Do Gerbils Need Salt Licks?

The majority of animals consume salt licks. Salt licks only supplement a gerbil’s food with nutrients and vitamins. It prevents deficiencies and boosts the gerbil’s immune system. However, too many salt licks can cause serious health problems for gerbils.

Do gerbils need salt licks? Yes and no. Salt licks contain a high concentration of mineral salt deposits which provide supplemental vitamins and minerals in their meals. However, you should only give salt licks to your gerbil if it does not consume nutritious food.

A standard gerbil’s diet contains enough salt for the animal, so they may become sick if you overfeed salt licks to your gerbils. This article will outline whether gerbils need salt licks and whether they like salt licks.

Gerbils do not need salt licks. Their diets already have enough sodium, which is present in salt licks. That is why many gerbil owners see no need to feed their gerbils salt licks. However, that does not mean you should never provide your gerbil with salt licks.

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Salt licks are not a necessary diet addition to a gerbil’s diet, but they are still rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, and other supplements. The gerbil’s diet may be missing one or two of these minerals, which is when salt licks are beneficial.

Can Gerbils Have Salt Licks?

Gerbils can have salt licks. They like salty foods and treats, so salt licks are no exception. Animals, like humans, need a certain amount of salt in their bodies but not too much. From a nutritional point of view, there is no need to feed your gerbil salt licks.

Gerbils only need less than five grams of sodium, which is already in their regular diets. If your veterinarian tells you that your gerbil needs more sodium in its body, it is best to change the gerbil’s diet mix rather than administer salt licks.

When Would a Gerbil Need Salt Licks?

Yes, gerbils do not need salt licks, but a small amount cannot cause any harm. Gerbils need salt licks for the following reasons:

To strengthen their muscles and help them function properly. If the muscles are damaged, the nerves do not work correctly, which causes muscle twitches.
For proper osmosis, salt licks contain sodium, ensuring the body maintains an optimal amount of fluid in both cells and organs.
Gerbils can also utilize salt licks as a mental stimulator. You can just put the salt lick as a recreational object. However, ensure the gerbil does not overuse it.
If the gerbil refuses to eat its regular diet, salt licks will provide it with some of the needed minerals. Just ensure the gerbil has access to fresh water and limit the salt lick intake too.
Sodium is crucial in the transmission of nervous system signals.

Do Gerbils Like Salt Licks?

Yes, gerbils like salt licks. Gerbils are also big fans of salty meals, so salt licks are no exception. If the diet you feed your gerbil does not have enough salt, they will benefit from it when you present the food with salt licks.

However, some gerbils will not be very interested in salt licks because they already have enough salt in their diet. Also, salt licks have an unpleasant taste, making it impossible for gerbils to overeat them.

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Some gerbil owners say that their pets ignore the salt licks or just play with them. Other gerbils will like it so much that they want it incorporated into their diets. You should provide the salt licks to your gerbils at specific intervals. The gerbils will treat the salt blocks like a treat. It all depends on the gerbil’s preference and the diet you are feeding it. Salt licks are a lovely addition to your gerbil’s diet, but they are unnecessary.

Are Salt Licks Safe For Gerbils?

Yes, salt licks are safe for gerbils. They are a good source of minerals that might be lacking in the gerbil’s diet. However, in a nutritional sense, they are not particularly beneficial because most minerals are present in gerbil food.

If you decide to add a salt lick to your gerbil’s cage, ensure the gerbil does not overuse it. Also, ensure you provide the gerbil with fresh water because salt can dehydrate it. When the gerbil is done licking the salt block, remove it and put it back in the next day.

Why Are Too Much Salt Licks Dangerous?

Here is why too many salt licks can be dangerous.

Unlike us, gerbils cannot eliminate excess salt from their bodies because they do not sweat. So, if you provide your gerbils with an additional salt lick on top of their diet, they may consume too much sodium, which can be hazardous.
Your gerbil may end up having bladder problems. Additional minerals from the salt licks may cause an imbalance of minerals in the gerbil’s body. The imbalance could lead to serious bladder issues.
Too much salt causes dehydration, which in turn leads to bladder stones.
Gerbils, like all rodents, are very vulnerable to contracting urinary tract calculi. Urinary tract calculi are caused by excess calcium intake, which is also in salt licks. This disease is severe, and surgery is the only way to remove excess calcium deposits from the bladder.
The gerbil may be at risk of high blood pressure caused by excess salt in the body. According to research, too much salt affects how the kidneys work and might end up causing high blood pressure.

The kidneys are unable to draw excess water from the gerbil’s body. Why? Because the sodium-to-potassium ratio is interfered with when the gerbil consumes too much salt. This leads to excess water remaining in the gerbil’s body, increasing blood pressure.

High blood pressure can result in heart issues. This is because the heart tries to over-pump blood to meet the demand of the raised pressure in blood flow. The gerbil’s heart becomes larger over time, which makes it less efficient.
High levels of salt can lead to stroke. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of stroke in gerbils. The gerbil experiences a stroke when a vein or artery bursts in the brain.

Given that gerbils have very underdeveloped brain structures, even their Circle of Willis is not usually complete. So, any slight irregularity can cause a blood vessel to burst in their brains.

What Are Alternatives To Salt Licks?

Gerbils are omnivores, so they need a balanced diet consisting of seeds, fruits, vegetables, and dried or live insects. You should also supplement the gerbil’s diet with commercial food such as pellets.

A well-mixed gerbil diet consists of all the required nutrients and minerals, so there will be no need for salt licks. The fruits you can offer your gerbil are apples, pears, and berries. If you are going to feed your gerbil citric fruits like oranges, ensure you offer them in small quantities.

Vegetables include carrots, pumpkin seeds, cucumbers, and cilantro. Remember to accompany the gerbil’s diet with fresh water. Salty nuts can also be a substitute for salt licks.

In The End

So, do gerbils need salt licks? Salt licks are good because they are rich in minerals such as sodium and magnesium. However, they are not a necessity in a gerbil’s diet. A gerbil only needs salt licks if it is not getting enough minerals and vitamins from its food. Too much salt licks can cause serious health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke in gerbils. So, it is advisable to leave the saltlicks and, in turn, change the gerbil’s diet to incorporate the missing minerals and vitamins.

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