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Post by goddesshanna on Mar 14, 2004 15:54:36 GMT -8
hey all, i just thought i'd tell you about an interesting thing that happened and see what you all thought.
one of my gerbils and her offspring all have a history of rubbing their noses raw seemingly due to various stress. recently, one of the younger gerbils, blondie, took to nose rubbing and we couldn't identify any source of stress. i was away at school and my mom decided to use a medication that was prescribed for our dog's hot spot. it comes in a plastic spray bottle but she used a q-tip to dab it on her nose. the description of the medication is this: "Gentocin topical spray is an antimicrobial and corticosteroid combination used for the treatment of superficial lesions in dogs caused by susceptible bacteria." this would be similar to you putting cortisone and an antibiotic on. anyways, this worked really well and blondie's nose is all better now!
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Mar 15, 2004 5:48:16 GMT -8
As I read it correctly, your gerbils had red noses! If the treatment helped, the rubbing will not be the cause of the red noses, most likely the rubing was the result of the red noses. If it was due to rubbing, the noses would still be red and raw! But because the medicine helped I would say you have had a bacterial infection on the noses of your gerbils (which is relatively common by the way). Don't you think? But a good tip! I've never had red noses, so I have never have had to use any medicines for it, but when I do I will keep the treatment you mentioned in mind! Thanx ;D
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Post by j on Mar 15, 2004 11:08:23 GMT -8
Gerbil's don't rub their noses out of stress. If anything, they rub their noses by chewing on bars out of BOREDOM. Or when they're digging and happen to be rubbing it on the bottom of the tank or cage.
It's either your gerbils are bored, or it's what Peter said. An infection from whatever reason..
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on Mar 17, 2004 2:16:15 GMT -8
Indeed! It is from chewing on bars or by an infection!
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Post by iamthegolden1 on May 30, 2004 19:05:45 GMT -8
Hi! My poor little Digger had a similar nose problem and managed to rub all the fur off his nose and it was beginning to spread further onto his face. To cure him I used over the counter Neosporin once a day for several days. Now digger was not very pleased that I was rubbing the medicine into his nose, but his nose drastically improved within 48 hours. All of the fur has now regrown on his nose and face and he is back to his favorite sport....digging! I was able to find out through this website and others that the bedding I was using was all wrong, the housing I was using is all wrong etc. Digger is now in a 30 gal. aquarium with corncob bedding and lots of fun wood and cardboard toys. He is very happy. A little skittish, but still jumps at the sound of my voice to comes and say hello every time I am near. ;D
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Post by Ritzie/Admin on May 31, 2004 7:33:11 GMT -8
I'm curious, what kind of bedding was you using before and I think you had a wired cage or am I wrong?
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Post by jesster on May 31, 2004 11:06:30 GMT -8
Gerbils can also get bald noses due to a draughty environment. Some are VERY sensitive to draughts, even if it's just a window open a crack in the room they're in. Doesn't even have to be windy.
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