Epilepsy and the Gerbil
As I wrote in a previous post, dogs can have epilepsy too, 1 out of approximately 5 gerbils can have it as well. Stress is a major trigger for seizures, for instance when they are suddenly handled or are placed into a new environment. Just like with dogs the gerbil will go into a prone position, the ears will go flat, the nostrils and legs will twitch. The seizures will likely last less than a minute but if you notice one happening place your gerbil back into its cage to recover and turn off the lights. 
Usually the seizures will become less frequent as the gerbil ages or gets used to it’s environment. These "fits" are rarely life threatening but if you notice that your gerbil has frequent seizures something you may be doing could be the culprit.
Tags: gerbil, health, seizures
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