Injury on gerbil head?

[smarie52013]

I noticed my female gerbil had an injury on her head.
She's with another gerbil and they get along great no fighting at all
I think she might have scraped it on her water bottle holder since it was metal I since got a new one that's not as sharp
But it's not healing right
The first 2 pics of me holding her were taken a week after I noticed it and the second 2 pics were taken about a month and a half after
It seems like I can see her skull like the skin on it is very thin
Has this happened to anyone before?
Was I wrong and it's not an injury?
She seems fine & she lets me hold her and let's her cage mate groom her so it's not like she's in pain

[betty]

I am concerned that it hasn't gone away after 6 weeks, seeing as it looks like it has 'healed' up (the first images it looks open, but the latter ones it seems to have scabbed or healed over somewhat as it isn't wet looking. However, if it has 'healed' and isn't being scratched open or anything - then the fact it hasn't gone is indeed weird.

Gerbils don't show pain until it is really really bad, so you can't always go on their attitude to it - however, I would imagine if it was sore or itchy that she would have been over-grooming it and keeping it wet looking?

It doesn't look like it has got bigger either?

If you go to a vet/vet nurse/experienced small animal rescue/experienced breeder they should be able to tell you whether it was open to the bone or not - although from your images it looks more tissuey than bony as it appears to be raised. They should be able to see what the tissue type is - is it like a callous, a cyst, an abscess, a wart, a tumour, a scab, etc. That way you would learn a bit more about it and know the options going forward and treatment options if any are suggested (not all of the above can or need to be treated with veterinary care or medicines).

Alternatively, you could just watch it for another few weeks, and as long as it isn't affecting her behaviour or appetite, bleeding, opening up, getting bigger, changing shape or getting warmer or girl thingy-looking, and she isn't losing weight, then just leave her to it.