Gerbils live a happy and active but short life. Gerbils’ longevity averages about 3 years, although rarely they will live to 5 years or more. When a gerbil does pass away, you will be left with the problem of how to handle its surviving partner. Gerbils are highly social animals, and they do not like to live alone. Recognizing the signs of aging in your pet may help prepare you for the decisions you must make when one of your gerbil friends goes on to “Gerbil Heaven”.

Signs of Aging

Even by two or two and a half years, you may notice signs of aging in your beloved pet. Your gerbil may slow down a bit, moving less around the tank, sleeping more. He or she may have less interest in his or her wheel, and may chew up tubes and boxes with less gusto.  Water consumption may increase. These changes may be most noticeable in comparision with its partner; if you regularly see one gerbil up and about while the other sleeps soundly in the nest, it may mean that one of your gerbils is slowing down.

When your gerbil reaches two years of age, monitor its health and behavior more closely. Consider investing in a digital scale ($25 or so) and weigh your gerbils once a month or more, keeping a written record. Any steady or sudden loss or gain of weight could be a sign of trouble. Weight loss could mean your gerbil’s teeth are getting too long (because of reduced chewing), or an underlying medical condition may be present. Weight gain, particularly rapid gain, can indicate a tumor or other disease. These conditions should be brought to a vet’s attention promptly.

Elder Care

Elderly gerbils require few concessions to their age. As long as their teeth remain healthy, they can eat their regular food. It might be helpful to boost the protein count to 16% or even 18% for gerbils who lose weight; other gerbils will put on ounces and might need their diet to include a bit more hay and veggies and a bit less seed. High-quality rodent lab block (like Harlan Teklad) can provide extra protein plus a workout for teeth. It should supplement, not replace, the normal seed and veggies diet.

Gerbils who become somewhat wobbly might like a more enclosed wheel like a Wodent Wheel which gives them a bit of lateral support. They might prefer the bedding be kept lower, and might prefer a good tunnelling material like Carefresh over aspen or corncob, which requires more nest-making. As with senior adults, though, it is important to continue to provide them with exercise and stimulation: the active gerbil lives longer. A gerbil who finds itself alone becomes eligible for one of nature's most stimulating toys: a pup friend.

Diseases of Old Age

External Tumors

As in rats and mice, tumors are a fairly common cause of decline and death in elder gerbils. Some of the more common external tumors are scent gland tumors and melanomas. Scent gland tumors usually begin as what looks like an extra flap of skin or an abrasion on the scent gland in the middle of the gerbil's tummy. Often you will first notice it after the gerbil has begun picking at it. Some gerbils will open a nasty wound on the scent gland. You might make your gerbil more comfortable by dabbing Preparation H on the scent gland tumor. Should an open wound develop a bad odor, it has become infected and you will need antibiotics from the vet.

The more severe the scent gland tumor is, the more likely it will metastasize and form inoperable internal tumors. See your vet promptly when you notice a scent gland growth or lesion, as it may be operable in the early stages. Scent gland tumors are more common on male gerbils.

Melanomas appear as dark lumps on the skin. Gerbils seem less likely to pick at melanomas than scent gland tumors, so owners are more likely to ignore them. Melanomas may not grow as quickly as scent gland tumors, but there is a risk of metastasis. Depending on the location of the melanoma, your vet may be able to remove it.

Internal Tumors

Internal tumors are quite common in small rodent pets. Often the only early symptoms are a general decline: fatigue, weight loss, loss of fur condition, eyes not fully opened. As the tumors progress, you may notice the abdomen expands while the rest of the gerbil becomes thinner. The buldging belly can fool owners into thinking their gerbil is getting fat. However, as the tumor advances, the gerbil loses overall body mass and you will be able to feel bones in the spine and hindquarters. A gerbil with an advanced abdominal tumor develops a "craggy" look (see right) with a thin, pointy head and body, hunchbacked spine, and unevenly large abdomen.

It is unlikely any vet will consider treating or operating on an abdominal tumor in an elderly gerbil. Focus on a quality end of life for your pet.

Ear Infections and Ear Tumors

Older gerbils can be suddenly striken with an inner or middle ear infection, which can affect their balance. The symptoms may range from ear scratching (possibly resulting in a bloody wound), a slight head tilt and some wobbling when standing upright, to a gerbil who turns in circles or spins uncontrollably on the floor of the tank. Symptoms usually come on rapidly.

Ear infections are easily treated with antibiotics. The best quality will come from your vet but ornacycline in the water can be used effectively if your gerbil can still drink. These are very painful and stressful conditions for your gerbil and must be treated immediately. Ideally, your vet will provide pain relief in addition to antibiotics.

Ear infections, while easily treated, may be a symptom of an underlying ear or brain tumor. If your gerbil recovers from one ear infection only to fall victim to another, a tumor should be suspected. Tumors in the outer part of the ear will be visible to your vet and possibly operable. Internal tumors are inoperable and a gerbil with successive ear infections may require euthanasia to prevent prolonged suffering.

Strokes

Gerbils seem prone to stroke. Strokes generally come on suddenly. A mild stroke can result in partial paralysis, perhaps one eyelid closed, one front paw not being used, or one side of the body weakened so that the gerbil walks curved or twisted. A more severe stroke can result in full paralysis with a gerbil curled in its nest not moving. Gerbils frequently recover from a mild stroke with a few days' rest but owners should be prepared for the gerbil to suffer additional strokes, often increasing in severity.

The only treatment for strokes is gentle nursing care. A warm spot in one corner of the tank may be appreciated, as will some extra nesting material so that he or she can make a warm nest. A wooden nest box might be welcome, as it gives your gerbil a place to hide from the always-worrisome predators. His or her partner should be very attentive. You may need to help with eating and drinking until your gerbil is stronger. Soft foods which can be lapped will be welcome as s/he may have trouble standing up and holding a seed in both paws; they will also provide needed water. Applesauce, baby food mixed with baby cereal, and mashed cooked vegetables are good choices.

Tooth Problems

Tooth problems are the most frequent cause of decline in gerbils. As gerbils age, they chew less. Their teeth also tend to grow in a malformed way, with incisors separating into a V or an incisor splitting so that it looks like he or she has three, not two, incisors. Overgrown or malformed teeth mean a gerbil cannot chew properly, because his molars cannot meet to grind food. This results in compromised nutrition, weight loss and if severe enough, death by starvation.

Your gerbil will not necessarily stop trying to eat even if he or she is struggling, so don't rely on just seeing him or her visit the food area enthusiastically. You must open his or her mouth and check that teeth haven't grown too long. Incisors should be no longer than about 3/8" and the mouth should be able to close fully. Teeth can be easily and inexpensively clipped by a vet, and your vet should be willing to show you how to do it yourself with cat claw clippers.

Durimg the few brief secomds you have your gerbil's mouth open, check the color of the teeth as well as the length. Healthy gerbil teeth are yellow-orange; white teeth often indicate a health issue. If you see a white tooth or white spots on the tooth, begin by supplementing his or her calcium level with a bit of cuttlebone, sold in the bird aisle at stores. (You'll need to find a way to hang it so they don't just lose it in the bedding; my preferred way is to shove it into an extra water bottle holder with a bit of the bottom protruding.) You may or may not be able to improve the condition of the teeth but extra calcium can only help.

Providing heartier chewing fare can often prevent tooth problems. Instead of a steady diet of toilet paper tubes and paperboard boxes, consider buying your gerbil a wooden house and wooden toys to chew on. One of the best chew toys for senior gerbils is Build N' Bites, an incredibly tempting wood chew toy. Senior gerbils will devour this wood, wearing their teeth down very effectively. And because you can build it into structures, it doesn't get lost in the bedding like smaller wood toys. Every gerbil should get a box of these for her second birthday.

Eye Problems

A weepy eye can be as simple as a speck of dust, which can be irrigated away. Gerbil mucus is red, so owners often think it is blood, but blood is thicker and dries brown, not red. A persistant weepy eye can have several causes, including such far-ranging problems as allergies, bad molars or an ear tumor. Changing bedding types and reducing the amount of dusty paper bedding may clear up allergic reactions. If not, the gerbil should visit a vet to rule out more serious conditions. If an eye is dry but won't fully open, that is a likely sign of a stroke (see above).

Respiratory Infections and Labored Breathing

Respiratory infections affect senior gerbils much in the way that pneumonia strikes older humans. A simple virus or bacteria that would be shrugged off by a younger immune system becomes devastating to an older one. Gerbils with respiratory infections may make wheezing or clicking noises. You may notice rapid breathing, with the sides heaving more noticeably. Activity will fall off as movement becomes exhausting. As breathing becomes more difficult, gerbils may sleep in strange positions, with their heads propped up on the edge of a nest or box, or jamming themselves nose-up into a corner. They may sleep crouching rather than lying down. Toward the end, the gerbil may try to breath through its mouth; at this point, the condition is life-threatening.

One underlying cause of respiratory infections is fluid build-up, such as from an internal tumor or heart disease. Regardless of the cause, most respiratory infections can be succesfully treated with antibiotics. As many RI bacteria are antibiotic-resistant, you will want to enlist your vet's help and be prepared to try more than one drug. If the respiratory infection responds to treatment but recurs when treatment ends, an underlying condition is most likely present, and euthanasia may be required as the gerbil's condition fails.

Ovarian Cysts

Female gerbils, particularly those who have not been bred, can develop fast-growing ovarian cysts. These appear as a bloated, soft abdomen. It is difficult for an owner to differentiate a tumor from a cyst but cysts tend to grow far more rapidly, with a bloated look coming on over a few days. Cysts can also resolve without intervention. If the gerbil shows any other symptoms of infection, antibiotics may help her survive long enough for the cyst to resolve on its own.

The End of Life

Some elderly gerbils will show no particular decline in function, and then suddenly one day, you visit the tank to discover he or she cannot move. Or, you might watch your gerbil slowly shutting down, sleeping most of the time, and perhaps grumpy and nippy when handled. For a lucky few, death comes suddenly and seemingly, painlessly. But gerbils have a tendency to linger, and so owners must be prepared to make choices on their pets' behalf.

End of life decisions must take into account two factors: quality of life and stress. Gerbils have a fairly small repetoire of behaviors: chewing, nesting, digging, grooming and being groomed, eating, drinking and running in the wheel. Quality of life decisions should take account of whether your gerbil can or cannot take pleasure in these normal gerbil activities. As long as your gerbil is doing what gerbils like to do, he or she is enjoying quality of life.

The second factor is stress. As prey animals, gerbils are hard-wired to hide their symptoms from predators and to flee from danger. A gerbil who is obviously ill and particularly, cannot move around freely, is stressed by his or her vulnerability. While you and I know that a hawk is not about to pounce on her, she does not share your confidence. When a gerbil gets to the point that he or she is unable to move about safely, or is so burdened by pain that all she can do is hide from "predators", stress has obliterated her quality of life. At this point, a caring owner owes it to his or her pet to consider humane euthanasia.

The Survivor

When one of your gerbils passes away, the other may at first seem shocked or distressed. He or she may sit quietly in a corner, or may hunt around the tank as if looking for his lost friend. His immediate sorrow may be consoled by extra attention from you, by cleaning the cage to remove the scent of his missing friend, by adding new toys or diversions, or by putting the tank in a room where there are other gerbils present. (Throw everyone in the room a box so that there is lots of noise of scurrying and digging!)

Another gerbil may show no change in behavior after the loss of its partner. It doesn’t mean your gerbil is hard-hearted! Even though your gerbil may act the same, he or she will live a longer, healthier life with a new companion.

So, the next step is to get a new friend for your gerbil. If your elderly gerbil died of a sudden (and possibly contagious) illness, you may wish to wait a week or so to observe the survivor for symptoms. A week or so alone will also increase your remaining gerbil’s interest in a new friend, easing the introduction process. Use this week of waiting to investigate sources for a new gerbil pet. Keep your survivor busy with affection and entertainment.

What Kind of New Friend?

The new friend you choose will depend on the gender and age of your survivor. This table gives suggestions about the easiest and most-likely-to-succeed introductions, using the Split Cage Method:

	Male	Female
Young (< 6 mo)	One male pup	Another young female
Adult (6-24 mo)	One male pup	A younger adult female
Mature (24 mo+)	Under 2½ years: 1 male pup 2½+ years: 2 male pups	24-30 mo: pair of female pups if she will accept 2½+ years and likely menopausal: A male (any age)

The rationale behind these recomendations is as follows. Males tend to be very nurturing, and generally will accept younger males without difficulty. However, a trio of males can become unstable when the younger males reach 6-9 months of age. If your single male will probably not live past his new friends' 6 month birthday, get two young males to avoid having to repeat the exercise too soon. Otherwise, get one. Male-male intros are fairly easy and once you've done one, you won't worry about doing another.

Females, on the other hand, are more particular about new partners. Ideally, a new female partner should be about the same size as your survivor, so that the newcomer has a chance of holding her own if the introduction gets testy, but a bit younger, so that your female wins the dominant spot. Because females can be so difficult, find a breeder who can try a few different options with your female if necessary.

Our suggestion of introducing a male to your elderly female gerbil may at first sound shocking, but females generally cannot have pups past the age of 2½ years, and a female will accept a male far more readily. You may be able to guess at your elder female's fertility by her figure: post-menopausal females often gain some weight and size and lose their streamlined shape. However, individual cycles vary; if having an unexpected litter would be an unthinkable disaster, consider a male only for a female 3 years of age or more at which point you should be 95% safe. At any age, an elderly female who gives birth is more likely to have birth complications, and to have small and unviable litters. Again, enlist the help of a breeder who can help you review all your options.

Gerbils Alone

If for any reason you are feeling like you’d rather not bring in a new friend and continue your gerbil hobby, leaving your gerbil alone may seem like the only option. If your surviving gerbil is himself very elderly (more than three years old), you can take consolation that he or she probably will not have too much time alone. However, he or she will live more happily with a friend. You might see if another family would like to the experience of re-pairing your elderly gerbil and taking over the hobby. If your gerbil must stay alone, lots of attention from you, frequent grooming with a small brush, good food, and a warm nest will help make his or her last months more joyful. Ideally, though, you will bring another friend into your elderly gerbil’s life, as there is no substitute for a good friend!