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Post by shylohquinn182 on Oct 25, 2011 20:25:06 GMT -8
In the last few days, my gerbil's nose has become red. I am just curious what kinds of things cause it? I have used Carefresh bedding for both my gerbils, which was also the bedding used in the store. Other than that, I have no ideas why it's red and wanted some ideas. Tonight I noticed that the gerbil was pawing at her nose - shes been busy rearranging the nest tonight, so she's been brushing her nose against everything. Any advice would help!
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Post by esztershine on Oct 25, 2011 23:50:54 GMT -8
Does she have a wheel, a hut or cage bars where she can get her nose rubbed against? Carefresh is a really weird one in the UK. I have noticed that if it is darker in colour, not so dusty, in fact quite good. But If It is lighter brown it is so dusty It makes me cough I had some pups on the lighter coloured carefresh and the dust and warmth together made things worse. He was rubbing his nose with his paws as in if he had an allergy and had a squeaking sound to his breathing. Changed the bedding to aspen and the symptoms have gone. I do find aspen very dusty though. With a great suggestion from Amski, I pour It Into the tank (no Gerbils) and stir it with one hand, creating lots of dust, meanwhile I hold the vacuum hose in with the other hand and sucks up all the flying dust. Not perfect but much better
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Post by MoonstoneGerbils on Oct 26, 2011 4:33:54 GMT -8
care fresh is a very dusty bedding and can vary tremendously in the amount of dust it contains from bag to bag.
red noses are caused by sinus congestion. either from the dust, or from illness. often they can go hand in hand.
also gerbils that are very warm, can sometimes have bright pink or even red noses
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Post by shylohquinn182 on Oct 26, 2011 8:38:43 GMT -8
I had a smooth plastic wheel in there (silent spinner), and their nesting box is smooth plastic as well. I took the wheel out though. I can't figure out where the red nose problem originated from, but now i'm in the process of attempting a split tank introduction.
I bought two young female gerbils 2 weeks ago (they were approx. 6-8 weeks old). Shyloh was in a tank on her own at the store. Quinley was in a tank with 3 other gerbils. This week I decided since they're so young that I would try a third. The third gerbil, Vivian, I bought from the same tank that Quinley came from, knowing that they would hopefully be more compatible that way. My split tank is very .... homemade. I took the lid of a critter carrier (which has a "window" and slits in) and put it in the bottom of the tank, then attached cardboard at the top to the rest of it.
All this to say - now that I have this plastic divider, Shyloh, the female with the red nose, loves to vigorous dig at it and ends up rubbing her nose up against it. If I used the "proper" materials for a split cage, her nose would probably get worse from the metal anyway.
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Post by The Gerbils on Oct 26, 2011 8:45:59 GMT -8
i wouldn't give them a chance to chew plastic if i were you , the wheel would be okay but not the nesting box.
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Post by shylohquinn182 on Oct 26, 2011 12:34:40 GMT -8
None of my gerbils have chewed the plastic of the nesting box - like i said, the plastic is smooth... the edges are smooth - so they really don't have a good way to go about chewing it in the first place. I realize plastic isn't good for them to eat, but they are more focused on the cardboard in the tank anyway.
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doug
Member
Posts: 2,064
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Post by doug on Oct 26, 2011 18:19:49 GMT -8
It would also be good to know what type of waterbottle holder you have, however given what you have said it sounds as if she has caused the nose issue by digging.
Doug
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Post by shylohquinn182 on Oct 29, 2011 19:06:05 GMT -8
Alright - well since I cannot change the split tank situation & that is currently the biggest irritant for her nose, what can I put on it to help it?
What are risks associated with having a red nose if it continues?
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doug
Member
Posts: 2,064
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Post by doug on Oct 29, 2011 19:27:48 GMT -8
If the gerbil continues to do what is irritating the nose nothing you put on it will fix the problem, you must remove the cause.
If it continues it could become infected.
Doug
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Post by nikkisara on Oct 30, 2011 7:28:24 GMT -8
My snookums nose used to get all bloody and all the hair would fall out. He used to have carefresh and metal cage bars but nowhere doesn't. His nose still has no hairon it though but it doesn't bleed....
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Post by shylohquinn182 on Oct 30, 2011 16:15:22 GMT -8
Alright - I'm keeping an eye on the nose and have the ability to get 1-day shipping on Manuka Honey if needed. The new split tank divider i am using is big enough for Shyloh to get her nose through... hopefully this keeps her from injuring it more, but she is the most active digger of all 3 of my babies so I don't know!
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Post by littleladies on Nov 1, 2011 14:42:01 GMT -8
I am having the same issue with Isabella - I also use Carefresh. Her nose has become very red and irritated. She is in an aquarium with no plastic, and uses a square tissue box as her hut. She seem sin good health other than the nose. If she is allergic to the Carefresh, what do I go to? We switched to it on the advice from the vet after Georgia died from an RI. The whole bedding issue is so confusing.
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Post by nikkisara on Nov 1, 2011 18:12:57 GMT -8
What is manuka honey?
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Post by esztershine on Nov 2, 2011 4:19:49 GMT -8
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Post by shylohquinn182 on Nov 5, 2011 15:05:32 GMT -8
UPDATE - Shyloh's nose has completely healed! I did not change the bedding, though I have been trying to get her to use more tissues/toiletpaper/paper towels as bedding so that there's only half Carefresh & half tissue.
I guess her problem was mainly the split tank situation, along with some fighting? Not sure - either way, I'm very glad I did not spend $20 on the manuka honey since I no longer need it & she's doing great!
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