A Sick Gerbil??

[cinnycinnamon]

Okay you guys, I need some advice about one of my gerbils-Squirt.

Last night, he and his brothers all played in the playground for about an hour. He seemed fine. And then this morning when I went to check on all my gerbils before I left for work, I noticed that Squirt had some blood on his fur. But when I picked him up to look for an injury, I found nothing. So I called for Max and Teddy to come out (Squirt's brothers) to see if they were okay. And both of them had blood on their fur as well. But no boo-boo's. I had to leave for work by this time so I just hoped for the best until I got home. Once I got home, I called for Squirt to come out. I picked him up and had a long hard look at him. I noticed that one his nose, it looked like there was dried blood on it and he sounded as if he was sneezing. The lower part of his jaw looked almost disfigured like. But who knows, maybe it's just me seeing things. I'm gonna have my husband help me to snap a picture of Squirt so maybe that you can see what I'm talking about.

I called him out again from his tunnel to see if he wouod eat. I gave him a yogert chip...but this time, he didn't take it from my hand. He smelled it, and went back into the tunnel. But a few minutes later, he came back out, smelled the chip again, but wouldn't take it from my had. So I left it on the bedding and he came out and took it that time.

Any ideas as to what might be wrong with Squirt? Does he maybe have a cold? I have one...and maybe I gave him my cold when I blew in his face to not bite my finger???

Sorry to be so long winded here. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanx!
Cindy

[sweetie]

Hey Cinny,

Mine had what appeared to be bloodied noses when I changed from Aspen to Carefresh. Mine are allergic to Carefresh. Have you changed anything in thier environment lately?

Pictures would surely help. Good luck and keep us posted.

[cinnycinnamon]

Well since my husband came home, four hands are better then two. We snapped two pics of Squirt and upon further inspection, it looks like a boo boo on his nose.





We are gonna take a cloth and wipe his nose in a few. I'm the biggest worry wart. He seems to be fine other then a sore nose (playing and such). I hope he's gonna be okay.

[sweetie]

It looks exactly like what happened to mine when I changed thier bedding!!

Great pictures by the way!

It's okay to worry about those we love. The opposite is unthinkable!

[cinnycinnamon]

Sweetie, I changed their bedding from Carefresh to Aspen about a month and a half ago.

[cinnycinnamon]

Ain't that the truth! So you really think this came from the bedding? Why now all of ther sudden? I guess I know if it's a boo-boo or just dried blood due to allergies once we wipe his nose off, right?

[sweetie]

Mine reacted with in a week. I am not sure what is going on with yours. It could be that he had an itchy nose for some reason and over groomed. Are the others over grooming him?

[cinnycinnamon]

Well, Squirt lives with his brothers-Max and Teddy. I'm not sure who is the dominate one in the bunch though. They never sleep outside.

We cleaned his nose off and yep, it sure does look like a boo boo. I can't remember though if I put them in the hamster ball last night after they played on the playground. Sally got a boo boo from the hamster ball a while back.

I will keep you posted about Squirt.

Thanx for replying back, Sweetie!

[sweetie]

I hope all goes well with you and the boys!

[cinnycinnamon]

Thanx, Sweetie!

[cinnycinnamon]

Just a quick update on Squirt.........he is doing good and yes, it clearly is a cut on his nose. I'm just not sure how it happended, though. It appeared to scab over as of this afternoon. But he managed to open it up when I put him in the hamster ball tonight. He won't be going back in there until his boo boo is healed.

I am glad to have found this message board. You guys are so helpful. If I only knew about this place last June when George was sick......


Thanx again Sweetie for your help!

[doomgerbiluk]

gerbils heal quickly
just beware of infection, this seems a high risk with noses
good luck
btw mine have never hurt their noses in the balls
are your balls big enough?

[cinnycinnamon]

Hi Doom!

Here are a few pics of my gerbils in the ball:





It seems that a few of my gerbils get too excited or something while in the ball cuz they get all jumpy when it there. So that's what I was thinking as to how maybe he got the booboo in the first place? I have the medium size balls as I think a ferret sized ball would be too big and the small mouse ball is obviously too small. But like I said, a few of my gerbils (Squirt included) jumps all around in it.

Yeah, it looked fine like I said this afternoon when I came home from work. I would have put him in the playground, but it needs to be cleaned first cuz both of the playgrounds are dirty. The balls were clean and he really wanted to come out and play.

I will continue to keep you posted.