VET 215 - Laboratory Animal Medicine - Gerbils

Flashcards related to gerbils.

Meriones unguiculatus

Scientific name for the Mongolian gerbil.

AKA:  jird or desert rat

Agouti

Most common coat color in gerbils.

Radiobiology

A research use for gerbils, due to their resistance to radiation.

Endocrine studies

A research use for gerbils, due to their low water intake and concentrated urine.

Lipid metabolism

A research use for gerbils, due to their high serum and hepatic cholesterol levels.

Infectious diseases

A research use for gerbils, due to their low occurrence to natural disease.

Stroke studies

A research use for gerbils, due to anatomic variations that make them susceptible.

Epilepsy Studies

A research use for gerbils, due to their propensity for spontaneous seizures and neurophysiological similarities to humans.

Monogamous pairs

Gerbils form these and mate for life.

Foot stomping

A behavior used by gerbils of hind limbs to attract attention.

Hardwood chips, wood shavings, composite recycled paper pellets or sand NOT CEDAR

Acceptable bedding materials for gerbils.

Cedar bedding

A type of bedding that is not recommended for gerbils due to irritation of skin and mucous membranes.

Pelleted rodent chow

Main component of a gerbil's diet.

• 5-7 g/day

• Supplement diet with small amounts of:  sunflower seeds, lettuce, spinach, apple, and carrot once a week

Typical food consumption for gerbils.

3-6 ml/day

Typical water consumption for gerbils.

46-131g

Adult body weight of a male gerbil.

50-55 g

Adult body weight of a female gerbil.

Life span of Gerbil

typically 2-4 years.

Body temp of Gerbil

99-101 deg F

Heart rate of Gerbil

260-600 bpm

Respiratory rate of Gerbil

85-160 bpm

• Long tail that is fully furred

• Sebaceous gland used for marking on abdomen, ventral midline (more prominent in males) used for marking territory

• Non-glandular forestomach & glandular stomach (inability to regurgitate)

• Practice coprophagia

• Adrenal glands large relative to total BW

• Has a thymus

• Produce small quantities of highly concentrated urine

Anatomy of gerbils.

• 2 (I 1/1, C 0/0, P 0/0, M 3/3)

• Incisors continuously grow

Typical gerbil dental formula

Non-glandular forestomach & glandular stomach

Anatomical feature that results in inability to regurgitate in gerbils.

• Greater anogenital distance in males

• females have 4 pairs of teats

Distinguishing feature when sexing gerbils.

23-26 days

Gestation period for gerbils.

Breeding onset for male gerbils

9-18 weeks

Breeding onset for female gerbils

9-12 weeks

• Polyestrus, spontaneous ovulators

• can have Postpartum estrus

Breeding characteristics of female gerbils.

Estrous cycle length for gerbils

4-7 days

Tail slip/degloving

• Potential injury when handling gerbils by the end of their tail.

• Lift by carefully grasping the base of their tail

Retroorbital sinus, Lateral metatarsal vein, Tail vein, Cardiac puncture (terminal procedure)

Blood collection sites for gerbils.

Blood Volume

• Total blood volume  4.4-8.0 ml

• Single sample  0.3 ml

• Exsanguination  2-4 ml

SQ

Route of injectable drug administration in gerbils with a max volume of 1-2 mls.

IM

Route of injectable drug administration in gerbils that is rare due to small muscle mass, max 0.1 ml.

IP

Best route of injectable drug administration in gerbils, max 2-3 ml.

IV

difficult/small veins, lateral metatarsal

• ketamine + xylazine or ketamine + diazepam

• Pre-anesthetic fasting not recommended

• Inhalation anesthesia:  Plastic syringe case as mask

• Ophthalmic ointment

• Circulating H2O pad

• Post Op

–Recover in warm, quiet place (escape proof  incubator)

–Turn every 30 – 60 minutes

–Analgesics if needed

Anesthesia protocols for gerbils.

• 70% carbon dioxide

• Overdose of inhalant anesthetic

• Sodium Pentobarbital IP

Acceptable methods of euthanasia for gerbils.

In general, gerbils do not contract many diseases

In general, gerbils do not contract many diseases

Tyzzer’s Disease

–Clostridium piliforme

–Common

–High mortality in young

–Poor sanitation & stress contributing factors

–Clinical signs:

•Rough hair coat

•Listlessness

•Weight loss

•Sudden death

Parasitic Diseases

•Demodex (mite)

–Clinical signs

•Alopecia

•Dermatitis

–Stress and age predispose

–Rare

•Pinworms

–Syphacia spp.

–Do not usually cause clinical problems

•Tapeworms

–Hymenolepis nana (dwarf tapeworm)

–Subclinical

–Zoonotic potential

Epileptiform seizures

Initiated by handling, stress or new environment in gerbils, no treatment recommended.

Porphyrin production by harderian gland

Cause of Chromodacyorrhea in ill or stressed gerbils.

Scent Gland tumors

Squamous cell carcinoma(SCC), More common in males, Seen on ventral marking gland

Aural cholesteatoma

Only non-human animal known to spontaneously develop this condition, excess keratin build up in middle ear