F.A.Q Gerbils

My gerbil has a crusty nose that sometimes has a bloody discharge. What should I do?

You should take your gerbils along to a vet's to find out what is causing your gerbil's problems.

Nasal dermatitis ('sore nose' or ‘facial dermatitis’) is quite common in gerbils , especially where there are lots of gerbils kept in overcrowded conditions. It usually begins as small crusty areas around the gerbil’s nose, which can progress to involve the face, front paws and underneath.

Stress also induces an excess secretion of porphyrins from the Harderian glands in the eye. These red-coloured chemicals are normally removed continuously as gerbils groom themselves with their forepaws. If the porphyrins build up around the gerbil’s nose they become very irritant and can cause the gerbil to harm itself. These wounds in turn can become infected with bacteria.

Stress factors include overcrowding and high humidity as well as incorrect environmental temperature. Stressed gerbils also tend to spend more of their time burrowing and therefore more likely to develop facial grazes.

In addition, if the gerbil’s bedding is too harsh, this can cause injuries to the gerbil’s nose as it borrows through it.

A fine sand bath can also encourage the gerbil to groom itself.