Can you bathe gerbils

With such an absence of water, they have evolved different ways of cleaning themselves in the desert. To allow your gerbil to give themselves a sand bath, follow these steps:. Although there may not be one specifically for gerbils, chinchilla sand will do just fine. Be careful to get sand and not dust, as dust has been known to cause respiratory problems.

Gerbils are almost odorless pets but they still need to clean themselves. Some pets need to be bathed in water to stay clean and smell-free. So, do gerbils need baths? Gerbils should have access to a sand bath at least once a week to keep their fur clean. A sand bath removes dirt and excess oils from the skin, which can prevent bacterial infections. Never give your gerbil a water bath.

You can spot-clean your gerbil with a bit of water if this is necessary. You only need to provide a sand bath once a week and they will clean themselves.

However, there are also some precautions you need to take when giving a sand bath. And more important, a sand bath is not to be confused with a dust bath, which is often given to chinchillas. Gerbils have evolved in arid regions with little water to their disposition. They have a way of cleaning themselves with the sandy soil in their natural habitat. But why do gerbils need sand baths?

Gerbils possess a Harderian gland that secretes porphyrins, a chemical compound, which acts as a pheromone and helps in regulating the body temperature. A gerbil will mix the porphyrins with saliva when it grooms itself. You only need a few accessories: a bath bowl, container,… and special sand. The following step-by-step guide is just an easy explanation on how to give the sand bath.

Step-by-step guide for giving sand bath to gerbils. The bowl should be large enough so your gerbils can stand up and roll in the sand. Every 6 to 8 weeks, you should sterilize old sand following the above steps to prevent bacteria growth. Alternatively, you can throw away the old sand and replace it with fresh.

Most gerbils need sand baths roughly once per week. But if your gerbil gets dirty more often than this, you can offer the sand bath more frequently. Black and darker-colored fur tend to get greasy more quickly. To give your gerbil a sand bath, fill the container with clean sand and place it in the gerbilarium. Your gerbil will likely come and investigate the new object and climb in willingly.

Gently scoop your gerbil up from underneath, and place it into the bath. If you do, you might accidentally get sand in its eyes, which would be painful. Leave the bath in the enclosure for 10 to 20 minutes, then remove it and clean it. Some gerbil owners prefer the sand bath to be a permanent fixture in the gerbilarium. But your gerbil may use its bath as a toilet, so take it out to clean it regularly. Gerbils originate from desert regions.

Their wild environment is so dry that they rarely encounter water. According to Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology , gerbils instinctively alter their diets in times of water scarcity. Because water is so scarce, gerbils have adapted to keep clean by bathing in dust and sand. Their fur has evolved to keep them clean without the need for contact with water.

Gerbils dislike being submerged in water, and it stresses them out. Stress can be bad for gerbils, and extreme stress can result in seizures or death. Washing gerbils also removes the natural oil that coats their fur and keeps it protected. Bathing a gerbil in water can make their skin over-produce oil and get irritated.

Being small animals, gerbils also get cold quickly. Being wet will make your gerbil susceptible to cold, even if you use warm water. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Related wikiHows How to. How to. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: August 20, Categories: Gerbils. Article Summary X To give your gerbil a bath, fill a flat-bottomed dish with half an inch of chinchilla sand, which you can buy from a pet store. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 48, times.

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