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16 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Gerbil Order, subb order, and scientific name
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Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Sciurognathi Scientific Name: Meriones unguiculatus is the scientific name for most common biomedical species |
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Gerbil unique anatomy
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Costrovertebra glands - Have sebaceous glands just like hamsters for marking territory
Long hind limbs Consume very little water Tail is covered in fur |
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Are gerbils nocturnal?
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NO!
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Gerbil social behavior
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Not nocturnal, highly social and do well when housed in pairs or in groups
Will thump hind limbs when sttartled and are prone to seizures from being startled |
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Gerbil life span
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24-39 months
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Gerbil gestation
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23-26 days
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Weaning age
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21 - 28 days
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Gerbil reproduction
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Polyestrous, spontaneous ovulators. Male does not have to be removed from cage, as they can mate for life and the male takes care of the young
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Gerbil cage husbandry
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Gerbils don't climb, they JUMP!
Enclosed, solid-bottomed shoebox cages with soft bedding. Weekly cleaning is accepttable due to rather small amounts of waste excretion Avoid temp exttremes as this can induce seizures (nothing above 85 degrees F |
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Gerbil diet
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use commercial rodent chows with limited sunflower seeds. Provide fresh veggies to avoid obesity
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Gerbil restraint
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Similar to rats and mice-Scruff with the tail anchored between fingers. Can also use plastic restraint boxes or bags for injections and blood draws.
DO NOT restrain by the tail (tail slip) |
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Gerbil blood collectioin
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Retro-orbital sinus preferred.
Toenail clip or lateral metatarsal vein can obtain very small amts of blood Cardiocentesis for terminal procedures |
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Medication Administration
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SQ, IP, IM (Rarely used, small muscle mass), IV (lateral metatarsal, but small and hard to stabilie), and Oral feeding needle or eyedropper
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Gerbil Anesthesia
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Injectibles (Barbiturates, and dissociatives) and inhalants via mask or induction chamber.
Do NOT fast |
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Laboratory significance
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endocirine functions due to their low water requirements and highly concentrated urine
Lipid metabolism studies-Prone to develop high serum and hepatic cholesterrol lvls Stroke studies Radiobiologic studies-resistance to radiattion |
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Diseases in the gerbil
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Tyzzers's disease and salmonellosis, pinworm and tapeworm, chronic interstitial neqhritis and cyctic ovaries, dermatitis, and stress induced chromodacryorrhea
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