My gerbil is sick: hair loss, shaking, not eating. What should I do?

Nightingale sounds very sick. My best advice is for you to get him to a vet for an exam as soon as possible. His symptoms are not specific for any one illness or disease process so there is not much I can tell you without examining him myself. Your vet will need to see him to get this figured out and to get him the proper treatment. Best wishes.

Without a physical exam, it is difficult to determine what the lump is and what her medical status is currently. Ideally, she should be examined by your veterinarian. Antibiotics can be dispensed for minor infection. A fine needle aspirate can be done to collect samples for pathology. She is "old" for a gerbil, but more information would be needed before determine a course of action, let alone euthanasia.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see the hairloss you are referring to. This would commonly be caused by overgrooming by a cagemate, but since Jim lives alone, he could be overgrooming himself due to boredom. He may also have mites, a skin infection, or an autoimmune condition. I would recommend having your vet take a small samples of skin from the area and sending it off as a biopsy to definitively determine what is going on.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria or fungal). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics or antifungal meds (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can eventually be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Your gerbil may be quite sick or possibly injured. Without an exam, it is difficult to determine what the underlying cause may be. If he will allow, gently open his mouth and check his teeth for overgrowth or misalignment. This could affect his appetite which, in turn, could lead to the other symptoms. If his teeth are too long, your veterinarian can trim them. If they appear normal, there may be something else causing his symptoms. Ideally, Zach should be physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose and treat any infection or injury.

I am sorry to hear that. If you feel that your gerbil is extremely ill, you should seek veterinary attention, either to try and make it well again or to help end its suffering. I of course understand this is never an easy decision but sometimes it is the kindest thing we can offer. If you would like to post a more detailed question regarding your gerbil, myself or someone else would be happy to try and help. Hope this makes sense.

If he will allow, check his teeth for overgrowth or misalignment. Also, look for obvious signs of infection or injury. This may include redness, swelling, bleeding, bruising or discharge. If you see anything suspicious, he will need to be seen by your veterinarian for confirmation and treatment. If his teeth are fine, clean his cage and sanitize bowls, water bottle, toys and hides. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Maintain a stable temperature and keep him as stress free as possible. If his symptoms persist, a veterinary exam will be needed.