No Hair on Nose!!! GETTING WORSE!!!

[RitzieAnn]

Andrea is right. I wasn't allergic to Ivy while I was taking Horticulture, but as soon as I started working at a plant nursery, I couldn't touch the stuff!!

I personally wouldn't use Vaseline... it doesn't breathe. I'd stick with Neosporen or I suppose Polysporen, since it's not deep or anything.

[lizzy]

If it turns out not to be an allergy, they could have mites which would explain why both of them have it. You will need to take them to the vet if this is the case.

[minnesota2121]

I had explained earlier that i can not afford to pay for a vet vist. Is there anything that i could do that would not require me to go to the vet?

[lizzy]

As far as I know mite treatment is prescription (vet) only. There is I believe a mite spray available in some pet shops over here but it is not as effective as a vet product. I don't know about the products available in the USA, but if it does turn out to be mites I suggest you look in your local pet shops or perhaps on the internet.

Vet care is, unfortunately, often a necessary part of animal ownership and in some states it is illegal to deny an animal it. I strongly suggest you save up money in case your beloved pets do need vet care, emergency or otherwise. A simple consultation and mite treatment should not be too expensive.

I hope that it does turn out to be an allergy that is easily rectified, however.

[doomgerbiluk]

Ivermectin is what the NGS seem to recommend. In the UK it is obtainable from vets and is either a spot or oral treatment.
I've never used it so cannot comment but I know Eddie Cope recommends it.
Spot on treatments ...I have heard accounts of animals having bad reactions to these over the counter medicines so be wary.

[RyanF]

My vet visit for Burkie cost $50 and the continued medicine after that probably added up only to a few dollars.

[AndreaS15]

I have to agree, owning an animal means we need to be able to afford it's care in times of emergency.
I personally won't take excuses like "i'm young, or my parents won't drive me", at 12 I had a paper rout, and when my hamster was sick, i took him on the bus to see a Vet, 2 times, the second was to be PTS.
It's our respoicibility to take care of these little guys, I'm not going to say run out to a Vet if he has a ouchy, or small cut. But with things like mites (and lets hope that's not what it is) a Vet's treatment would be one of the only things to actually get rid of the problem, over the counter pet shop products do not work and are a total waste of money.

Keep an eye on them, give the new bedding a week or so, dap their noses with polysporn to help heal it quicker. And if none of this helps, make sure you have some $$ saved away so that you can make sure your pets get the proper care they need.
I'm still on the "It's an Allergy" thing, and think your gerbils will heal up quickly.

[minnesota2121]

Thanks for the advice. I think it is an allergy thing too now because I have notcied, since changin to carefresh, his nose has gotten a little better! So I hopin thats all it is!

[sirius]

In finland we do have some vaseline to put in to gerbil's nose in case like that, it's called bepanthen, but i don't know then, can u buy it.
But usually in cases like this the nose get's healed by antibiots, vaseline what is okey to gerbils and with time.

[meganb52]

minnesota2121 said:

I had explained earlier that i can not afford to pay for a vet vist. Is there anything that i could do that would not require me to go to the vet?

Neosporin is an over-the counter triple antibiotic ointment. You can get it (or any generic TAB ointment) at any drugstore. Use a very small amount 1-2 times daily as neede for the secondary infection on his nose. Glad to hear its clearing up

-Megan

[rnltred]

We had a gerbil who was an extreme digger and was in an aquarium. She would dig along the seams of the tank where the silicone sealer is pushing her nose along the seam until the silicone would rub the fur and whiskers off her nose and actually cause it to bleed. We ended up removing the silicone from all the seams with a razor blade and the problem went away. Don't know if this is what's happening with your gerbs but could be a possibility.
Keith & Luana
Green Mt. Gerbils

[doomgerbiluk]

My gerbils love wheels but the problem is finding suitable, affordable ones.
As has been said most plastic ones get chewed to bits (but not all gerbils will do this), silent runners can't take the jumping movement of gerbils and wire ones trap tails and paws. I haven't seen mesh ones in the UK.
The ideal would be a sheet metal drum wheel but these, though available in the US, are extremely expensive and importing to the UK would be exhorbitant.
I do use the senior wodent wheel in the playpen though, and this seems a good compromise. They are sturdy, easy to turn wheels and although a little pricey will last a long time. Mine has even been taken to pieces for a thorough clean!!!

[minnesota2121]

rnltred said:

We had a gerbil who was an extreme digger and was in an aquarium. She would dig along the seams of the tank where the silicone sealer is pushing her nose along the seam until the silicone would rub the fur and whiskers off her nose and actually cause it to bleed. We ended up removing the silicone from all the seams with a razor blade and the problem went away. Don't know if this is what's happening with your gerbs but could be a possibility.

:oI can't believe i didn't think of that!!! I think that is EXACTLY what is wrong! Smoky is a BIG digger. I think that could be the problem. I will try to scrape off the silicone tonight. Thank you so much for that idea. It makes a lot of sense. Thanks so much!

[sirius]

Silicone may be also dangerous,if they try to eat it, if it's not 'animal safe' silicon..