jewels1171
Member
Somewhat new to gerbils, but have learned a lot!
Posts: 118
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Post by jewels1171 on Jul 5, 2021 15:24:39 GMT -8
Hi, my gerbil Calla has a reddish swollen nose. It seems to be missing some hair as well. She was not in any fights or anything, and it does not have anything coming out. She is acting for the most part normal. The bedding has been recently changed, and no wood added, only paper and cardboard. The food is pretty much the same thing as we usually get, and I don’t think it is the food. She does not have bars or anything to chew on, as she lives in a tank.
I feel like she may be allergic to something but I have no idea what could be the problem.
Is this concerning, if so what should I do?
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Post by betty on Jul 5, 2021 16:13:05 GMT -8
This is - as you say - usually suggested to be a sign of an allergy of sorts - so trying to think of anything 'new' or different in past few days or week - and getting rid of it, possibly with a full clean out.
Absense of a dust/sand bath was also often purported to make sore noses more likely, because the bathing helps to eliminate the porphyrins that can cause the soreness of stress-noses - but I don't know any scientific basis for this assumption.
If isn't just something in the enclosure (and you haven't added hay or a new/different nesting material) then it could also be something in the room or garden if the windows have recently been open. Air fresheners, furniture polish, garden chemicals and other sprays can sometimes settle on substrate (either in the enclosure of if open stored) and can have the same effect.
Never easy to find the source unless something obvious springs to mind - but make the changes and then watch for a few days to see if it gets better. If they are constantly rubbing or washing it; appear to have trouble eating their usual foods or it gets worse, they may be in some discomfort from either it or an underlying health issue - so best get it checked out and offer pain relief if approriate.
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Post by teambenji543 on Jul 5, 2021 17:01:15 GMT -8
I remember when I first got my gerbils, Latte got a red nose like that. We had no idea what it was until I figured out that it was the wheel. She was rubbing her nose on it as she ran. So now we have a much bigger wheel and we don’t have that problem anymore. Are there any bars in you cage that Calla could have hurt her nose on?
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jewels1171
Member
Somewhat new to gerbils, but have learned a lot!
Posts: 118
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Post by jewels1171 on Jul 6, 2021 7:51:56 GMT -8
I remember when I first got my gerbils, Latte got a red nose like that. We had no idea what it was until I figured out that it was the wheel. She was rubbing her nose on it as she ran. So now we have a much bigger wheel and we don’t have that problem anymore. Are there any bars in you cage that Calla could have hurt her nose on? We do not have any bars. |
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Post by teambenji543 on Jul 6, 2021 16:17:28 GMT -8
Oh, sorry I didn’t read that. Well, is she scratching her nose? I would bring her into the vet to get her some medication for pain and/or itch. Gerbils are great at hiding pain.
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Post by Markpd on Jul 25, 2021 3:47:32 GMT -8
betty Absence of a dust/sand bath was also often purported to make sore noses more unlikely as the bathing helps to eliminate the porphyrins that can cause the soreness of stress-noses - but I don't know any scientific basis for this assumption.
Hi betty, sorry I'm confused by this sentence, did you actually mean to say that a lack of a sandbath purportedly can make sore noses more likely, not unlikely? jewels1171 Did you get to the bottom of it?
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Post by betty on Jul 25, 2021 4:02:02 GMT -8
Yes I did. Thank - I have changed it in my original post. Thanks - an apologies for any confusion anyone. The full sentence hopefully explained the mistake how it read.
This is why I always add a reason rather than just a statement - always helps spot an error and get a fuller picutre.
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), late 70s