classification, habitat, diet, handling,management,diseases

3.  Introduction
 Physical characters
 Habitat
 Diet
 Handling
 Management
 Gerbil care
 Selecting a gerbil
 Clinical trials/experiments
 Clinical problems
 Zoonotic disease
 Treatment
 Vaccination
 Behavior
 Ethics & welfare
 Quick facts

4. • A gerbil is a small mammal of the subfamily Gerbillinae in the order Rodentia
• Once known as desert rats, the gerbil subfamily includes about 110 species
of African, Indian, and Asian rodents all of which are adapted to arid habitats
• Most are primarily active during the day, making them diurnal (but some
species, including the common household pet, exhibit crepuscular behavior)
• Almost all are omnivorous
• Gerbils are related to mice and rats; they all belong to the family Muridae

7. • Adult gerbils weigh 2 to 3 ounces (50 to 90 grams)
• Males are slightly larger than females
• The coats of gerbils in the wild are “agouti” colored, or a mix of gray, yellow,
and black, with an off-white belly
• Breeding has produced gerbils with many different coat colors, including
black, buff, white, gray, and spotted
• They are about the size of mice, with their bodies measuring about 4 inches
(10 centimeters); their fur-covered tails can add an additional 3 inches (8
centimeters)

8. • Both male and female gerbils have a ventral marking gland on their
abdomen
• The gland appears as an orange-tan hairless area that is usually oval in
shape
• It can sometimes be mistaken for a tumor
• In male gerbils, the gland enlarges during puberty and produces an oily
secretion
• Male gerbils may use this as a way of “marking” territory, and they can
sometimes be seen rubbing their abdomen on objects
• Gerbils typically live for 2 to 3 years

11. • In the wild, these rodents live primarily in underground burrows and tunnels
• The habitats that they live in have sandy substrate covered in grasses and
shrubs
• Some of their favorite ecosystems include grassland, steppe, desert,
shrubland, and semi-desert
• People keep these pets in relatively large enclosures, preferably in pairs
• They provide a paper or soft shaving bedding for the animals to tunnel in
• Most habitats also contain multiple levels for exploration

15. • Wild gerbils eat a number of different things, but a lot of the time they would
be surviving on plant material from areas near their burrow
• Whilst some gerbil species would also try to catch insects as well, it’s not
usually necessary for the two species of captive pet gerbils to eat these too
• Captive gerbils are perfectly happy with their dried mixes and a bit of fresh
food, but it’s worth noting that they will need a certain amount of protein in
their diet
• In the past, rodent mixes would have contained lots of protein-poor foods, but
nowadays most will have protein-rich items included in the pellets or the mix

16. • It eats a variety of grasses and shrubbery
• Its diet also contains berries, fruits, seeds, grains, and more
• As pets, these creatures eat commercially produced rodent food
• You can also provide a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables
• Just be sure to thoroughly check the label and try to find one that says it
caters for all your gerbils’ dietary requirements
• Gerbils enjoy a number of different foods, but their diet can be generally
partitioned into dry and fresh food

19. • Never lift a gerbil up by its tail because Gerbils’ tails are delicate and can be
easily injured
• The best way to remove a gerbil from its cage is to use both hands and scoop
it up under its belly
• Do not squeeze the gerbil
• Until the gerbil is accustomed to being handled, hold it close to the ground
so that if it falls, it will not fall far and hurt itself
• It is recommended that you hold the gerbil over its cage or over your lap, so
if it wriggles out of your hands, it cannot run away
• Because of their small size, gerbils cannot withstand rough handling and are
not recommended as pets for very young children

20.  Stroke your gerbil gently and speak to him in a soft voice
 Never squeeze your gerbil
 Never lift your gerbil by the tail
 Hold 2 gerbils at a time when they are in your hand
 Give them a treat if they have something good

25. • A common misunderstanding when purchasing a home for pet gerbils is they
can live in housing designed for hamsters and mice
• This is not correct, as they need to be able to dig tunnel systems, rather than
have them created for them
• The commonly plastic structure of hamster and mouse cages is
inappropriate for gerbils due to their ability to gnaw through it very quickly
• Plastic can cause serious health issues for the animal if ingested, therefore
many owners refrain from having any plastic in the tank and rely entirely on
wooden toys
• Information from gerbil societies from throughout the globe is conflicting
with regards to tank sizing
• However, a common minimum given appears to be 10 imperial gallons (45 l)
per gerbil

26. • You must provide your Gerbil with a safe, secure enclosure
• As social creatures, they also need other individuals of the same species to
live with
• Provide deep, soft substrate for their bedding, and plenty of places to hide
• Commercially produced rodent foods provide all the nutrition that your pet
needs, but you can also provide fresh fruits and vegetables
• These are a great treat to help your pet socialize and become comfortable
with you and being handled

28. • Gerbils are available at many pet stores, or they can often be obtained from
a local breeder
• When selecting a pet gerbil, you should look for one that has smooth glossy
fur, clear eyes, and no obvious signs of trauma such as limping or hair loss
• There should be no discharge from the eyes or nose, and no signs of
diarrhea in the gerbil’s environment
• Healthy gerbils are usually lively and curious
• If any of the gerbils show signs of illness such as matted fur, a hunched
posture, or dullness, you should look elsewhere for your new pet

29. • Mongolian gerbils are used as biomedical research models for a variety of
diseases and are in some cases suited better than other rodents for basic
research and therapeutic studies
• They were studied to establish and characterize a dextran sulphate sodium
(DSS)-induced model in gerbils for the human inflammatory bowel disease
(IBD) and to utilize them for a therapeutic study in vivo
• Using an optimized protocol, DSS treatment induces reproducibly
typhlocolitis in Mongolian gerbils, rendering them as a useful model for IBD

32. Teeth problems
Trauma
Neglect
Epilepsy
Tumors
Tail sloughing
Tyzzer's disease
Deafness and inner ear problems

33.  Teeth problems:
Misalignment of incisors due to injury or malnutrition may result in
overgrowth, which can cause injury to the roof of the mouth
• Symptoms include a dropped or loss of appetite, drooling, weight loss, or foul breath
• The teeth must be clipped by a veterinarian regularly for as long as required
 Trauma:
Common injuries are caused by gerbils being dropped or falling, often while
inside of a hamster ball, which can cause broken limbs or a fractured spine (for which
there is no cure)
 Neglect:
A common problem for all small rodents is neglect, which can cause the gerbils
to not receive adequate food and water, causing serious health concerns, including
dehydration, starvation, stomach ulcers, eating of bedding material, and cannibalism

34.  Epilepsy:
Between 20 and 50% of all pet gerbils have the seizure disorder epilepsy
• The seizures are thought to be caused by fright, handling, or a new environment
• The attacks can be mild to severe, but do not typically appear to have any long-term
effects, except for rare cases where death results from very severe seizures
• A way to prevent a gerbil from having a seizure is to refrain from blowing in the
animal's face (often used to "train" the pet not to bite)
• This technique is used in a lab environment to induce seizures for medical research

35.  Tumors:
Tumors, both benign and malignant, are fairly common in pet gerbils, and
are most common in females over the age of two
• Usually, the tumors involve the ovaries, causing an extended abdomen, or the skin,
with tumors most often developing around the ears, feet, midabdomen, and base of
the tail, appearing as a lump or abscess
• The scent gland (positioned on the abdomen) should be checked regularly; a
veterinarian can operate on the lump where possible
 Tyzzer's disease:
The most common infectious disease in gerbils is Tyzzer's disease, a
bacterial disease, which stress can make animals more susceptible to
• It produces symptoms such as ruffled fur, lethargy, hunched posture, poor appetite,
diarrhoea, and often death
• It quickly spreads between gerbils in close contact

37. 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

38. • Gerbils are relatively healthy animals. However, it is a good idea to monitor
your gerbil’s condition and behavior daily
• There are early warning signs that may indicate illness
• These include weight loss; decreases in activity; changes in the appearance of
the fur; and a change in the color, consistency, smell, or amount of urine or
feces
• If any of these changes occur, it is best to bring your gerbil to a veterinarian

39. Protection of Gerbils from Amebic Liver Abscess by Vaccination with a 25-mer
Peptide Derived from the Cysteine-Rich Region of Entamoeba histolytica
Galactose-Specific Adherence Lectin

40. • In the wild, these creatures show primarily crepuscular behavior
• During the middle of the day they hide from the heat, but in the early
morning and late afternoon they forage for food
• At night they sleep in their burrows to avoid predators
• These mammals are quite social, and they live in small family groups
• A breeding pair leads these groups, and the other members consist of
offspring of various ages

41. • The Harderian gland is located near the corner of a gerbil’s eye and it
produces fluid that is rich in lipids (fats) and reddish brown pigments that
drain out through the tear duct
• The gerbil moves these secretions onto the fur through grooming
• Mutual grooming between gerbils is another important method of
communication
• One gerbil may lie on the ground while the other grooms him over his entire
body
• This appears to be greatly enjoyed by both parties!

42. The American Gerbil Society (AGS) is a non-profit
organization providing support and education to
breeders, caregivers, and enthusiasts for the ethical
and humane treatment of gerbils and other rodents
• Gerbils are often kept by young children, because
they have a great deal of character
• However, their needs are actually very complex and
owning one is a big responsibility
• If you own or are responsible for gerbils, even on a
temporary basis, you are required under the Animal
Welfare Act to care for them properly

43. • Adult body weight male: 80-130 g
• Adult body weight female: 55-85 g (2-3 oz)
• Body Temperature: 98.6-101.3 F
• Life span: 3-4 years
• Food consumption: 5-8 g/100g body weight/day (.17-.28oz / 3.5 oz)
• Sexual maturity male: 70-85 days
• Sexual maturity female: 65-85 days
• Gestation (pregnancy) period: 24-26 days up to 48 days long if they are
nursing another litter at the time
• Litter size: 3-7