New gerbil problem

Question
Hi, I have written to you before about a gerbil problem.  a month ago, our family bought two female gerbils from a pet store.  They were littermates, and seemed fine when we brought them home.  Buttercup (the brown one) started to lick/bite?? herself frequently around her genital/anal area after a couple of days.  The black one (Oreo) seemed fine.  After a few days, Buttercup also developed diarreah.  The morning we decided to take her back to the pet store for help, she was VERY ILL and died on the way back to the store.  We aren't sure what the problem was, but we went home and continued to take care of Oreo..she never showed any signs of illness.  This past Friday (after almost a month), we decided to buy another gerbil as a cagemate for Oreo.  I researched introducing gerbils, prepared the split cage, and brought the new female gerbil home.  She also seemed healthy at purchase and settled in okay the first day.  Well, yesterday evening and today, she also has started constantly licking/biting?? her genital/anal area (even producing a few squeals along with it).  Everything else seems okay but that.  Of course, we are overly worried and anxious that something may go wrong with her, too.  Does this sound like anything you know of?  Sign of being stressed?  Wondering if we should take her back to the pet store or wait until there are other signs or she stops?  Your help is appreciated.


Answer
Hi Julie,

I would get her back to the store ASAP, and ask them to keep her in and observe her for a week or so. It sounds as though your previous gerbil suffered from wet tail, which is caused by stress, and if not treated soon enough is fatal!!! Recovery is good if caught early and treated!

You also need to be aware that this is contagious and so you need to thoroughly disinfect the cage, and keep an eye on the existing gerbil.

Hope this helps!!
Charlie.

p.s - the store should be willing to pay for the treatment if the gerbil is sick if you have had it less than 7days!!

xx