There is no point in having and housing pets if you do not know how to care for them and see their overall welfare. Gerbils are pets, too, and if you happen to have them in your home, you have to shield and protect them from injuries, pains, diseases, or suffering. Gerbils are playful and social animals with certain behaviors peculiar to them that every owner should be familiar with.
This is to the end that one can immediately tell when your gerbils are acting differently from the norm. These creatures are easily affected by diseases, most times through contaminated food or water. A change in the surrounding can also trigger one or two issues in your gerbils.
Try to check them from time to time, though checking them can very stressful, it is needed. One thing to check out for is their set of teeth, as it is central to their health.
Rodents generally have their teeth grow continuously, and they are worn down by the food they munch on. Their teeth can grow too long, or it might get damaged such that your gerbils would not be able to eat or groom at all. Gerbils have unique teeth that are sharp and hard like other rodents.
Their teeth are perfect for gnawing and chewing. In their natural habitat, gerbils use their teeth to defend themselves from those they consider strangers and predators, nibble and gnaw on hard food like grains and seeds, bite on plant roots and get into their burrows. Because they use their teeth so often, they wear down fast and usually.
It can also break into half, chip, or just come off ultimately, but surely it will grow back over time. Once their teeth are out, they might not be able to chew well or eat at all; rest assured, they will be sufficient soon enough.
A rough estimate says gerbils' teeth grow as fast as their fingernails. Given a week or two at most, your gerbil's teeth will grow back as if they never came off.
Once the teeth start to grow back, be prepared to nurse your gerbils as a severe wound opens up in their mouth. The mouth contains bacteria, so the injury will most likely get infected and, if it is not taken care of, would worsen and lead to the death of your gerbil. Their teeth can grow as long as three millimeters or about 1/8 of an inch.
As much as their teeth grow, it does not apply to everyone; the incisors mostly. The incisors are the most important teeth, and they are four in number. They are in front of the gerbil's mouth, used to cut all sorts. If one gets broken or damaged, you can easily spot it but fortunately will grow back.
The incisors are rootless, which means the root canal is open and quickly grow back. Their molars are then used to grind food, and they are at both sides of the mouth. It is a total of 12 in a gerbil's mouth. If your gerbil pets lose an incisor, make sure you feed it carefully until they can eat on their own again because they can lose weight fast and quickly.
Gerbils grind their teeth frequently, so if you notice otherwise, then know that something is wrong somewhere. Note that a gerbil's teeth continue to grow all through its existence, and this is because each tooth grows from the bottom to the top.
Therefore, what gerbils instinctively do to prevent it from growing further and keep it sharp keeps grinding it down from the top.
If there is no food to gnaw on, they will gnaw on their cage bars. Thus, the need for toys in their cages does not destroy the cell. If one of the teeth falls out or break, it sure grows back. Though it might not grow back on time, they still grow enough to replace the lost one. If they cannot grind their teeth, they can cause injury; thus it has to be trimmed or cut regularly.
As the owner, make sure you do not shrink or cut your gerbil's teeth yourself as you might hurt them in the process, and once that happens, your gerbils would not be able to trust you anymore. There are vets specialized in that; call one to get it done for you.
Trimming your gerbils’ teeth is vital because once the teeth have grown too much, they begin to cause wounds and injuries.
In case they already have wounds and injuries, your gerbils will need to eat critical care food. Essential care food is a unique formula that comes in powder containing fats, proteins, and carbs that are necessary for your pet's needs. With the powder from food, add water to it, so it turns into mush, and feed it to them.
Your gerbils are not used to this kind of food, so they might not eat it at first, so you have to come in. You are to fill a medical syringe up to 0.5ml, pick up your gerbil to the other side of your hand, and gently put the needle into your pet's mouth.
By the time this happens, your gerbil will be encouraged to open its mouth. It might not open up immediately, but give it time but do not force it. Then you can gradually inject the contents into its mouth so it can swallow slowly.
Gerbils' teeth are primarily hidden from view, so you have to check them out yourself. They do not have canines; instead, a big gap between their incisors and the rest of their teeth. Gerbils have sixteen teeth in total, with four incisors and twelve molars.
To check your gerbils' teeth, place the gerbil in your lap, and gently open their mouth. If you can't do that, you can slowly lift their lip and check out the teeth. Your gerbils' teeth are essential such that without them, they would not be able to survive.
Your gerbils’ nails grow fast and long, so you have to constantly cut it. Their nails grow too long when they are in captivity since they do not have the chance to wear them down naturally. Trimming them is necessary then and it is not difficult to do. Their nails also easily form into a curve so it needs to be trimmed.
When you trim your gerbils' nails frequently, it won't grow so long consistently. Get them in a happy and relaxed mood, then get on with it but if they are resisting, leave them be for a while. Trim or cut the nails gently to avoid cutting into their skins.
Hamsters' teeth are like gerbils' teeth, such that when they are in excellent condition, they are to be brownish-white in color. Their incisor teeth also grow throughout their life. Their incisors and front teeth can be easily seen in their mouth once they are overgrown.
Their teeth can grow so long that it then begins to stick out between the lips and they also start to stick on things. If their molars are overgrown, hamsters will begin to experience hypersalivation and have difficulty swallowing and chewing.
As much as gerbils are very friendly, they can bite you. Gerbil biting might be turn out to be shocking, disappointing, and painful; however, your reaction to it might go a long way in determining how smooth your relationship will it will be. Once you get bitten by a gerbil, put it down instantly but slowly so as not to scare it.
Now you are to clean up the wound with warm running water to prevent any possible bacterial infection or dirt. You can also use an anti-bacterial wash and then apply a bandage to seal the wound while keeping it clean.
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