what are symptoms common illnesses, and how to find them?

[Pine & Peach]

How do I find common illnesses in gerbils I’ve researched some information about it but I still want to know how to find them, Because I don’t want my gerbils dieing on my second week. I also have been wondering if they’re are certain things that cause them or it just happens randomly, and how to treat them .  

[Pine & Peach]

Sorry I didn’t see the health section, I’ll post there next time.

[gerbilord]

it's quite unlikely that they'll die in the next week! (good to be concerned though)

Symptoms of illness are:
-lethargy (sleeping/unwillingness to do much)
-not eating
-not drinking
-dramatic weight loss
-aggression
-pain
-unusual behaviour (obvious after a few months)

Make sure you do regular health checks. (weekly)

Things that can cause illness are dirty environments, dusty conditions, mites etc. There is a board in the FAQ section of this forum that cover the various illnesses that a gerbil can get and the reasons for them.

[betty]

No worries.

The only things that are likely to kill them within weeks are - (and all but one of these are 100% preventable by you and the remaining one is more difficult to combat - but avoidable by you in most cases):

• Cats
• Toxic substrate or wood to chew
• No ventilation/too hot/too dehydrated
• Disease they already have before you got them
• Disease they get from you using a second-hand enclosure/things that belonged to someone whose gerbil/hamster died suddenly in
• Genetic issue inherent in the individual gerbil

There are many other things that gerbils can 'get' over time - half of which can be treated easily by things you can do yourself; most of the remaining can be treated by a vet; and a few are very difficult/expensive to treat - but not all are impossible.

Perhaps read around in the Health section and see what is out there (scent gland tumour/seizures/strokes/ovarian cysts/tooth trouble/eye trouble/ear trouble) and then start a new thread for any questions you have for each illness or condition - stating them in the subject. (that way they are easier for other people to search for if they have the same question).

[Pine & Peach]

Sept 6, 2020 7:53:29 GMT -8 gerbilord said:

it's quite unlikely that they'll die in the next week! (good to be concerned though)

Symptoms of illness are:
-lethargy (sleeping/unwillingness to do much)
-not eating
-not drinking
-dramatic weight loss
-aggression
-pain
-unusual behaviour (obvious after a few months)

Make sure you do regular health checks. (weekly)

Things that can cause illness are dirty environments, dusty conditions, mites etc. There is a board in the FAQ section of this forum that cover the various illnesses that a gerbil can get and the reasons for them.

Thank you I’ll check it out!

[Pine & Peach]

Sept 6, 2020 8:02:46 GMT -8 betty said:

No worries.

The only things that are likely to kill them within weeks are - (and all but one of these are 100% preventable by you and the remaining one is more difficult to combat - but avoidable by you in most cases):

• Cats
• Toxic substrate or wood to chew
• No ventilation/too hot/too dehydrated
• Disease they already have before you got them
• Disease they get from you using a second-hand enclosure/things that belonged to someone whose gerbil/hamster died suddenly in
• Genetic issue inherent in the individual gerbil

There are many other things that gerbils can 'get' over time - half of which can be treated easily by things you can do yourself; most of the remaining can be treated by a vet; and a few are very difficult/expensive to treat - but not all are impossible.

Perhaps read around in the Health section and see what is out there (scent gland tumour/seizures/strokes/ovarian cysts/tooth trouble/eye trouble/ear trouble) and then start a new thread for any questions you have for each illness or condition - stating them in the subject. (that way they are easier for other people to search for if they have the same question).

Good thing I don’t have any cats  . I’ll do that next time I post something on Health thanks for all the help!