> Jennifer Marie Thompson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
> >I have noticed for a while now that my gerbils will scratch themselves
with
> >their back legs. Shoult I look for mites or something. What do I look
for
> >and how? All my gerbils do it even the pups. They aren't reallt
bothered
> >by it and don't scratch constantly or anything. What could it be? Can
you
> >please respond and help me? Thank you so much!
> > From: Julian and Jackie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> All gerbils groom themselves with their back feet. Unless they are doing
> this excessively, which may indicate an infestation or an irritant,
> there shouldn't be anything to worry about.
Gerbils frequently use their back feet to clean their ears. They seem to
produce a lot of ear wax and need to use their back feet to get rid of it.
This is a bit yucky but you often see them scrastching their ears with the
back paw, then licking the paw clean. This is absolutely normal. Actually
I haver had problems when a gerbil has had a stroke or injury and is unable
to clean its ear in this way. You get a build-up of wax and have to clean
the ear out yorself
Sue
>
> --
> Julian
