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Post by emmalina on Oct 5, 2019 6:40:21 GMT -8
Hey guys, my boy Ronnie has all red around his nose this morning. It doesn’t show very well in the picture, but it looks wet and scabbed up. He was rubbing it a few times, but has gone back to bed now. The vets are closed until Monday and I worry like crazy if I think anything might be up with the gerbs (can’t help it!). I was wondering if this was allergies but I haven’t used anything new in the tank that I can think of. Therefore could it be more serious and what other things would you look out for? Thanks Em Picture here: link |
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Post by eowynandpoppy on Oct 5, 2019 8:59:05 GMT -8
A gerbil's mucus and tears are both red, which is often confused with blood.
The pictures honestly don't look TOO serious to me; it could be allergies or an irritated sinus (allergies don't always come from something in the cage- it could also be something new or dusty in the room he's in, like perfume or cleaning sprays or a bag of dusty bedding, etc.)
Or, if Ronnie lives with a buddy, he could've had his nose nipped. Snout injuries are also sometimes caused by bar-chewing, if there is any mesh or bars in the cage.
I wouldn't worry about it too much unless it gets worse (then you might consider a vet visit). It may just resolve itself, just like a scab will eventually fall off on a human.
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Post by emmalina on Oct 5, 2019 10:14:31 GMT -8
Thank you. This has reassured me so I’m not jumping to worst case scenarios. Yes it’s possible his brother might have given him a nip perhaps. I will keep an eye on him this week and see if it clears.
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Post by catnut on Oct 5, 2019 14:26:58 GMT -8
he doesn't look that bad at all but I know how it is to worry about pets. Just check it daily and see if Ronnie is rubbing it more, then that means it's bothering him. I would leave it unless it gets much worse, then you could try a dab of manuka honey with a qtip but don't get it in his nostrils and they only need antibiotics if it's bad, my gerbil Saphies' got bad after acouple of weeks so had to take her for meds and they cleared it up in a week.  |
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Post by emmalina on Oct 7, 2019 11:48:17 GMT -8
Thanks catnut. It seemed to clear up today but I just took Ron out and he gave it a good old rub again. I might do a tank clean and put more hemp and straw in with a better quality paper bedding. The weather has just gotten cold too so maybe it’s dryer air from the central heating. Manuka is a good shout! He seems fit as a fiddle otherwise so at least that’s a relief! |
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