Gerbils Flashcards

1
Q

Scientific name for gerbils

A

Meriones unguiculatus

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2
Q

Translation of Meriones unguiculatus

A

“mammal having claws”

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3
Q

Gerbils are native to desert regions of

A

China and Mongolia

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4
Q

Their fur is usually

A

brown agouti

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5
Q

Range of weight for adult gerbils

A

55-100g

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6
Q

Most common type of gerbil used in research

A

Mongolian

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7
Q

2 main reasons gerbils are used in research

A
  1. stroke

2. seizures

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8
Q

Gerbils are prone to strokes because their arterial bundle at the base of their brains are

A

incomplete

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9
Q

Gerbils are prone to these under stress

A

seizures

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10
Q

Gerbils usually keep one partner throughout their lives so they are considered

A

monogamous

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11
Q

Gerbils are active at night so they are

A

nocturnal

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12
Q

How do gerbils attract attention or express aggressiveness?

A

Thumping their hind limbs

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13
Q

Their hind limbs are elongated to aid in

A

jumping and maintaining posture

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14
Q

A marking gland that’s more prominent in males

A

Ventral gland

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15
Q

This gland is located behind the eye that helps keep it lubricated and produces red tears

A

Harderian gland

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16
Q

How many pairs of mammary glands do gerbils have?

A

4 pairs

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17
Q

These 2 type of RBCs are common on blood smears

A
  1. Retics

2. nRBCs

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18
Q

Even when fed a normal diet, gerbils can develop

A

lipemia or hypercholesterolemia

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19
Q

RBC life span

A

9-10 days

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20
Q

Predominant WBC

A

Lymphocyte

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21
Q

Because they are used to desert ecology, they retain water so they produce ______ quantities of highly concentrated urine

A

small

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22
Q

Life span

A

3-4 yrs

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23
Q

Normal Temp

A

101-103

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24
Q

Normal Pulse

A

300-360 BPM

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25
Q

Normal RR

A

70-120 RPM

26
Q

Average gestation

A

24-26 days

27
Q

Average litter size

A

3-7 pups

28
Q

Housing temp

A

18-26 degrees celsius

29
Q

Light:Dark

A

12:12

30
Q

Average environmental humidity

A

30-50%

31
Q

Air exchanges

A

10-15/hr

32
Q

Sexual maturity

A

10-12 weeks

33
Q

What type of estrus cycle do they have?

A

Polyestrus

34
Q

What type of ovulators are they?

A

Spontaneous

35
Q

How long does parturition take?

A

1 hr

36
Q

Pups are born

A

blind and hairless

37
Q

Pups hair develop by

A

7-10 days

38
Q

Pups’ eyes open by

A

14-20 days

39
Q

Infant ________ is rarely seen

A

cannibalism

40
Q

In their cages, gerbils need more of this than other rodents because they like to burrow

A

bedding

41
Q

This is the period of time you should give gerbils to get used to their new surroundings
Shouldn’t handle them

A

Acclimation period

42
Q

How long should the acclimation period be?

A

48 hrs

43
Q

With a gerbils diet, they are considered

A

herbivores and granivores

44
Q

You should avoid giving these as a main food source, but rather as treats

A

sunflower seeds

45
Q

A pelleted diet for gerbils should contain this much protein

A

16-22%

46
Q

Unlike mice and rats, you should not handle gerbils by their_____ because they are more prone to degloving injuries

A

tails

47
Q

To sex a gerbil, you should

A

measure anogenital distance

48
Q

IP injections can be given in the

A

R or L abdominal quadrant

49
Q

Most common way to obtain a blood sample

A

Retro-orbital

50
Q

Max amount for IP inj

A

2-3 ml

51
Q

Max amount of SQ inj

A

3-4 ml

52
Q

Max amount of IM inj

A

0.1

53
Q

Max amount of IV inj

A

0.3

54
Q

Max amount of PO dose

A

1.5 ml

55
Q

Gerbils are highly susceptible to this
Caused by Clostridium Piliforme bacteria
High mortality rate

A

Tyzzer’s Dz

56
Q

Byproduct of stress and anxiety from lack of enrichment
Caused by contamination of Staphylococcus aureus
Moist dermatitis
Can lead to wasting

A

Nasal dermatitis AKA sore nose

57
Q

Most animals can fight off this disease
Zoonotic
D+, perineal staining, anorexia

A

Salmonella

58
Q

Not common in gerbils

A

Malocclusions

59
Q

These are typically seen over the age of 2

A

Tumors

60
Q

You shouldn’t treat gerbils with this drug because they are prone to seizures

A

acepromazine

61
Q

How to euthanize gerbils in research

A

CO2 overdose