Yowch!

[whitmoregirl]

My cousin Christine has noticed that Raven has a large bleeding part under her ear - and it looks painful
I gave it a gentle wipe with a lukewarm piece of cotton stuff, cleared off some of the blood, while she ate a seed.
She didn't seem to care too much and it hasnt really affected her, she's still trying to climb out onto my hand, but ouchie
Any ideas how to clear it up any better?
Oh and Pepper doesn't seem to hsave any blood on her claws or mouth, so I think it's self-inflicted or accidental.

[whitmoregirl]

[meganb52]

Okay, here's my unofficial beterinary opinion:

Looks to me like either a puncture wound or a ruptured abscess. I would clean it daily with hydrogen peroxide and triple antibiotic ointment. Like I always say, try to play with your gerbil for 10-15 minutes after applying the ointment so it can soak in, and be very sparing with it. You can do this for ~10 days or so. The wound should heal up pretty well in that time period. if it looks like its getting worse, guess what? Vet time.

-Megan

[AndreaS15]

If it was a ruptured abscess, I would maybe put her on a dose of Ornacycline for a little while, just to make sure the infection dosn't grow.
Though I do the same as Megan has mentioned with all my pets who have owies, and only 2 haev I ever had to put on antibiotics, everyone else healed up just fine without.

Could there be something in her tank she could have caught her ear on? or maybe squished her head between?
Maybe double check some toys, and if there is any blood on any of them look at moving or removing it.


Oh I use Hibitain cream (when i can get some) and/or Polysporn on my gerbils without problems.

[whitmoregirl]

Uhhh one problem - I have none of that stuff
I'll watch her ear for now, if it starts to heal over, goodo, if she shows any discomfort and/or the wound starts to go funny, to the vets I'll pobble
Only thing in her cage atm is the coconut and that has no sharp edges - not that I can see anyways.

[meganb52]

I wouldn't use systemic antibiotics (i.e. oral ornacycline in this instance) for a simple abscess, especially since its already ruptured (if that is what it is). Abscesses wall themselves off from the rest of the body, so oral antibiotics don't do much for them. Topicals are much more effective at getting rid of infection. But I think Raven will be fine even if you do nothing. It looks pretty superficial. Just make sure it stays clean and I think you'll be okay

-Megan

[paws]

Owww, if you have disinfectant spray, then I would use it by spraying it onto a cotton swab then applying it. Polysporin is nice, because it won't hurt, and it will help heal alot. You can probably buy it from your local drug store, because you said you don't have it.

HAYLEY

[whitmoregirl]

Ok this is getting worse.
It was healing quite nicely, but today I found she had given it a huge scratch and it has really bled
I gave it a bathe but I cant do anymore
Help?

[meganb52]

Bleeding isn't always a bad thing, it can bring a fresh batch of white cells to the site of infection and help it to heal more quickly. I would definitely start treating with hydrogen peroxide at least once daily and a topical antibiotic cream or ointment twice per day.

-Megan

[sandy]

It might be from too much scratching of an irritated, itchy and painful ear. Check for ear mites as a possibility, or, it could be from an ear infection.

[whitmoregirl]

She shakes her head a lot and Pepper is occasionally sniffing it - although I think shes more interested in trying to clear up the blood bless her

I found this here - www.erodent.co.uk/GerbilHealth.htm

"External Tumours.
Several of our animals have developed little benign tumours on their noses or ears.
These are only a problem if the animal repeated scratches at them and causes them to bleed. They can be removed by vets but the wounds will bleed profusely and it is quite difficult to stop the animal from scratching them.
A strong, healthy gerbil should be able to stand this operation but I would recommend against it unless there is a lot of bleeding from scratching.
One of the animals that we have after during a scent gland operation also had one of these removed and I believe that the blood loss from that was the main cause of death. We did have one successfully removed from the ear of one gerbil but he had to have his back foot wrapped in sticky plaster to stop him scratching it.
The only time I have ever been really bitten by a gerbil was while trying to cut the plaster from his foot. "

"he had to have his back foot wrapped in sticky plaster to stop him scratching it."
Would it work with Raven?
Im pretty sure Pepper might chew it ...

Oh and my mum is determined that a dog bowl thing they use to stop them chewing stitches around the neck would stop her scratching
Kinda hard to explain why it wouldnt work when you're laughing

[doomgerbiluk]

Wanna see why it wouldn't work?
meet Babushka

She had a lumpectomy. The collar meant she couldn't walk without enind up on her face with her feet int he air.
Apart form that the loss of her 'hands' meant she couldn't eat.
Of course she didn't keep the collar on.
Now although Babushka was a dwarf hamster some of the problems would be the same for a gerbil. Apart from the fact you couldn't possibly keep a slippery customer like a gerbil in one!!!!

[whitmoregirl]

Hahaha sweet! Really made me laugh
Any idea where I can get the hydrogen peroxide stuff etc that Megan mentioned in her first post?
Raven re-opened it AGAIN and although it didnt seem to bleed too badly (good sign? bad sign?) I'm starting to worry about infection.
Also would clipping her hindlegs nails do anything? (the leg on the same side as the wound)
I probably wouldnt do it on my own - I'd be too worried about hitting the blood vessel - but if it's an option I'll do it.

[whitmoregirl]

*sigh* I've been gently filing her nails and she has opened the wound again - it hasnt bled though oddly enough
It more or less wept water, so I did the usual thing and gave it a bathe. I still need to know where the Hydrogen Peroxide, etc stuff is so I can do something more about it though






I put them together so you get the overall view of them (these were the photos from tonight)

[AndreaS15]

Hydrogen peroxide you can buy in the pharmacy of any drug/grocery store. It's a couple bucks a bottle.
It kinda 'pinches' sometimes when it starts to 'fuzz' and work, most of my gerbils i've used it on don't care, but when Malibu had that large open wound on her hip, she squeeked alot when i tryed to put it on, so i ended up not doing it.
I dip a q-tip in the bottle and use it that way.
What cream have use been useing?
I find the Hydrogen peroxide to help make a scab quickly.

hope it clears up soon.