|
Post by piffthegerbl on Mar 9, 2005 21:25:13 GMT -8
I checked on the gerbils tonight and I saw something strange...All of my gerbils except my DEH have a bit of dried blood? around their noses its really strange. I keep the girls in one 10 gal tank with aspen bedding and a big cage with corncob bedding. Is there something wrong? What should I do?
|
|
|
Post by AndreaS15 on Mar 9, 2005 22:35:03 GMT -8
Sounds like an allergy. The gerbils with the red mucos surounding there nose, what bedding are they on? I use carefesh for I've had 2 gerbisl allergic to the Aspen. So far I haven't heard of any cases of gerbils being allergic to CornCob.
Have you placed anything new in the cage? Wood or maybe newspaper?
I would say first, change the bedding. Clean up there faces and see how the new beddign works out. I had 1 gerbil who was better in a couple day's while the other needed a week to heal.
|
|
|
Post by RyanF on Mar 10, 2005 4:39:42 GMT -8
My little Siamese was allergic to everything. She couldn't handle pine, aspen, or carefresh. Plus carefresh is super-expensive. So I put shredded newspaper in her tank for bedding.
|
|
|
Post by piffthegerbl on Mar 10, 2005 7:10:47 GMT -8
but Ive had the babies in the corncob since their birth and i transferred the girls into the 10 gal about a week ago, but im pretty sure that tonite was the nite they got it.
|
|
|
Post by sweetie on Mar 10, 2005 11:56:56 GMT -8
Hey Piff,
Mine had that reaction when I changed from Aspen to Carefresh. It does sound like an allergic reaction. WHat is new? Did you use a different cleaner, scented toilet tissue, etc?
Ryan, I am not sure newpaper is a good bedding for the gerbils. Aren't the chemicals used to process the paper and the ink dagerous to them?
|
|
|
Post by piffthegerbl on Mar 10, 2005 15:05:10 GMT -8
Nothing in there cage is new, except a toilet paper roll and I got soem dried corn cobs but Ive also had those for over a week...It seems to be clearing up but it still seems like their noses are pinkish red
|
|
|
Post by RyanF on Mar 11, 2005 5:54:05 GMT -8
Sweetie: I have never had a problem with the shredded newspaper. I make sure it is dry and actually, I don't use much in their tank at all. What I do for both my newspaper tank and aspen tank is this: Aspen Tank: I give them just enough bedding to make into a pile for a nest (about 1 inch) and I give them some fluff to keep warm. But then, the gerbils start to chew cardboard and the bedding level increases. So about 90% of their bedding is shredded cardboard, and most of the aspen is at the bottom. Newspaper Tank: I give them enough newspaper to make a nest and to cover the bottom which is also around an inch, but then I make a pile in their favorite "sleeping corner" (;D). They chew cardboard and the effect is the same as the aspen tank above. About 80% of their bedding is cardboard. When I first started using it, I had caution and kept a close eye on them, but it seems that they do just fine.
|
|
|
Post by lydia on Mar 12, 2005 16:00:37 GMT -8
I actually wouldn't expect newspaper to cause a problem for gerbils.If they are treated with dangerous chemicals,or,the ink was dangerous,it could cause health problems for ppl.A lot of ppl eat food or snacks whilst reading a paper.Granted gerbils are a lot smaller,but they usually do just shred paper products. Also,Ryan is only using newspaper for one gerbil,who has severe problems with other bedding products.
Hope that your gerbils noses,improve soon.
Lyd
|
|
|
Post by RyanF on Mar 12, 2005 18:17:03 GMT -8
Thanks Lydia, she is also on antibiotics to get rid of the nose problem. She is doing really well right now, and there is a little more fur growing! ;D
|
|
|
Post by lydia on Mar 13, 2005 11:26:09 GMT -8
Glad her nose is starting to recover,it seems to take ages for their fur on the noses to grow back,doesn't it. You could try letting her have 2 or 3 extra sunflower seeds a day,they have a high oil and fat content,might help the skin thereby encouraging the hair to grow.Likewise linseed,you could mix a small amount in your gerbils food,it wont do them any harm,and will help all their coats. Calcium can also help,but,calcium can be overdosed,so add it the water following the manufacturer's instructions. Most pet shops sell liquid calcium,that you can add to their water bottles,failing that,just buy a general vitamin supplement,(check it also contains calcium) and add to the water.
This may help or encourage the hair to grow back.
Once the antibiotics have been finished,some probiotics (or live cultured yogurt) are beneficial for a day or 2,to restore beneficial gut flora,killed off by the antibiotics.
Lyd
|
|
|
Post by RyanF on Mar 13, 2005 16:13:33 GMT -8
Thanks for all the suggestions! I need to stop by the pet store for more gerbil food so I will pick up some calcium and a few more sunflower seeds.
|
|