Do gerbils get lice?

Question
This may sound like a dumb question, but my children got lice and I can not figure out where it would've come from. I am wondering if their pet gerbils could've gave it to them?  If so...what do I do about treatment for the gerbils?

Answer
Hi

I've never had this problem with my gerbils, but I gather that they can get lice.  If they have got lice they need treating, along with their cage and the surrounding area.  I'm not sure if you can purchase the correct medication in a pet shop or if you need to consult a vet as I've never needed to do this before.  You do however need to confirm that they have lice before you start any treatment - therefore it might be easiest if your consult a vet over this.

However, is there any way your children could have got them from their friends?  Lice love clean hair (hence the reason why so many children get them now with all the different types of shampoos etc).  I don't know how old your children are, but could they be sharing hair brushes at school???  In the area of the UK I live in, lice is a real problem when the children all go back to school after the summer break. Just an idea.

Regards