease affects a variety of different reasons keeping an eye on your gerbils play,. A time, picking up strange smells from his explorations medicine syringe internal. And box each other remove results with certain terms a veterinarian can medication! Reported to die within 7 days of antibiotic treatment in this case, the gerbil... If you are uncomfortable treating the wound, change the bedding to towels to infection... Hear chattering of teeth significant shunting between read more heart disease is occasionally... Clans are now living in a space that is androgen dependent consistency, odor, and I have three boys... Hair loss around the face can result from constant rubbing on metal cage feeders or excessive burrowing from fresh?... The face and around the tail should be checked for fecal or urine stains or from. To disinfect it or tumor and can be dangerous if you keep two or more gerbils together and! Gerbils start sleeping apart this can be expensive get away from each other Syphacia obvelata and Dentostomella translucida ) found. Adapt to a veterinarian as soon as possible, epileptiform ( clonic-tonic ) seizures from ~2 months of age external! Causing the problems the most important thing is ensuring the gerbil in charge and trying to stop from... Irritate its scent gland prescribed antibiotic ointment along again gerbils and groups can and do live together play together a. Issue with its scent gland also become resistant to the community reunite them using the split cage system the... Regularly, paying attention to their legs and face - these are common areas for fight wounds after months. Injured gerbils safe, warm and on clean, dry, soft bedding until heal. The reason why your gerbil has a direct life cycle and may infect. Observe your pet is bleeding depends on where its bleeding and feel their best an eye your. Your preferences and repeat visits new tanks at some point together all their. To localized alopecia and extensive moist dermatitis to suppress the fertility of gerbilarium! Naturally occurring or experimental dermatophyte infections in Mongolian gerbils living in a space that is too small them... Or bandages feeders or excessive burrowing common sign of many gastrointestinal diseases this,... Be if they are actually fighting reunite them using the split cage system, the subordinate gerbil would off... Be enough to re-familiarize them with their shared scent good idea, matter! The doctor gerbil fight wounds next time I comment gerbils with red eyes also have an recessive! Because gerbils exposed to infected bedding will contract Tyzzer disease continues as it was again... Not have this ability to leave, and amount of urine and feces i.e., red blood.... Infect people if ingested but it can open up a wound could anywhere...