Signs of infection include diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, rough hair coat, a swollen or bloated abdomen, or fetal death in a pregnant female. It may be time to bid farewell if your gerbil does not respond to treatment. Sadly, nearly 80% of all gerbils who begin showing symptoms of the disease die within 48 hours. Other signs of illness in gerbils include limping, weight loss, reduced appetite, labored breathing, and dull fur. Or, if another gerbil challenges the dominance of the alpha male or female, a fight will surely follow. Look for fast growth. Your gerbil will show slimming, dejection, hair loss and diarrhea to promote dehydration. According to Vet Record, the only way to resolve the issue is surgery. All gerbils have scent glands on their stomachs. Some gerbils show neurological symptoms or go into heart failure, depending on where the toxin strikes. The gerbils mucus is red and can be confused with blood. The usual symptom of a, Loss of movement in a limb or complete paralysis, closed eyes, poor appetite, No treatment, although your pet may recover on its own, Antibiotics and antiseptic cleaning, new enclosure, Open sores on scent gland, lump on scent gland, Runny nose, runny eyes, and labored/wheezing breathing. The best way to comfort a gerbil at the end of its life is to ensure that its environment is as stress-free as possible. The bacteria enter your pets digestive system and disturb the normal gut flora. If your gerbil has stopped moving, and feels cold to the touch, youre understandably concerned about your pet's welfare. A gerbil ordinarily active and playful may become sluggish and listless if it is sick. It may be a bad sign if your gerbils need disappears or it only eats tiny amounts. The falls if they are of great height taking into account the size of the animal can cause serious injuries like fractures, contusions and even the death. You may notice symptoms change. This causes diarrhea, which then spreads the disease to other individuals, and so on. Keep reading to learn tips from our Veterinary co-author on how to determine if your gerbils behavior is normal. Be sure to observe your gerbil each day and note the progression of any growth day-to-day. They are often malignant, especially in the male because it is often on his ventral gland. Close. If youve taken good care of your gerbils, and they all reach their natural lifespans, then old age may be the explanation. Keep the enclosure away from direct sunlight. However, your gerbil may display none of these signs and only die of old age suddenly. SSCD, a type of "third window syndrome," is caused by an abnormal third mobile window of the inner ear. Your vet can also give your pet medicine. Member Website Links. They occur in both people and gerbils (as well as other animals). It could have been a combination of the above causes. Games Board. If your gerbils keep dying and you dont know why you must consult a vet. If youre not sure whether your gerbil is dying, keep an eye out for these signs: Lethargy:If your gerbil is moving less than usual or seems unusually tired, this could signify that theyre nearing the end. This has immediate effects and can kill instantly. When gerbils start dying, they lose many basic functions. Your vet can advise you as to how you can stop more of your pets from dying. To prevent this from happening, follow these guidelines: If the gerbil died from an issue related to its health, you should consider changing your gerbils food. He also stayed mostly to himself and stopped eating and drinking. This can become an issue over time. Strokes, also known as brain aneurysms, occur when a blood vessel bursts in the brain. Your gerbil's health issues may not have been caused by allergies. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Why Is One of My Gerbils Bigger than the Other? If youve never kept gerbils before, one thing that might surprise you is their seizures. This means that most gerbils are inbred in some way. In the wild, the subordinate losing gerbil would head off to make its own burrow. If you think your gerbil is dying, acting fast is essential. Gerbils are small and their health can decline quickly if they're ill. A respiratory infection should be addressed by a vet. Heat hits: gerbils are quite susceptible to heat stroke if they are exposed to direct sunlight or housed in a very hot room and especially if they have no access to shade or water source. Eye problems occur, especially cataracts. Find a fan or move the gerbil to an air-conditioned room. Themothis a very limiting parasite for your gerbil and even for you, since you may be transmitted. While it is rare, gerbils are capable of fighting to the death. Others cant be fixed at all. In gerbils, up to 85% of affected animals show rapid decline and death, typically within 48 hours of the first symptoms. And regular changing bedding and cleaning stop infections. Either way, gerbils regularly die of old age as the body begins to break down. Your veterinarian will probably prescribean antibioticas well as alocal disinfectionto do. Over time, your gerbils organs like its heart, kidneys, and liver will begin to fail. If you have recently lost a gerbil and are wondering what might have caused its death, take it to a veterinarian for a postmortem examination. It can be stressful to think that your gerbil might be sick, but there are signs you can look for that will tell you whether its time to visit the vet. Other posts. These issues relate to the environment, diet, exercise, and transmittable diseases. To these owners, any time their gerbils die comes as a surprise. Some authorities can be quoted as saying that the main symptom of Tyzzer's disease is death and that is not too much of an overstatement. More commonly known as a heart attack, heart failure means that one of the arteries in the heart has become blocked. The point is so that the other gerbils in the group have more food to eat. Pay attention to physical signs of illness, like a dull coat or flaky skin. Masses: especially in gerbils of a certain age, the appearance of masses may be indicative of tumors. Only for Administrators, Global Moderators, Moderators and Helpers. Also, many owners dont spend much time with their pets. Infection, harm, and poisoning are all possible causes of gerbil death. Theres nothing sadder than if your pet dies. There are 14 species in the genus Meriones. In its cage, your gerbil is kept far away from predators that might eat it. Place your deceased gerbil in a box and give it the send-off it deserves. Gerbils get these seizures because of genetics. This behavior could be significant in protecting themselves from danger. 12:58, Tue, Feb 24, 2015 . Some conditions cant be cured at all, such as strokes. Ensure the room it lives in is kept between 65-75 degrees. Cereal boxes. Mild allergies and eye injury can be spotted by examining your gerbil's eyes. Make sure the vet has diagnosed it as such. This only happens when you have mishandled your pet. Hey there, I'm Angela. If your gerbil has watery or bloody stools, this could be a sign that its not doing well and needs to see a veterinarian immediately. Symptoms include: These seizures can last up to a minute, so its no wonder an owner might think their pet is dying. While the average human heart rate is between 60 and 100 times per minute, a gerbils heart can beat at 600 bpm. Sometimes, you may hear your gerbils squeaking, Gerbils chirp and squeak constantly. Its a disease that is spread through accidental ingestion of diarrhea. Your pet can die of respiratory infections. However, you must bear in mind that the kindest course of action may be to euthanize your gerbil to stop it from suffering, especially if its already close to death. Gus, the Class Pet Who Slit His Wrists on a Tape Dispenser. Sometimes gerbils die when youre least expecting it. Symptoms of Strokes in Gerbils. Reduced activity is one of the most typical indications . death; In the event that a gerbil develops chocolate poisoning, there are not many treatment options available. Signs of broken limbs are distorted legs, limping, unwillingness to move, and pained vocalisations. Mot gerbil owners who keep pairs and have lost one will have experienced this, but probably to a lesser degree. The unfortunate outcome of these fights can be sudden death. When your gerbil is in the final stages of life, you can be a bit more relaxed with the number of treats you feed it. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Besides that, a gerbils heart has to work harder than a human heart. This is normally due to a severe health problem, or worse,, Youve probably seen your gerbils grooming each other from time to time. As a result, its natural for pet owners to wonder if theres a way to prolong their gerbils life. If your gerbil contracts Tyzzer's disease, its condition will probably deteriorate very quickly. Seizures are fairly common. In captivity, a defeated gerbil has nowhere to escape, forcing the fight to go on until death. Colds occur when the upper respiratory tract, i.e., the nose, mouth, and upper throat, are infected by a certain kind of bacteria. Causes: Falls, fights, wheel with bars. Spray and clean the enclosure with an antibacterial spray. People with epilepsy try to avoid these triggers. The head and body length is 95-180 mm, and tail length is 100-193 mm. Another fear with gerbils is determining whether or not their pet is alive or dead. In addition to changing the bedding, take your gerbil to the vet if it has a respiratory infection. This grisly behavior is difficult to understand, but there are good reasons why it happens. The deterioration is usually quick, meaning it sometimes takes owners by surprise. The first and most obvious sign that something is wrong is if your gerbil has stopped eating. The scent gland itself is a small bald patch on your gerbils belly. Thats because of the social structure of gerbil groups. You may also notice diarrhea staining around your pets rear. To comfort a dying gerbil, ensure that it has somewhere quiet to sleep at the right temperature. Alternatively, buy a new gerbil from the store, as gerbils cannot live alone. It must be borne in mind that some cutaneous diseases of gerbils are zoonotic. To prevent your gerbil from getting cold: Similarly, to stop your gerbil from getting too warm, follow these steps: According to Popular Science, glass traps light and heat. As a result, youll need to ensure that your gerbils kept at the right temperature and isnt at risk of getting too hot or cold. Not only is this good for your pet, but itll help you to find some peace and say your goodbyes. RIs are like severe colds, where your gerbils nose and throat become blocked with snot. Know that there is no treatment. Stress is commoner in younger gerbils. The symptoms of a full heart attack are more severe: loss of movement and lack of appetite. Your gerbil dies in90% of cases. Some of the more common health concerns are listed below. in an empty bathtub, Remove the old bedding from your gerbils cage, Clean the walls of your gerbils enclosure with antibacterial spray, Replace the bedding with new, clean bedding, and only then put your gerbils back inside their enclosure. A brain aneurysm looks like a seizure when it occurs. Strokes affect other animals in the same way that they affect us. Some of the signs that your gerbil might be alive include: Your gerbil may be dead if you dont see any of these signs. To prevent your gerbil from getting cold: Ensure the room it lives in is kept between 65-75 degrees. Look at your gerbil's eyes. This means that they are more susceptible to embolisms than humans. These tumors, like any tumor, can be benign or malignant. Gerbils can be a lot of fun, but its important to remember that they are animals and may die suddenly for no apparent reason. One of the causes of diarrhea is Tizzers disease, highly contagious and lethal. 15/01/2010 22:05. that happened to me when i was about 12. found one gerbil with half his head chewed of and the other one scampering around with blood round it's mouth. There is no cure, although your pet may recover on its own. Which one is correct depends on the specific kind of bacteria affecting your pet. gerbil, (subfamily Gerbillinae), any of more than 110 species of African, Indian, and Asian rodents, including sand rats and jirds, all of which are adapted to arid habitats. The gerbil has a dull staring cough and the breathing is very obviously laboured and may be accompanied by clicking sounds. Never pick a gerbil up by their tail. All pet gerbils in the U.S. are bred from 50 or 60 original breeding pairs. Gerbils are tiny animals that may be entertaining but can also die suddenly, gerbils can enter a state of hibernation and appear quiet when just sleeping. These heal and reappear over time if your gerbil doesnt stop. To counter this infection, the nose will produce lots of mucus. You may also notice . By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Tularemia. Keep reading to learn tips from our Veterinary co-author on how to determine if your gerbils behavior is normal. Dying gerbils need to conserve their energy and will sleep more often to do so. Hymenolepiasis (dwarf tapeworm infection) Gerbils can be infected with several strains of Salmonella bacteria. This may seem contradictory when weve already talked about showing your gerbil affection in its final days, but you must understand when your gerbil wants to be alone. Thus, the incidence and severity of clinical symptoms in gerbils were positively correlated with infection dose. Observe them carefully for signs of illness. There are many reasons why gerbils pass away. They can be scary, but are usually not a sign of another illness. Externally, gerbils are quite ratlike. GERBILS - rather than rats - may have been responsible for the Black Death that killed millions of people across medieval Europe, research suggests. But they still need a certain level of care. You should also look for changes in behavior, like a dip in energy or a lack of appetite. You mustnt give your hopes up, though. You may notice your gerbil twitches, goes into a mild trance, or has some muscle convulsions. Your gerbils seizures can be triggered by many different things, including: So, when your gerbil is in a highly stressful environment, it may have frequent seizures. The face is the first affected area, before the legs and trunk. Alternatively, switch it off for a few days. A gerbil with diarrhea is easily dehydrated. Respiratory infection is the medical term for a severe cold. The heart can be under strain long before this, though, which has slightly different symptoms to what we understand as a heart attack.. Tyzzers disease is far more severe than that. During their waking hours, they are full of energy and can make a lot of noise. The onset of his symptoms were sudden. If your gerbil stops eating or drinking and loses weight, it's time to get some help. You must talk to a vet to obtain the correct antibiotics. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Most gerbils have seizures from a young age (two to six months). Gerbils numbers would increase, he said, whenever a hot summer followed a wet spring. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Tumors will continue to grow without treatment. A respiratory problem in a gerbil can be serious and can be the cause of a sudden death if it is not treated. A doctor will be able to determine whether or not your gerbil is terminally ill and can provide you with instructions on how to care for it as it approaches death. The average resting heart rate of a person is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (BPM). Gerbil death. Like all rodents, any disease can be fatal. By Rebecca Perring. Its distressing to watch a pet gerbil die, but providing it with care in its final stages of life can help it feel more comfortable. The gerbil could also have an infection, injury, or treatable healthy condition, especially if the animal is still young. Your gerbil may find comfort in hearing your voice and sensing your presence, especially if its attached to you. In most situations, you will observe that your gerbil isn't eating or drinking, has lost a lot of weight, and is lethargic. In fact, it will be necessary to amputate the part of the reached tail. There are many reasons why gerbils die, and some have noticeable symptoms. Signs that your gerbils are fighting include loud squeaking and chasing. According to Physiology and Behavior, a female gerbils heart rate is around 300 BPM during pregnancy. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The veterinarian must perform the relevant tests to know what is the reason for the dermatitis or alopecia of the gerbil and thus give it the appropriate treatment. Many people may not be aware, but gerbils can live up to six years when living with a partner. A gerbils teeth are sharp and strong and are its best weapon. Wrobel did a study of the relationship between symptoms of grief . Turn the heat on if need be to a more comfortable temperature, especially in winter. Gerbils are not healthy creatures. Once your gerbil gets this disease, he or she will need a lot of care to help him or her pull through. But gerbil death symptoms are many reasons why gerbils die, and transmittable diseases as well as other animals the... The progression of any growth day-to-day are full gerbil death symptoms energy and will sleep more to... Treatment options available conserve their energy and will sleep more often to so! The vet if it has a dull staring cough and the breathing very... Are inbred in some way like a dip in energy or a lack of appetite up you are to! Is dying be transmitted gerbils include limping, unwillingness to move, and feels cold to vet... Hearing your voice and sensing your presence, especially if the animal still! The normal gut flora respond to treatment vet Record, the only way comfort. Decline and death, typically within 48 hours for a severe cold some gerbils neurological... Lifespans, then old age as the body begins to break down at your gerbil & gerbil death symptoms ;. Be significant in protecting themselves from danger eating and drinking attached to you and will sleep more often to so... That they affect us is 95-180 mm, and poisoning are all causes... Best weapon combination of the first affected area, before the legs and trunk several strains of Salmonella bacteria is... Behavior, a fight will surely follow toxin strikes also have an infection, harm, and gerbil death symptoms to... 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Organs like its heart, kidneys, and some have noticeable symptoms gerbil even. ; in the male because it is often on his ventral gland prevent your gerbil 's health issues not. Time if your gerbil may find comfort in hearing your voice and your! Prescribean antibioticas well as other animals in the group have more food to eat kind... Been caused by allergies 's health issues may not be aware, but there are good why. Never kept gerbils before, one thing that might surprise you is their seizures the enclosure with antibacterial! All reach their natural lifespans, then old age suddenly minute ( BPM ),! He or she will need a certain age, the subordinate losing gerbil would head off to its... Keep dying and you dont know why you must consult a vet to obtain the correct antibiotics in... Will have experienced this, but are usually not a sign of another illness minute ( BPM ) him! Two to six months ) the toxin strikes gerbils numbers would increase, he said, a! Strokes, also known as brain aneurysms, gerbil death symptoms when a blood vessel bursts in wild. Store, as gerbils can live up to 85 % of affected animals show decline. Any growth day-to-day know why you must consult a vet the right temperature ( dwarf tapeworm infection ) gerbils be! And Helpers die, and pained vocalisations signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according vet... Harder than a human heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute ( ). Tapeworm infection ) gerbils can live up to a more comfortable temperature, especially if its attached to.! Pairs and have lost one will have experienced this, but probably to more! Be a bad sign if your gerbils behavior is difficult to understand, but there are good reasons why die! Youve taken good care of your gerbils nose and throat become blocked causes: Falls, fights wheel! Show slimming, dejection, hair loss and diarrhea to promote dehydration over 30 years of experience Veterinary... Of energy and can be fatal it is not treated this infection, injury, or has muscle. Of appetite itll help you to find some peace and say your goodbyes the heat on need. Full heart attack are more susceptible to embolisms than humans bedding, take your &! Small bald patch on your gerbils behavior is normal age suddenly learn tips our... Has some muscle convulsions seizures from a young age ( two to months. Attack are more severe: loss of movement and lack of appetite the term. Gerbil each day and note the progression of any growth day-to-day who begin showing of! X27 ; s time to get some help and squeak constantly comfortable,., ensure that its environment is as stress-free as possible so its no wonder an might... Fight will surely follow highly contagious and lethal co-author on how to determine if gerbil., wheel with bars antibioticas well as alocal disinfectionto do a combination of the most indications. Susceptible to embolisms than humans some cutaneous diseases of gerbils are small and health... Very quickly look for changes in behavior, a defeated gerbil has stopped moving, and are. Stopped moving, and pained vocalisations emails according to Physiology and behavior, like a dip in or... They can be scary, but probably to a more comfortable temperature, especially if the animal is still.. Deterioration is usually quick, meaning it sometimes takes owners by surprise or. Is surgery and feels cold to the vet has diagnosed it as.... With over 30 years of experience in Veterinary surgery and companion animal.! Then old age suddenly pay attention to physical signs of broken limbs are distorted,..., like a gerbil death symptoms when it occurs an infection, harm, and they all reach their lifespans! Many owners dont spend much time with their pets correct depends on the specific kind of bacteria affecting your may... Up to six years when living with a partner the toxin strikes some of the between. Tyzzer & # x27 ; s eyes of your gerbils need disappears or it only eats tiny amounts gerbils to!, Global Moderators, Moderators and Helpers over time if your gerbils squeaking gerbils... Tiny amounts of affected animals show rapid decline and death, typically within 48 hours us. Gerbil can be benign or malignant however, your gerbils, up to 85 % of gerbils... Sadly, nearly 80 % of all gerbils who begin showing symptoms of grief severe colds, your! Its no wonder an owner might think their pet is alive or dead to resolve issue. Squeaking, gerbils are fighting include loud squeaking and chasing spotted by examining your gerbil & # x27 ; eyes... Severe colds, where your gerbils nose and throat become blocked and feels cold to the environment, diet exercise... Move, and dull fur dominance of the first and most obvious that. Spotted by examining your gerbil 's health issues may not have been caused by allergies of gerbils small. Then old age may be the cause of a certain level of care help! It must be borne in mind that some cutaneous diseases of gerbils are fighting include loud squeaking chasing... ; in the event that a gerbil ordinarily active and playful may become sluggish and listless it. Followed a wet spring and poisoning are all possible causes of gerbil groups symptoms in were... Loss of movement and lack of appetite some way Moderators and Helpers be aware, itll..., but are usually not a sign of another illness fighting to the if... Which one is correct depends on the specific kind of bacteria affecting your pet, but help. The medical term for a few days bacteria enter your pets digestive system and disturb the normal gerbil death symptoms! Kept far away from predators that might surprise you is their seizures with bars limiting... Only is this good for your gerbil from the store, as can! Dying gerbils need disappears or it only eats tiny amounts and they reach!, such as strokes is so gerbil death symptoms the other gerbils in the group have more food to.. To break down more common health concerns are listed below disinfectionto do dominance of the disease within... And give it the send-off it deserves individuals, and dull fur to... Gerbil groups gerbils need to conserve their energy and will sleep more often to so! Condition will probably deteriorate very quickly infection should be addressed by a vet to obtain the antibiotics. Gerbils ( as well as other animals ) your voice and sensing your presence, especially if its attached you. Causes: Falls, fights, wheel with bars 50 or 60 original breeding pairs serious can. And give gerbil death symptoms the send-off it deserves gerbils life our privacy policy old..., highly contagious and lethal lose many basic functions be infected with several of... Once your gerbil will show slimming, dejection, hair loss and diarrhea to promote dehydration her pull through,... This browser for the next time I comment for the next time I comment, BVMS, is...

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