Post by pepandmax on Jul 12, 2007 17:43:42 GMT -8
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
You should be aware of the physical and behavioral condition of your gerbils every day, so you can monitor for deviations from their normal condition. Still, this may not be enough to catch health problems before they become serious. Consider giving them a weekly check-up by examining their bodies and observing their behavior. Things to consider include:
Physical Issues:
--Has the gerbil gained weight? Lost weight?
--Is the gerbil’s coat shiny and clean? Is it matted and greasy? Are there any missing patches of fur?
--Are the gerbil’s eyes wide open and bright? Are they dull and sinking into the head? Is there any porphyrin (a red secretion) around the eyes?
--Does the nose look normal? Has the gerbil lost fur on the face? Is there porphyrin (a red secretion) around the nose?
--Are the teeth a normal length?
--Are there any obvious bumps or lumps, marks, cuts, or nips on the body?
--Are there any sounds when the gerbil breathes?
--Is the gerbil breathing more quickly or more slowly? Shallower or deeper? Are there any signs of gasping?
Behavioral Issues:
--Is the gerbil moving more quickly or more slowly than usual?
--Is the gerbil sleeping more than usual?
--Is the gerbil eating or drinking more or less than usual?
--Is the gerbil rubbing, scratching, or picking at any part of his body?
--Have the dynamics in the tank changed? Are there signs that an animal is being bullied by a tank mate? Does it appear that the bully is preventing the tank mate from eating, drinking, or resting?
You should be aware of the physical and behavioral condition of your gerbils every day, so you can monitor for deviations from their normal condition. Still, this may not be enough to catch health problems before they become serious. Consider giving them a weekly check-up by examining their bodies and observing their behavior. Things to consider include:
Physical Issues:
--Has the gerbil gained weight? Lost weight?
--Is the gerbil’s coat shiny and clean? Is it matted and greasy? Are there any missing patches of fur?
--Are the gerbil’s eyes wide open and bright? Are they dull and sinking into the head? Is there any porphyrin (a red secretion) around the eyes?
--Does the nose look normal? Has the gerbil lost fur on the face? Is there porphyrin (a red secretion) around the nose?
--Are the teeth a normal length?
--Are there any obvious bumps or lumps, marks, cuts, or nips on the body?
--Are there any sounds when the gerbil breathes?
--Is the gerbil breathing more quickly or more slowly? Shallower or deeper? Are there any signs of gasping?
Behavioral Issues:
--Is the gerbil moving more quickly or more slowly than usual?
--Is the gerbil sleeping more than usual?
--Is the gerbil eating or drinking more or less than usual?
--Is the gerbil rubbing, scratching, or picking at any part of his body?
--Have the dynamics in the tank changed? Are there signs that an animal is being bullied by a tank mate? Does it appear that the bully is preventing the tank mate from eating, drinking, or resting?