It is normal for them lose the hair on their nose and lips in the case of
an irritation like this. When I was a new owner and used pine bedding, I
had 3 sisters balding almost out to where their whiskers start. It makes
sense that the siblings would all be showing the same symptoms as allergies
can be inherited, or they may have some trait that made them more
susceptible to the irritation.
To determine the cause once and for all, or at least to rule out the
bedding, I would remove all the current bedding (I don't remember what you
are using) rinse the tanks with hot water, dry them out, and put the
gerbils on plain paper only. Any kind of tissue will do- kleenex, toilet
paper, napkins- use white only so there are no dyes to worry about. It is
also worth it to invest in some of the cheap tissue products for this- they
are much less dusty when shredded than the more expensive kinds, as the
dust may irritate them as well. Give them at least a week on paper only and
watch for improvement. It the bedding is the irritant you should see a
change by then. If there's no change, then you know it's something else.
Housing on plain paper will necessitate more frequent cleaning. Good luck!
Jill
----------
> From: george champlin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: more on the bloody noses
> Date: Tuesday, November 28, 2000 10:01 PM
>
> I am very new to rodents. I feel very stupid with
> some of my questions but I've only had my hamster
> about 3 or so months and my gerbils only a month or
> so. Anyway, after more careful examination, I have
> realized that it isn't really their noses.....on the
> three gerbils that are really bad looking it's hard to
> even see their noses because everything just looks red
> and sore but from looking at my newest gerbil
> Peanutbutter who hasn't been affected, below his
> actual nostrils are I guess the "lip" area around his
> mouth......well, that is the area that is really
> irritated on the other gerbils. Peanutbutter has
> white fur there but the others have lost their fur
> between their mouth and nostrils, it's so irritated
> that the nose and mouth area seem to run together, so
> I thought it was their nose but really it's the mouth
> area between the nostrils and mouth. So, does this
> change things? Does anyone think that it may be
> something different that the dry heat or an allergy to
> bedding? The one female gerbil Oreo(She's shiny
> black with a thin white strip running from her chin to
> the middle of her chest) looks significantly better
> but the other two do not. Doesn't it seems strange
> that the three that are most affected are the three
> siblings? I thought that my hamsters were starting to
> get sore noses but they seem to be fine. Until this
> panic with my gerbils I never really examined any of
> my animals very close, so I don't think it was
> anything out of the ordinary with them but my gerbils
> definitely have a problem. I bought vitamins for them
> today, I don't know if that will help but I thought it
> couldn't hurt.
>
> I just really love my little guys and gals and hate
> the thought of them suffering.
>
> Thanks,
> Coriena
>
> =====
> GEOCHAMP
>
>
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