Bald spot

[bealina]

Hi,

I have a male gerbil, he's about 10 months old. Two weeks ago I noticed a bald spot of the top of his head. Hair started to grow but a couple of days later the bald spot returned and hair didn't start to grow back even after a few days. I visited our vet last week and he said it doesn't look like any dermal (skin) disease and suggested I removed all the plastic parts (whell, stairs etc.) and replace them with wooden toys. I did what was suggested. But after more than a week his hair still didn't start to grow back. He still has a bald spot. He eats and drinks as usual, chews tons of paper rolls a day and is active as normal. Today I noticed that a bald spot (the skin) is slightly different color - it looks grayish and the rest of his skin under his fur looks normally slightly white-pinkish. Also I noticed that the skin where the bald spot is is a bit swollen. What could it be? I'm going back to the vet if it doesn't get any better SOON. Please, help with any ideas.

[AndreaS15]

What is he living in, Tank or cage?
Is there anything he could be bumping/rubbing him head on?

have you tryed putting a little bit of polysporen on it? And have you noticed this anywhere else on his body?

The only hair loss I can think of with a swollen bump is allergies, but you usually see that areound the nose and eyes. hhmmm.. very strange. Keep us updated.

[bealina]

My gerbil is living in a tank and I removed all plastic parts from it and put in wooden toys and stuff instead.

I just came back from the vet and he said the hair is growing back (I thought so too but I wanted to ask the vet about the swollen bump - it could have been an alergic reaction to the shampoo I was suggested to use and it looks better). I should come back in a week for a checkup.

[bealina]

And I didn't put polysporen on it... simple reason, you can get it here in Europe. I used one of "our" medicines instead. And some shampoo I bought for this purpose in a drug store.

[lydia]

Pleased to hear that it is now growing back.

lyd

[sweetie]

Hi Bea,

Sometimes bald spots can occur with over grooming. Over grooming will cause them to loose their hair but it will not cause a rash or irritation. It usually grows back within a few days provided the grooming stops in that spot.

I would be cautious using shampoo on the gerbil. They hate water and for little gerbils, the shampoo might be too much.