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All male gerbils have a diamond shaped slightly pink-yellow
and bald patch on their tummy. It is located at the site
of their belly button. This is called the ventral scent
gland. Especially on older animals it is quite easy to detect.
The size of the gland is influenced by male hormones.
The ventral scent gland can get inflamed or develop tumours.
The incidence of tumours is low in gerbils, but tumours
in gerbils are usually malignant Therefore the treatment
of choice will always be surgery. Chaplin was admitted and
had his operation the next day.
Because gerbils have tiny blood vessels, it is impossible
to give the anaesthetic agent directly in a blood vessel,
like we would normally do in dogs and cats. In small rodents
the anaesthetic is injected in the tummy. I excised Chaplin's
tumour and put absorbable skin sutures in the skin, which
do not need to be removed.
After the operation the aftercare is very important. All
rodents and rabbits will get fluid therapy, so the anaesthetic
agents are neutralised quicker, and they are kept warm in
an incubator. Only when they have woken up fully will we
send them home the same day. Chaplin had a slower recovery
after his operation, and was kept in the incubator overnight
to give him the best possible care. The next day he was
running around again and reunited with his caring owner.
By Ingrid Segboer MRCVS
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