Why does my gerbil have recurring red nose crusts and hair loss?

Thanks for reaching out about Ghost and including a photo. By the looks of the picture, a fungal dermatitis (ringworm) should be considered. This is contagious to other rodents and possibly humans. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. AS this is close to the eye, systemic anti-fungal medications are preferred as opposed to topicals that might get into the eye. Good luck.

I am sorry to hear about Peanut. The most common cause of a sore on the nose in a gerbil is a condition called "sore nose" or "nasal dermatitis" and can be related to stress, high humidity levels in the cage, or trauma due to excessive burrowing or injury on cage. I would recommend bringing Peanut to a vet to confirm this is what is affecting Peanut. If the case is mild, they may prescribe a topical antibiotic creme or ointment to apply. In severe cases, oral or injectable antibiotics may be necessary. You can read more about this condition at: https://www.petcoach.co/article/nasal-dermatitis-sore-nose-of-gerbils/ Best of luck to you and Peanut!

Hi, and thanks for your question. This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria or fungal). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics or antifungal meds (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can eventually be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

It's possible there could be an injury to the nose or some dried-on discharge. I would use a clean washcloth to gently remove the debris and see if it returns. If it does return or Stuart shows any additional signs of illness, scheduling a vet checkup to rule out issues such as an injury or respiratory issue is best.

That could be just an injury but it could also be the start of a tumor. Gerbils kept in a wire cage will often spend hours chewing on the cage bars, and this will rub off fur and irritate the nose. The simplest solution to do is keep your gerbil in an aquarium with glass sides. Glad you changed the bowl. I hope you got one that is ceramic or glass - that way she can't chew it. Do you have chew blocks for her? http://www.oxbowanimalhealth.com/our-products/hay/harvest-stacks-western-timothy-with-carrots https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/you-and-me-wood-chew-sticks-for-small-animals She may need a better diet. I don't know what you are feeding her but I suggest you use a premium diet like Oxbow. This may curb her chewing on other things. https://www.petsmart.com/small-pet/food-treats-and-hay/food/oxbow-essentials-healthy-handfuls-hamster-and-gerbil-food-5173696.html I, of course, would recommend you take Yuki to a vet for an exam. If you don't want to do that just yet I suggest you just monitor the nose for now. Do not apply anything to the nose topically because Yuki will just lick it off and ingesting those topical medications would not be good for her. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! When I see patients like this the first thing I do is a skin scrape to check for residual parasites like mites (which I suspect here) If none are found, often I will do a culture to make sure no resistant bacteria or fungi (like ringworm-another possibility high in the list) infect the skin, and if so what kind. Thank you for attaching pictures! It is very helpful to us. The "blood" that you are seeing is likely a secretion called porphyrin...it can be released due to stress or illness. I hope this information helps! If you need further assistance or would like a consult please don't hesitate to ask.

This could be local infection or trauma caused by a cagemate. Separate him if you can and see if the hair loss resolves. Use as dust free a bedding as possible to prevent sneezing. Monitor for lethargy, nasal discharge or decreased appetite. He may need to be physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose respiratory infection and have antibiotics dispensed.