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Post by bealina on Jun 15, 2005 2:01:26 GMT -8
Hi,
yesterday I adopted a male gerbil baby from the local breeder. I also have a 1-year old male. For now they are in separate tanks. I took the little one to our vet today - he says he looks ok but that he has predisposition to some problems with nose, a type of dermatitis... Skin around his nose looks a bit reddish and it looks as if there is less hair in that area (around the nose). Does anybody know what this particular problem is? Should it be treated? Is it contagious?
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Post by queenofthenile on Jun 15, 2005 6:40:42 GMT -8
It may have been due to the type of litter the breeder had him on. Some gerbils have allergies, there is one member on here whose gerbil is allergic to pretty much everything but facial tissue. Also, if he was raised in a cage, this can cause hair loss on the nose and redness. Those are the two most common causes.
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Post by bealina on Jun 15, 2005 6:52:48 GMT -8
queenofthenile, thank you for your reply. For the time being I changed his bedding to toilet paper and I'm putting something like Neosporin (you can't get the exact mediacation here in Europe) around his nose.
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Post by meganb52 on Jun 17, 2005 9:20:53 GMT -8
Yeah, Gerbils are predisposed to a condition called "sore nose" which can be caused by allergies or by continuously sticking their nose through cage bars that are too cloesly spaced. I would reccommend a cage with rat bar spacing over one with mouse bar spacing if you use barred cages; Gerbils have a very wide face and sticking it through those slender spaces can really irritate it. You can use a triple antibiotic like neosporin on his nose, just be very judicious with its use--you only need a very little tiny bit to make a thin layer over the inflamed parts. Also, I would play with him for 10-15 minutes after putting it on so he doesn't just groom it off before it has a chance to soak in. It shouldn't be contagious though, but I would stiil quarantin ehim for at least two weeks to make sure it isn't realted to some other underlying disease before introducing him to your other gerbil. Hope he feels better soon!
-Megan
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Post by bealina on Jun 19, 2005 1:17:05 GMT -8
Thanks, Megan. The little one is in a tank, not in a cage, but perhaps he was in a cage before he came living with us... I was putting something similar to Neosporin (we don't have neosporin here in Europe or perhaps it is the same thing with a different name - the triple antibiotic I used is also neomycin-based). I was playing with him as you suggested but I moment I put him into his tank he started grooming it off. On friday I visited "my" vet with my other gerbil (he couldn't chew and I was afraid he broke one of his teeth but they're all there, just one is slightly shorter and it probably bothers him - it should be ok in a few days or we'll go back) - well, the vet gave me some antibiotics for the little one that he doesn't groom off as it doesn't bother him when it is put on.
Again - thanks for your reply.
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Post by meganb52 on Jun 19, 2005 21:19:29 GMT -8
Glad to hear it  Hope your little one feels better soon!! -Megan |
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Post by bealina on Jun 20, 2005 1:33:47 GMT -8
How long does such treatment usually last? When should I stop giving him the antibiotic cream? There seems to be almost no mucous on and around his nose in the last two days. The skin is still reddish. Will the fur grow back?
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Post by meganb52 on Jun 20, 2005 11:58:15 GMT -8
A standard course of antibiotics is usually 2 weeks. I would keep applying the ointment until about a week after the redness and swelling go away to make sure you've got it all. From what you've been telling me, I'm pretty sure the fur should grow back once the skin is all healed. I may take a little while though, but since I haven't actually seen him, I can't say it'll grow back for certain. Let me know how it goes!
-Megan
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Hope your little one feels better soon!!