Gerbils and Guinea Pigs

1. Gerbils and Guinea Pigs

2. Gerbils • Mongolian gerbil • Meriones unguiculatus • Most common pet gerbil • Live 2-4 years • Native to China and Mongolia

3. History • Genghis Khan • Meriones unguiculatus  “Clawed Warrior” • Father Armand David (French missionary/explorer) • 1867 - sent specimens to Europe (first pet gerbils in Europe?) • Dr. Victor Schwentker • Brought to U.S. in 1954 for research • Scientists realized their “pet potential” in the lab • Illegal as pets in California

4. Anatomical Features • 15-30 cm; tail about half its length • Weigh 50-60 g • Adapted to arid environment • Furred tail and fur between toes • Drink little water; excrete little urine • Can go 45 days without water • Hearing 7 times better than humans

5. Reproduction • Monogamous (usually) • Paired gerbils begin to mate at ~ 3 months • Mating Behavior • chasing and mounting • checking their undersides after each round • Pregnancy = 24 days • 1-8 pups/litter; both parents build nest and care for pups • Mate again almost immediately after the female gives birth

6. Behavior • Active, friendly animals • Adult gerbils do NOT tolerate new cage mates • Place with permanent cage mates by 10 to 12 weeks of age • New cage mates will result in fighting among adults • If cage mate removed for prolonged time and reintroduced, fighting may result

7. Behavior • Diurnal • Enjoy exercise wheels and edible chew toys • Avoid plastic • Enjoy dust baths • Normally burrow • Appreciate tunnels

8. Research • Stroke studies • Hematology studies • Experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) like humans (Lau, et. al.2011)

9. Husbandry • Require minimal care • Clean cage every 2-3 weeks • Tolerate wide temperature ranges • Relative humidity of 30% recommended • Should be fed ad libitum • Best housed in solid-bottom caging with bedding • Handled by grasping base of tail • Avoid pulling skin of the tip and exposing tailbone

10. Husbandry • General minimum guidelines • 10-gallon tank = 2 • 15-gallon tank = 3 • 20-gallon tank = 4 • 30-gallon tank = 6 • Bedding • No pine or cedar • respiratory and liver problems • Provide several inches for burrowing and nesting

11. Common Diseases • Respiratory Problems • Caused by pathogen or bedding material made from pine or cedar • Clinical signs include: rumpled coats, clicking noises, and hunched in a corner • If not eating and drinking or having diarrhea, bring to vet • If due to the bedding -change

12. Common Diseases • Seizures (“going limp”) • Stress/over stimulation • Young gerbils may “grow out of it” • Should not breed animals prone to seizures • Can be fatal

13. Common Diseases • Nasal Dermatitis • Gerbil gets bald patch around nose (too much moisture, bedding problem, rubbing on cage/habitat contents/overactive Harderian Gland) • Gets irritated/infected and bleeds • See veterinarian

14. Common Diseases • Scent Gland Tumor • Most common in older males • Can be operable

15. Common Diseases • Tyzzer’s Disease • Clostridium piliforme • spread through contaminated food or water supplies • Clinical Signs: severe abdominal pain, rough hair coat, anorexia, hunched stance, and diarrhea • Can be fatal – prevention is best

16. Common Diseases • Malocclusion • Misalignment of the teeth • Be sure to have wood for them to chew on for natural ware • Vet may need to trim teeth monthly

17. Guinea Pigs • Caviaporcellus • Originated in South America • Peru and Bolivia • Bred for food consumption • Some may have been kept as pets by children

18. History • Domesticated when brought to Europe in 1500s • Queen Elizabeth I kept guinea pigs as pets 1580 - Painting of three Elizabethan children containing what may be the first portrait of a guinea pig.

19. Anatomical Features • Short and stocky • Lifespan: 5-6 years • 8-19 inches long; ~5 inches tall • 30 -35 ounces (1.8-2.2lbs) • Three main breeds • Short-haired • Long-haired • Rosette-haired • Preyer or pinna reflex • Turns head and directing ears to sounds

20. Reproduction • Monogamous or polygamous • One boar can be kept with up to 10 sows • Gestation averages 66 days • Can have up to 7 pups (average is 3)

21. Behavior • Rarely bite • Social • Male dominated hierarchies • Tendency to freeze then scatter in response to noise or startling

22. Research • Biomedical research • nutritional research • vaccines for diphtheria (URI caused by bacterium) and tuberculosis • replacement heart valves

23. Husbandry • Strictly herbivores • Fussy eaters • May starve when diet changed • Must have vitamin C supplement • Best housed in solid-bottom cages with bedding • Guinea pigs are messy • Scatter food and defecate into feed and water bowls so use a water bottle

24. Husbandry • Minimum Cage Sizes • One  7.5 square feet (30" x 36”) • Two  10.5 square feet is preferred (30" x 50”) • Three  10.5 - 13 square feet (30" x 62”) • Four  13 square feet (30" x 76”)

25. Common Diseases • Respiratory/Pneumonia • Caused by a bacterial infection • Spread by direct contact, aerosolized (airborne) particles, and on contaminated hands or other objects • Animal should be brought to the vet for treatment

26. Common Diseases • Diarrhea • Have a sensitive gastrointestinal tract • Caused by bacterial infection, change of food, stress, some antibiotics (kill off too many “good” bacteria in gut) • Animal should be brought to the vet for treatment

27. Common Diseases • Scurvy • Need 10 - 50 mg of vitamin C per day • Vitamin C found in fresh fruit and green or colored vegetables • Pellets should be used within 90 days of the date of manufacture (vitamin C unstable)

28. Common Diseases • Urinary Tract Problems • prone to urinary calculi (stones) – life threatning • bladder and kidney • blockage in the ureter • females  cystitis • males  stones • Clinical signs include: anorexia, depression, straining • surgery may be required

29. Common Diseases • Malocclusion • Misalignment of teeth • Barbering • Chewing of fur out of boredom • Pododermatitis (Bumblefoot) • Most typical in overweight animals kept on wire bottom cages • Depp infection on feet causing infection