Gerbils

Question 1

What is the scientific name for a gerbil?

Answer 1

Meriones unguiculatus

Question 2

Where do gerbils originate?

Answer 2

Deserts of Mongolia and China

Question 3

What is the most common gerbil kept as a pet?

Answer 3

Mongolian gerbil

Question 4

What is incomplete in the gerbil brain?

Answer 4

Circle of Willis

Question 5

What is the Circle of Willis?

Answer 5

Main arterial blood supply to the base of the brain

Question 6

What are gerbils mainly used for research in?

Answer 6

Seizures, stroke, radiation resistance, endocrine and epilepsy

Question 7

Which glands are very large in the gerbil?

Answer 7

Adrenal glands

Question 8

What are the 3 openings female gerbils have?

Answer 8

Anus, vagina and urinary papilla

Question 9

How do gerbils mate? When do they find their mate?

Answer 9

Mate for life, find first mate at 8 weeks

Question 10

When can gerbils first breed?

Answer 10

at 10-12 weeks

Question 11

What is the estrus cycle of gerbils?

Answer 11

4-6 days

Question 12

What is the gerbil gestation period?

Answer 12

24-26 days

Question 13

When do gerbils wean?

Answer 13

20-30 days

Question 14

What is the gerbil lifespan?

Answer 14

3-4 years

Question 15

What are the predominant leukocytes in gerbils?

Answer 15

Lymphocytes

Question 16

What is good amount of humidity for a gerbil?

Answer 16

Less than 50%

Question 17

What is a good ambient temperature to house gerbils?

Answer 17

64-79 F

Question 18

What is the protein amount needed in a gerbil diet?

Answer 18

16-22%

Question 19

Where is blood drawn in a gerbil under anesthesia?

Answer 19

Jugular vein or lateral metatarsal vein

Question 20

What is the max amount of blood you can draw from a gerbil?

Answer 20

1 ml

Question 21

What are 2 diseases gerbils can get if housed with other rodents?

Answer 21

Salmonella ssp and Bordetella bronchiseptica

Question 22

What is nasal dermatitis/sore nose in gerbils?

Answer 22

moist dermatitis on the nose, sometimes caused by Harderian gland secretion irritation or excessive burrowing. A secondary staphinfection can be present.

Question 23

How do you treat nasal dermatitis in gerbils?

Answer 23

cleaning the face, topical ointment, clean cage and bedding

Question 24

Which antibiotic is toxic to gerbils?

Answer 24

Streptomycin

Question 25

Where is the sebaceous gland used for marking in gerbils?

Answer 25

On the ventral side

Question 26

What is the most common color of gerbils?

Answer 26

Agouti

Question 27

What is the lifespan of the gerbil RBC?

Answer 27

9-10 days

Question 28

What is a unique reproductive trait of gerbils?

Answer 28

The male helps raise young

Question 29

Are gerbils nocturnal or diurnal?

Answer 29

Diurnal

Question 30

What supplement must be added to a gerbil’s diet?

Answer 30

Vitamin C

Question 31

What is the name of the pinworm gerbils can get from rats/mice?

Answer 31

Syphacia

Question 32

Aural Cholesteatoma in gerbils is what?

Answer 32

a mass of squamous epithelium in the middle ear due to chronic otitis.

Question 33

Which antibiotic is not recommended for gerbils?

Answer 33

Streptomycin

Question 34

What are signs of Chronic Interstitial Nephritis in gerbils?

Answer 34

Weight loss, PUPD

Question 35

In gerbils, what 2 things are normal in order to conserve water?

Answer 35

Very dry feces and small amounts of concentrated urine

Question 36

Orange-tan oval areas of alopecia on the ventral abdomen of gerbils are what?

Answer 36

Sebaceous glands that enlarge at puberty and involute when neutered