Epilepsy
Gerbil Epilepsy, sometimes called fits, is a common condition seen in 20-40% of all gerbils. It is believed to be inherited and therefore strongly associated with certain breeds of gerbils. In fact, lines have been bred to be seizure-resistant and seizure-prone for use in clinical research on human epilepsy. The seizure-prone gerbils spend less time performing social activities, such as scent gland marking. The seizure activity is due to a deficiency in a brain enzyme, cerebral glutamine synthetase, and is classified as “spontaneous epileptiform seizures.”