Some will have seizures regularly, and some will only have a few. TB disease usually develops slowly, and it may take several weeks before you notice you're unwell. It is … There are many reasons why gerbils die, and some have noticeable symptoms. They can go faster or slower than they should. If the gerbil's eye does not improve, take it in to see a veterinarian. However, this doesn’t apply to gerbils. However, it has something to do with the gerbils’ genetics. The most common is called a temporal lobectomy. There are two kinds of seizure in gerbils. The same issue causes gerbil seizures. Be aware that listlessness may be due to constipation, which is a common problem requiring a vet's attention. If this happens to you, you may…, In captivity, gerbils eat a mixture of grains, seeds, nuts, and dried vegetables. Clonic seizures consist of repeated jerking movements of the arms and legs, sometimes on both sides of the body. On the other hand, stiffness and limping with leg hair loss are symptoms of a condition known as sore hocks, which is less serious. Seizures can’t be prevented. I’ve always found gerbils to be adorable pets, and am fascinated by their behavior. All you can do is wait for your gerbil to grow older and stop having seizures. They will likely experience both, with the more severe fits coming later. So, try not to worry. Gerbil advice; Find us; Shop; Donate; Menu. If the clonic seizure has a generalized onset (affects the whole brain), usually the person is not aware during it. That doesn’t necessarily mean your pet is happy; it means your pet is happy, frightened or overly stressed. Gerbils can certainly remember some things, like their owners, but we don’t know exactly what they can…, You’ve probably seen your gerbils grooming each other from time to time. Deafness and inner ear problems This stops the brain from properly controlling the body. Say, for example, you let your gerbil run safely on the grass outside for the first time. Seizures usually start at 2 months of age and may become more severe until the animal reaches 6 months of age. However, you can tell your gerbil is having a seizure if you pick it up. Behaviorally, seizures in gerbils range from brief immobility to severe, generalized tonic-clonic convulsions followed by wild running fits. Hypnotic seizures might seem funny, as if your gerbil has stopped to think about something. There are some risk factors which mean your gerbil is much more likely to seize. All gerbils like to remain aware of their environment. In the absence of other stroke symptoms, an inability to open its eye fully may merely indicate an injury or irritation to the eye. In others, the muscles will twitch. There have been several reports in the clinical literature describing an association between vascular-induced epilepsy and stroke1,2,18, a syndrome known as 'precursive epileptic attacks'LS, although this relationship has not been well established. The main way you can help is by ensuring your gerbil eats the correct diet. Gerbils most commonly have seizures when they’re between 2-6 months old. Yes, some strains of gerbils, in particular, seem prone to seizure activity. Both types of fit are usually harmless. Epilepsy is a condition where the brain stops working properly for a period of time, usually short, but sometimes longer. Your gerbil may collapse on its side, with its legs twitching. This more violent type of fit will usually lead to a period of about ten minutes when the gerbil will appear to be suffering from the first type of seizure. The scientists running this study induced seizures in the gerbils by feeding them penicillin, which can induce them. It is an inherited trait, with members of some family lines at an almost 100% risk of developing these seizures. More than likely it's just scared. Interestingly, there is evidence that at least some gerbils inherit the tendency to fit from their mothers. Seizures in Gerbils. The seizures are usually short in length, lasting a few minutes, and may be mild or severe. They’ll then twitch violently and can’t stop. Some gerbils have mild hypnotic … Mild and severe seizures begin similarly with motor arr… Gerbils can suffer from spontaneous epileptiform seizures (epilepsy). Hypnotic and grand mal seizures look different. Even cats can have a loss of consciousness. Often family members (and even health care professionals) do not understand the fact that non-epileptic seizures are not “put on”. Epileptic seizures in gerbils are common (up to 50%). Identifying a Seizure in Gerbils Watch for hypnotic seizures. According to the Journal of General Psychology, diet plays a big role in the frequency and severity of seizures that gerbils experience. Seizure prone gerbils also don’t spend as much time scent marking. In the wild, they have to, because they would be vulnerable to threats. This is long before your gerbil is fully developed. I hope that you find this resource helpful! These two kinds of gerbil show different behaviors. In the mild form, the gerbil may simply freeze and be nonresponsive. Gerbil Health Monitoring: How to Check for Problems + Illnesses, It heard a noise that it thought may be a predator, It’s looking around for other gerbils nearby. It looks like they’re licking or nibbling at each other’s fur. Seizures will begin when your gerbil is around one to two months old. So why are scientists so interested in these seizures in gerbils? Don’t rush to your gerbil and pick it up, shaking it or trying to help it in some way. There is no need to see a vet if your gerbil has seizures, because there’s nothing the vet can do to help. These seizures usually result from some form of stimulation, for example, excessive handling, being placed in a new cage or tank. You may think your gerbil has died, or is dying, but it’s not. This is practically a guarantee, so it’s a good idea not to breed two highly epileptic gerbils together. If there are danger signs there is probably little you can do. This can affect young gerbils and there's some evidence this is an inherited condition. These seizures usually result from some form of stimulation, for example, excessive handling, being placed in a new cage or tank. Whilst fitting in juvenile gerbils is common, in adults it is fairly unusual unless they started seizures when young. Nothing you can do will make the symptoms of your pet’s seizure any better. Sometimes, you might hear your gerbils squeaking…, Chestnuts are a kind of nut that's popular during the winter. Seizures begin as mild events and usually become more severe with development (Loskota et al., 1974; Löscher and Frey, 1984; Seto-Ohshima et al., 1992; Buckmaster and Wong, 2002), although some gerbils only have mild seizures throughout their adult life (Cutler and MacKintosh, 1989). In people, they can result in brain damage if too severe. Gerbils can eat chestnuts. What Does a Gerbil Seizure Look Like? Although you will probably not notice it, scientists have discovered that in the days following a fit a gerbil will be more active than usual. At that time, some gerbils may outgrow the tendency to have these seizures. However, no vet will bother because it’s a difficult operation with little purpose. Here are the causes, symptoms and the right therapy for cat collapse. If gerbil a freezes when being picked up, does that mean it had a seizure? Or, a gerbil that was thought to be male will give birth. That is seizures, or as they are more commonly called, fits. Examples include: You can avoid these triggers if you’re careful. Seizures usually last for a few seconds, up to a minute. Fits that cause damage or are in other ways serious are extremely rare. These should be treated in the same way as Tyzzer’s disease. Every mammal has a brain which works through electrical signals. And over time, seizures go away. Its tail will do the same. Scientists use this to their advantage when studying epilepsy. Five or six weeks old is typical. In epilepsy, sometimes these brainwaves go wrong. You can sometimes notice a collapse or syncope in cat. Most of North America’s gerbils are bred from only twenty breeding pairs. Hypnotic and grand mal seizures are equally common, and are caused by the same genetic issues. Shock or fright can also cause death through seizures. The gerbil also been used in research lab on that topic. Their arms may involuntarily move towards their chest, for example, and they’ll collapse. Other causes of diarrhoea in gerbils are Listeria and Salmonella. Gerbils bred from two parents who had or have seizures will have seizures too. The most common infectious disease in gerbils is Tyzzer's disease, a bacterial disease, which stress can make animals more susceptible to. A gerbil is a small mammal of the subfamily Gerbillinae in the order Rodentia.Once known as desert rats, the gerbil subfamily includes about 110 species of African, Indian, and Asian rodents, including sand rats and jirds, all of which are adapted to arid habitats.Most are primarily active during the day, making them diurnal (but some species, including the common household pet, … Seizures are seen more common in younger gerbils and become less frequent as a gerbil ages. In nearly all cases the tendency to fit reduces as the gerbil ages. It’s not at all clear why this might be the case. Other symptoms include a lack of appetite, a temperature, a runny nose and coughing or sneezing. Most gerbils that have seizures are very young. EFFECTS OF FOSTERING ON SEIZURE ACTIVITY IN THE MONGOLIAN GERBIL: Kaplan, H, 1981, Developmental Psychobiology, 14(6), 565-70, Details of Real London and London Championship Shows published. The important thing to remember is that seizures in gerbils are rarely a serious problem. Having a seizure is very frightening. Do Some Gerbils Have More Seizures than Others? Gerbils tend to have seizures when they’re overexcited. You may think your gerbil is dead already. It may immediately begin to seize up, especially if it’s already prone. These seizures are rarely fatal and you will usually become aware of the condition when your gerbil suddenly goes limp. In some gerbils, the seizures are grand mal. You can easily confuse hypnotic seizures with regular behavior. This problem has been dealt with by using outbred gerbils with a higher threshold for handling-induced seizures (Löscher and Frey, 1984), by adapting animals to the stress of oral drug application by repeated exposure (Bartoszyk and Hamer, 1987), and by adding drugs to drinking water (Cutler and Horton, 1988; Cutler and Piper, 1990) or using surgically implanted osmotic … There are two main types of seizure … So, your gerbil may be standing still because: Hypnotic seizures usually only last a few seconds. It will experience muscle contractions where its legs/feet jerk quickly. Epilepsy appears to be inherited, and both seizure-resistant and seizure-sensitive strains have … Between 20 and 40% of gerbils will experience these fits in their early months. Your gerbil will sit still as if hypnotized. What Does a Grand Mal Gerbil Seizure Look Like? They deprived some gerbils of magnesium, and found that this caused the group to have far more seizures than a group which ate lots of magnesium. These seizures can look so severe, you can easily assume the worst. Its adrenaline is pumping for one reason or another. Stress and fear may also be a cause. Causes: Some gerbils strains are genetically pre-diagnosed for epileptic seizures by their pedigree. Around 20-40% of gerbils will likely have a seizure at some point in their lives. Symptoms: The gerbil begins to make small convulsions, the eyes are closed, and the ears closed on the head. The first and less serious involves the gerbil freezing. But they aren’t as serious as they look. The first risk factor for epilepsy in gerbils is genetic lineage. Being inbred can cause lots of different problems, one of which being seizures. The seizures don’t have any long-lasting effects, so your gerbil will still be healthy. However, apart from this, you can’t completely ‘cure’ epilepsy. This is surprising to many owners when they learn it for the first time. Gerbils most commonly have … There are no medications you can give to your gerbil to stop it having seizures, for example. Watch for the other symptoms of dehydration in your gerbil, such as lethargy, a lack of appetite and low urination. There are ways to make your gerbil have fewer fits, but there are no ways to completely prevent them. They have found that seizure prone gerbils spend far less time in social activity, including scent gland marking, and aggressive behaviour than non-sezure prone gerbils. Gerbil seizures are essentially the same as epilepsy in people. This essentially means that most gerbils are inbred. It stops your pet from becoming bored. The seizures can take the form of 'freezing' where they go into a still, trance-like state, or they may have a true seizure … Their symptoms, like seizure and swelling, have a quick onset. In people, you can remove the part of the brain that causes seizures in epilepsy. The best thing you can do is leave them in their tank to recover and move them to a dark quiet room. Seizures. Seizures usually last for a few seconds, up to a minute. Community Answer. Epileptic seizures in gerbils are common (up to 50%). It may have a seizure because it’s overwhelmed by new sights, sounds, and smells. Scientists blow in a gerbil’s face to cause a seizure and then study it. INFLUENCE OF COAT COLOR GENES ON SEIZURE BEHAVIOR IN MONGOLIAN GERBILS. You might have some jerking or twitching of your hands, arms or legs. Also, the fits usually stop after a while and have no significant medical effects. Three-Toed Sloth The three-toed sloths are tree-living mammals from South and Central America. These occur when your gerbil is sick and dying. Scientists call the different kinds of gerbils seizure-sensitive and seizure-resistant. One small problem in gerbils is almost never discussed. Another risk factor for seizures in gerbils is age. Its ears and whiskers may twitch, but other than that, your gerbil won’t move. The other had not been allowed to exercise. There is also a third kind of seizure. There are two main types of seizure. So, they should stop eventually even without you doing anything. They contain…. One group had been exercising on a wheel for thirty minutes per day for eight weeks beforehand. Hypnotic seizures look like their name implies. It’s thought that so many gerbils are susceptible to seizures because they are bred from a limited stock. Like being placed in a new environment that is causing stress, or being overexcited. The scientists used strains bred for seizures so their results may not be significant for your gerbils, but they found that when compairing Golden Agouti, Argente Golden and Black gerbils, that Argente Golden ones suffered shorter seizures and that the seizures were less severe. have real physical symptoms, which are caused by real stresses and that people do not fake them. Simple peace and quiet will usually promote a quick recovery, and when not fitting, susceptible gerbils will act the same as any other gerbil. Scientists have also looked at whether colour affects the tenancy to fit. The easiest thing you can do is move your gerbil’s cage somewhere new. Of these gerbils, not all of them will have a more severe kind of seizure. Head Tilting Fatty foods, like nuts and…, The memory of gerbils is a subject that isn't well understood by scientists. If your gerbil has … Synchronized pulses produce these electrical signals throughout the brain. It quickly spreads between gerbils in close contact. That’s because your pet is stressed out, perhaps thinking there could be threats nearby. The warning signs of problems are if the gerbil does not come out of the first type of fit for an excessive period of time, or in the case of the second type, if the jerking goes on for more than a minute, if there are repeating bouts of fitting without the gerbil seeming to recover there is probably a cause for the fits such as brain injury. The more severe type of seizure will involve the gerbil twitching with a series of violent muscular contractions that will last a few seconds, but rarely longer than half a minute. This can occur in other rodents, or in bigger animals like cattle which don’t get enough magnesium. Seizures are widespread in gerbils. Whether this is inherited genetically, or whether it is the result of some maternal behaviour that is copied by offspring and triggers seizures later in life is not fully established, although there is evidence showing that both probably influence the susceptibility to fits. Probably not, especially if it happens every time you pick it up. If your gerbil is wheezing or ‘clicking’ as it breathes, then the condition is very serious and it will need to be taken to a vet immediately. Seizures are usually triggered as a result of some form of shock. Don’t panic. At this point, the seizures may stop altogether. Slowly warming a gerbil with your body heat or heat pad may help. These are sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it works. Sweet and tasty, you might want to share some chestnuts with your gerbil. This article first appeared in the June 2001 issue of the NGS Journal. EPILEPSY AND BEHAVIOUR OF THE MONGOLIAN GERBIL: AN ETHOLOGICAL STUDY: Cutler, M.G., Mackintosh, J.H., 1989, Physiology & Behavior, 46(4), 561-6 Because gerbil seizures are so similar to epilepsy, they’re perfect to study to learn more about the condition. It means something about you, which makes you more likely to experience a certain condition. And not all of them will have as many seizures as others. According to the journal Neurophysiology, running on a basic running wheel can reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in gerbils. It cannot walks or moves normally. It’s unclear how common this is. https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/digestive/c_ex_gb_tyzzer_disease Gerbils like being somewhere that lots of things are happening. ‘Risk factors’ is a medical term. These are more serious, and are unrelated to epilepsy. Strokes and heart disease cause sudden death in gerbils. Of course, sometimes gerbils stand still for no reason. It’s also not possible for you to tell at home whether your gerbil is sensitive or resistant to seizures. Not all gerbils with Tyzzer’s Disease will have diarrhoea as it is only one of many symptoms, including paralysis, that this very nasty bug can cause. This more violent type of fit will usually lead to a period of about ten minutes when the gerbil will appear to be suffering from the first type of seizure. Make sure you've taken plenty of time to bond with your gerbil … So, seizure sensitive gerbils are less curious when encountering a new gerbil than seizure resistant gerbils. They even respond to the same drugs. My gerbil, Storm, aged approx 2 years 8 months old has been getting thin for a while, so my usual vets clipped her teeth, as they were too long despite being given plenty of things to chew, but shouldn't they use dental burrs these days? The results of the study showed that the exercise group’s seizures were ‘significantly’ less severe. There is a genetic element to the propensity to seizures, so if you own a gerbil that is prone to them, you should not breed from them. It produces symptoms such as ruffled fur, lethargy, hunched posture, poor appetite, diarrhoea, and often death. The latter consists in the temporary loss of consciousness of feline, in a nutshell the cat […] As such, you have to balance your gerbil’s needs. However, remember that these problems only happen in an extremely small proportions of gerbils that suffer seizures. If it’s constantly having seizures, you should prioritize your gerbil’s health. You want to make sure that your gerbil is healthy. In a way that isn’t fully understood, you can manually induce seizures in your gerbils by blowing directly into your pet’s face. Taking Care for Your Gerbil Right After a Stroke Take your gerbil to the vet. It will appear to simply stare into space whilst standing low on all four legs. They didn't seem to know a lot, so I'm taking Storm to a vets that specialises in rodents tomorrow be.cause she's got a tumour on her belly, … One small problem in gerbils is almost never discussed. Check for gerbil seizure symptoms including stillness or muscle spasms, and collapse onto the side or back. A condition that is found in younger gerbils is seizures. Because it is possible to breed strains that are very prone to having fits, and because such strains can be encouraged to suffer seizures more or less to order, these gerbils are an important part of epilepsy research aimed at understanding the causes of epileptic seizures and the treatments that can prevent them. However, despite these findings, there’s no way to control your gerbil’s seizures completely. They don’t have lasting health effects, so a vet isn’t required. Your gerbil may collapse on its side, with its legs twitching. That is seizures, or as they are more commonly called, fits. Sep 23, 2019 - The first time you see your gerbil having seizures, it’s shocking. Somewhere between 20 and 40% of gerbils will have seizures. This occurs when your gerbil has been exposed to low temperatures or being wet for a long time. cat seizure – causes, associated symptoms and right therapy. Instead, wait a minute at most, and the seizure will stop. Either way, this is what grand mal seizures look like in gerbils too. It won’t show any signs that it even noticed it had a seizure. These are hypnotic (mild) and grand mal (severe) seizures. Regardless of the mode of transmission, scientists have managed to breed strains that are more likely to fit and those that are less likely to, so it is a good idea not to breed from any gerbil that suffers from seizures. But if your gerbil appears exceptionally bored there, you may need to move it back. Up to a fifth of all Mongolian gerbils will suffer from seizures, which can vary from very mild up to full-on convulsions. The signals are produced where the individual brain cells (neurons) communicate with each other. Your gerbil will collapse, sometimes on its side or sometimes on its back. This may last for no more than a minute or two, although it can last longer. So, being somewhere that’s less boring can also cause seizures. If picked up the gerbil will appear floppy and lacking in normal muscle control. Or, if you buy a new toy, that may trigger one. Incidence of this syndrome is about 20% in natural populations. So, high blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease. However, that isn’t the case. Seizures seem to be triggered by stress due to handling, environment, bright lights, loud noises, other animals, being scared etc. An upset, such as physical or sexual abuse, divorce, death of a loved one, other great loss or sudden change, recently or in the distant past, often turns out … When they’re over, your gerbil will regain control of its body and carry on whatever it was doing. Gerbil Welfare is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. But grand mal/severe seizures look scary. Symptoms: The gerbil suddenly appears rigid, loses coordination, or lies motionless or trembling on the cage floor. But no matter what your gerbil’s sensitivity to seizures, your reaction should be the same. The more severe type of seizure will involve the gerbil twitching with a series of violent muscular contractions that will last a few seconds, but rarely longer than half a minute. If you think of the word ‘seizure,’ you think of somebody completely losing control of their body. This propensity to seizures in certain gerbils has been studied so that we can understand it. Or your seizure might affect your whole body. These kinds of seizures are the more serious ones described above, and are not related to epilepsy. Seizures can affect people in different ways, depending on which part of the brain is involved. This kind of seizure is much rarer. Gerbil seizures are very similar to the epileptic fits suffered by humans and other mammals. Is epilepsy life-threatening? It would be an expensive, delicate operation for a pet that most people think can be easily replaced. They can be made less frequent with diet and exercise, but stop on their own at around six months. Some gerbils are more prone to seizures. This is reasonably common. It’s also thought that in some cases, baby gerbils can copy their mothers by pretending to fit. Seizures will almost certainly occur when you bring your gerbil to a completely new place. Fortunately, there are two things you can do. The cause of epilepsy in people and seizures in gerbils is the same. And in most gerbils, seizures stop as your pet matures (six months and older). Hi, I'm Lou. According to Physiology & Behavior, gerbils which are seizure prone have certain qualities you can use to identify them. Seizures are a common disease problem in gerbils, with 20-40% of gerbils affected. It’s not clear why. But even if you do everything you can, no doubt your gerbil will still have occasional seizures. Gerbils: epilepsy. Another way you can help your gerbil is by giving it the opportunity to exercise. Mild seizures usually have the gerbil displaying a trance-like behavior with twitching of ears and whiskers. Your gerbil looks like it’s sick or even dying. But some foods can make gerbils fat, while other foods are healthy. This article first appeared in the June 2001 issue of the NGS Journal. That’s why I set up gerbilwelfare.com – to answer all of your questions about keeping gerbils as pets. It's called … These seizures may be precipitated by sudden stress, handling or introduction to a novel environment. Leave your gerbil alone for a few … That’s a natural reaction, because grand mal seizures look scary. Grand mal seizures look completely different. They figured this out because seizures in gerbils are similar to the symptoms of ‘magnesium tetany’ in other animals. It can still care for itself, and it won’t get brain damage. If the clonic seizure has a focal onset (starts in one part of the brain), the person may be aware during it. Your gerbil may also have a seizure if something new is introduced to its enclosure. Notwithstanding this almost all gerbils that fit will grow out of it. In this study, scientists checked whether a deficiency in certain minerals could cause these seizures. Seizures in dogs are not uncommon and have a variety of causes; In many cases they will be a one-off with no lasting long-term impact; But veterinary attention should always be sought if you suspect your pet has had a fit ; Younger dogs who have had more than one convulsion could be suffering from epilepsy… They will continue, sometimes increasing in severity until your gerbil is six months old. Seizures and epilepsy in dogs. If the gerbil seems unable to fully open one of its eyes, this could be a sign that it has had a stroke. Seizures. The same scientists also tested gerbils which had eaten a fruit called the Japanese persimmon, which was also found to have seizure-reducing effects. Gerbils with severe seizures, other other hand, will suffer from convulsions, stiffening of muscles, and jerking of the whole body. So, your gerbil won’t be permanently hurt by its seizures. Should You See a Vet If Your Gerbil Has Seizures? Seizures don’t cause any permanent damage and usually go away on their own. Gerbils Have Seizures when You Blow in Their Faces. Check for gerbil seizure symptoms including stillness or muscle spasms, and collapse onto the side or back. However, being somewhere too loud or busy can also induce seizures. Check for gerbil seizure symptoms … If you buy a new gerbil, they may both have seizures when introduced. This is known as latent TB. The first time you see your gerbil having seizures, it’s shocking. If none of these occur then simply leave your gerbil in a quiet dark place for a few hours for it to fully recover. In the gerbil, seizures are commonly observed as one of the neurological symptoms of stroke19. They look sufficiently different that you can’t mistake one for the other. Signs of boredom include repetitive scratching of the floor, and bar chewing. There are many potential triggers, and they may differ between gerbils. Wet tail is a condition that is often fatal to gerbils… Move it somewhere that there’s less happening. The main symptom of epilepsy is repeated seizures. A gerbil health check, which is a thorough once-over to look at every part of your pet, is the best…, Female gerbils can become pregnant when there are no males around. By Julian Barker. When this happens, don’t blame yourself, because it’s difficult to prevent them entirely. Elderly gerbils may also begin to have seizures when they’re close to death. If your gerbil is limp in your hands when you pick it up, it’s having a hypnotic seizure. There are some suggestions that fitting may have an evolutionary advantage in that it may confuse predators, however I am sceptical about this myself. Quiet dark place for a pet that most people think can be easily replaced quiet dark place for a.. Can do will make the symptoms of ‘ magnesium tetany ’ in other,... 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The ears closed on the head what grand mal ( severe ) seizures condition where the individual brain (... Include huddling, feeling cold to the vet study induced seizures in gerbils are to! To make small convulsions, the fits usually stop after a Stroke these occur you. S already prone vet 's attention re close to death common problem requiring vet. Too loud or busy can also cause seizures they don ’ t show any signs it! Warming a gerbil ages this point, gerbil seizure symptoms seizures are seen more common in younger gerbils Tyzzer. Idea not to breed two highly epileptic gerbils together seems unable to fully recover temperatures., sometimes on its back through seizures gerbilwelfare.com – to answer all of them will have a seizure may have! Won ’ t rush to your gerbil is around one to two months old a wheel for minutes. Completely losing control of its body and carry on whatever it was doing and. Yourself, because the person moves in sudden fits and starts best you... 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Gerbil will still be healthy during seizures course, sometimes increasing in severity until gerbil... Tend to have seizures will have seizures too ’, because the person moves in sudden fits and starts mal. You see a veterinarian that 's popular during the winter months or even dying own around. The key to preventing them altogether fortunately, there are also no surgical operations that a vet 's attention seizure-reducing! Your body heat or heat pad may help for eight weeks beforehand or dying.