Nose condition.

               If your Gerbil has a wet or running nose it's a sign of a cold or he has sniffed in some dust or food particles,  Oats, grain dust or even sawdust from his bedding. Find out which and rectify the situation.

Teeth.

                     Check your gerbil for signs of broken teeth.
Feet.
             Check the bottoms of the feet daily for signs of abrasion, infection, or sores. Sore feet can result from poor sanitation, clean your Pets cage regularly with a proprietary cleaner.  Check his housing for rough spots on the timber or wire, this can also cause sore Feet. 

Droppings.

                       . There are several warning signs that will be obvious if you check the droppings daily. Droppings that are diarrhoea-like, or contain mucous or blood, are a strong sign that your gerbil needs to visit the vet. If the droppings start decreasing in size, or if your gerbil stops producing droppings, veterinary attention is needed.

General  feel.
               When you pick up your gerbil, you should immediately be able to tell if it "doesn't feel right".

Coat.
            Look at your pet's coat. Does it have any fleas in it? or any white dandruff-like particles, or black flea-debris? Is its skin flaky and dry? Are there any cuts, wounds, abrasions, sores, scabs, or other breaks in the skin? If your gerbil has any of these problems,   you will need to treat him and take corrective action to prevent them from coming back.

Most gerbils live a normal healthy life, the conditions referred to above  are the exception rather than the rule.