Scent glands are found on your gerbil’s belly. You will notice a hard lump forming around the scent gland if your gerbil is sick. Tumors will continue to grow without treatment. Take your gerbil to the vet right away if it has a scent gland tumor. Scent gland tumors are more common in male gerbils, but can occasionally be found in females.
Keep in mind that a gerbil’s mucus is red. Therefore, a runny nose can be mistaken for a bleeding nose. If your gerbil appears to have a reddish nose, its nose is likely running and it may need treatment for an allergic reaction or respiratory issue.
Seizures usually begin a gerbil when a gerbil is 2 to 3 months old. You may notice your gerbil twitches, goes into a mild trance, or has some muscle convulsions. Usually, seizures last several minutes. Seizures are fairly common. About 20% of gerbils will develop seizures. They can be scary, but are usually not a sign of another illness.
Try switching your gerbil’s bedding if it appears to be having an allergic reaction. Cedar pine bedding can be particularly irritating for gerbils. Try removing all your current bedding and swapping it with another kind. You may notice symptoms change. If your gerbil remains sick after a change of bedding, take it to the vet. Your gerbil’s health issues may not have been caused by allergies.
In addition to changing the bedding, take your gerbil to the vet if it has a respiratory infection. Gerbils are small and their health can decline quickly if they’re ill. A respiratory infection should be addressed by a vet.
Take your gerbil to the vet to get specific instructions on treatment if you suspect your gerbil has a parasite. Clean and disinfect your gerbil’s cage thoroughly. If you suspect an infestation of bugs like cockroaches or fleas may have caused the parasites, you should make an effort to eliminate these pests.
