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I have had a small colony of gerbils for a year or two. I have always had a percentage of young ones dying, but recently the percentage has increased and I'm having parents, male and females die. It seems to be hitting the females the hardest. They seem fine one day and then 24 hours later are dead. The only abnormality that I can observe is diarhea.

Submitted: 337 days and 14 hours ago.

Category: Pet

Value: $15

Status: CLOSED

Breed: Gerbils

Already Tried:
We are washing bottles and nipples between each refilling. Disinfecting pans. From research that I have done so far. Tyzzer's disease seems to be the best explanation. Do you have any more tips on treatment, prevention?

Accepted Answer

Hello and thanks for researching this very important question!

I am so sorry that you are having this difficult and distressing experience.

Gerbils are unfortunately suceptible to a number of bacterial and fungal agents that invade the intestines and other organs.

Once in a colony, these infections are very hard to control or erradicate.

The most notorious is commonly called Tyzzer's Disease. You can read about it here:
http://www.gerbils.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gerbils/tyzzers.htm

Since symptoms do not appear to us before a critical stage, this infection is very hard to get rid of in a colony situation. You can try the disinfection and antibiotic treatments listed in the article above, but I have to warn you that you may lose this group over time.

You will need a vet's help to obtain antibiotics, and to use the proper dosages.

These links will help you find medical assistance (not all medicines are safe to use in "Pocket Pets", so you want to have your friends examined by doctors who know how to treat exotic pets):
http://www.cavyinfo.com/html/vet.htm

http://www.aracnet.com/cgi-usr/seagull/vetfinder.cgi

http://cavyspirit.com/vets.htm

In the meantime:

1) Raise the temperature in the room where they live to 80F degrees.

2) Move "healthy" animals to new cages with fresh bedding (that you will change DAILY), and disinfect all old cages, dishes and bottles.

3) Check everyone several times daily and remove any "questionable" or sick animals as soon as you notice them...keep sickly animals in a separate enclosure so that you can provide palliative warmth and quiet.

4) Do not feed any "wet" foods that can become infected with spores as they lie in the cage(s).

If you need additional support at this time, please click "Reply", otherwise I thank you in advance for your "Accept", and will hold a Good Thought for you.

Accepts:
Expert:	Gen B.
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	12/20/2008

Retired Veterinary Technician

Dog, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Gerbil breeder / Reptile Keeper / Bunny-Ferret-Exotic Specialist

337 days and 13 hours ago.

Reply

Is it more likely that the infection came through spoiled feed or wild rodents? From what I have read it seems unlikely that despite ones best efforts at disinfecting that I can actually get rid of the disease. If I depopulate how long does it take for the spores to die?

Accepted Answer

We can't be certain for sure about the exact origin point...since these organisms are so long-lived and hard to reach in the capsulated form (kind of like hybernation), they most likely get into our tame colonies from air-borne spores in feed factories, supply stores, produce at grocery stores, etc.

So, yes, wild contact is possible, even if there are no rodents in the home, per se.

It seems to me that these spores can kind of survive Indefinitely...the primary reason that this is so hard to combat in an epidemic situation. Hot bleach disinfection and daily bedding changes are aimed at reducing the animals' CHANCE of ingesting spores.

You know, since you obviously care a lot for this gang, and the chance does exist that this is not Tyzzers, but some other more responsive buggie, I think the efforts are worth a try. As long as you are able to keep a level head if things don't turn around. Then at least you know you gave it your all.

In short, you may not be practically able to get these critters out of the house, but may be able to control the pecent chance that new animals develop active infection.

Let me know if we can discuss anything else today...click "Reply". Sorry that the system is defaulting to this "loud" font!

Accepts:
Expert:	Gen B.
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	12/20/2008

Retired Veterinary Technician

Dog, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Gerbil breeder / Reptile Keeper / Bunny-Ferret-Exotic Specialist

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Breed: Gerbils

Already Tried:
We are washing bottles and nipples between each refilling. Disinfecting pans. From research that I have done so far. Tyzzer's disease seems to be the best explanation. Do you have any more tips on treatment, prevention?

Accepted Answer

Reply

Is it more likely that the infection came through spoiled feed or wild rodents? From what I have read it seems unlikely that despite ones best efforts at disinfecting that I can actually get rid of the disease. If I depopulate how long does it take for the spores to die?

Accepted Answer

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Breed: Gerbils Already Tried: We are washing bottles and nipples between each refilling. Disinfecting pans. From research that I have done so far. Tyzzer's disease seems to be the best explanation. Do you have any more tips on treatment, prevention?

Accepted Answer

Reply

Is it more likely that the infection came through spoiled feed or wild rodents? From what I have read it seems unlikely that despite ones best efforts at disinfecting that I can actually get rid of the disease. If I depopulate how long does it take for the spores to die?

Accepted Answer

Related Pet Questions

Breed: Gerbils

Already Tried:
We are washing bottles and nipples between each refilling. Disinfecting pans. From research that I have done so far. Tyzzer's disease seems to be the best explanation. Do you have any more tips on treatment, prevention?