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Post by whitmoregirl on Jun 20, 2005 11:26:20 GMT -8
First Kess, now it's Kali.  I noticed it a while back but figured it would heal over - turns out it doesn't, it gets worse!! I've been doing what I did to Kess - but Kali's is seriously bad. I was giving ity a little wipe with some cotton balls and a huge piece of her fur just near to her right whisker just fell off!   I feel like the worse owner in the world.... and she's all depressed now because of the constant bathing and I'm not giving her or her sisters much loo roll because last time her nose bled like mad when she was chewing it  I may take her to the vet, see if there is any antibiotical cream they can give me |
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Post by meganb52 on Jun 20, 2005 12:05:35 GMT -8
Do you keep them in wire cages? That may have something to do with it if you do. Also, if the skin just peeled off like you say it did, it probably wasn't your fault and was going to fall off regardless. You can use any over-the-counter triple antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin in the US) once to twice daily applied in a very thin layer to the affected area, but play with your gerbil for 10-15 minutes after applying it so they don't groom it off before it has a chance to soak in. If you could let me know what the lesion looks like (or pictures  and what you've been doing to treat it I may be able to help you out a little more. Let me know, ok? Hope Kali feels better! -Megan |
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Post by whitmoregirl on Jun 20, 2005 12:09:56 GMT -8
All my gerbils are in dunas and I'm hoping to get something to clear it off - but I just noticed something: when I put her back in with her sisters, both groomed her body for a second, (she probably felt so loved  ) then they ran off, and she sat washing her face, then scratched REALLY hard with her hindleg on her face. I took her back out to give the other two a sand bath and she did it AGAIN on my hand - and pics coming as soon as I find the camera again  That may have helped in the peeling of the skin... Oh and I don't know if there is neosporin over here in the UK, but if I go to the vets I'll find out. |
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Post by meganb52 on Jun 20, 2005 12:26:03 GMT -8
The Neosporin brand isn't available in the UK as far as I know, but you can get a similar product there I'm sure. They usually have Neomycin, Polymyxin B, and Bacitracin in them (hence the name triple antibiotic ointment) and can be purchased over the counter at any pharmacy. If she's scratching like you say she is, it might not hurt to take her to the vet. It may also be the bedding you keep them on; I've heard pine can cause allergies sometimes. I keep my gerbils on carefresh bedding which is a recycled paper product. You could also try corncob or just plain toilet paper, facial tissue (Kleenex) or paper towels.
-Megan
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Post by whitmoregirl on Jun 22, 2005 12:16:45 GMT -8
Vets on friday - really impatient. I want her looking and acting as she used to - plus her scabby/bleeding nose just looks horrid and probably feels really uncomfortable. I can't take pics - cameras vanished!  |
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Post by malabui on Jun 22, 2005 13:56:52 GMT -8
You have washed her nose with lightly salted water right? Thats the first thing you do when they have a bleeding nose. Also check if the claws on her back legs are too long. That could aslo be a cause...
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Post by meganb52 on Jun 23, 2005 9:39:36 GMT -8
I would say soaks with saline might help, and did you get any antibiotic ointment? By this point, regardless of what caused the problem in the first place, a secondary infection may have set up. I would advise a warm saline soak for a minute or two followed by application of a small amount of antibiotic cream and some type of distraction for 10-15 minutes afterwords to make sure she doesn't groom it all off before it has a chance to work.
-Megan
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and what you've been doing to treat it I may be able to help you out a little more. Let me know, ok? Hope Kali feels better!
) then they ran off, and she sat washing her face, then scratched REALLY hard with her hindleg on her face.
