Rehydration Therapy for Gerbils

Gerbils can become dehydrated, or low on fluids, for a variety of reasons. Intestinal distress that results in diarrhea can dehydrate an animal, as can a lack of access to clean drinking water and some forms of kidney disease. While it is possible to rehydrate a gerbil by administering intravenous fluids, it is a costly and risky undertaking. A more cost-effective and less invasive approach is to rehydrate via food sources.

  1. Medical Evaluation

    • Your gerbil should be evaluated by a vet to determine the underlying cause of her dehydration. If a gerbil has kidney disease, a dental issue or another disorder that precipitates the dehydration, medical treatment may be required in conjunction with rehydration therapy.

    Water

    • Water is the best rehydrating fluid available. Supply your gerbil with clean water in both a glass feeding tube and in a stoneware dish. This dual approach will give your gerbil different methods for seeking out, finding and drinking water.

    Food Hydration

    • Feed your gerbil foods high in moisture content, such as applesauce, watermelon, celery and cucumber. To be sure you don̵7;t give your gerbil too much roughage, consult with your vet to determine the appropriate amounts based on the gerbil's age, weight and overall health.

    Syringe Hydration

    • If your gerbil is comfortable with you, she may respond to being fed water or moist foods through a syringe. Offer the food in the syringe to the gerbil in her cage first. If she isn̵7;t interested, try holding her gently but firmly and introducing the syringe lightly into her mouth. This approach may work well with an older gerbil that has lost her sense of taste, smell or vision, making it difficult to find food on her own.

    Medication

    • Gerbils that are dehydrated due to kidney disease may be treated with drugs that remove toxins from the kidneys, which can aid in the rehydration process.

    Intravenous Fluid Therapy

    • One of the most invasive approaches to rehydration therapy for a gerbil is intravenous fluid therapy administered through a needle. Vets seek peripheral blood vessels for most forms of IV injection, and these vessels are very small or even non-existent in some rodents. This type of therapy replaces electrolytes and other lost nutrients. However, it usually requires immobilization or sedation of the gerbil, which can pose additional health risks to the animal, particularly if she is frail or in poor health.