Gerbils are friendly and generally docile pets and come in a variety of colors. Gerbils can sometimes be kept together if they were raised together and the same gender, however some will still fight and will need to be separated. Males should not be kept with females unless they are neutered because they breed readily and have large amounts of babies. Use caution when picking up gerbils because if you hold the end of the tail the skin may come off!
Gerbil Epilepsy, sometimes called fits, is a common condition seen in 20-40% of all gerbils. It is believed to be inherited and therefore strongly associated with certain breeds of gerbils. In fact, lines have been bred to be seizure-resistant and seizure-prone for use in clinical research on human epilepsy. The seizure-prone gerbils spend less time performing social activities, such as scent gland marking. The seizure activity is due to a deficiency in a brain enzyme, cerebral glutamine synthetase, and is classified as “spontaneous epileptiform seizures.”
Pets may be sent home with liquid medications. An oral liquid medication must be given by mouth to be effective. An injectable liquid medication must be given by injection beneath the skin to be useful. Some injectable medications require that the medication is inserted into the muscle to be most effective. It is important that you understand how to read the syringes that are sent home so your pet gets the proper amount of medication at each dose.
