I wanted to clean my gerbils and people said the best way is to use chinchilla sand. well its been about 1 hour after i took it out of their cage and their noses are red and a look a little gross with some porphyrin or mucus around them. Please help what do i do????????????
2007-08-23 11:59:27 · 6 answers · asked by M K 2 in Pets ➔ Rodents
i have 2 they are both female and about 4 months old.
2007-08-23 12:03:34 · update #1
take a paper towel, and wet it with warm water. then wring it out and pet you gerbiles with it. then clean the cage. this will remove all of the stuff. dont use that stuff, its abd for hasmters and gerbiles.
usde the damp paper towel... much better.
2007-08-23 12:14:07 · answer #1 · answered by teenage average 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Argh.
Sand will get into their nose and eyes, and irritate them. Never give a gerbil sand, or any dusty bedding.
Clean the bedding, use paper, carefresh or similar (not wood shavings, many gerbils are allergic), so there's NO trace of sand. Brush your gerbils fur off gently too.
Luckily, your gerbils will be just fine.. don't do this again though. Their age means they'll revover easily. Give them fresh fruit and veg, and their usual foods. The porphyrin should clear up completely in 1 - 2 weeks. My gerbil was allergic to wood shavings (hence I found out), and hers was cleared up in around 2 weeks. She does still get a small amount from time to time, but it doesn't seem to bother her, and she's healthy. If there's still porphyrin there after a month, take them (or the 1 who hasn't cleared) to the vet, she/they'll probably need some antibiotics.
Given their age, I'd say they should be fine though.
Gerbil care site: http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/
2007-08-23 19:21:07 · answer #2 · answered by ratlover_littlemonster 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Check the phone book, call a vet office and ask if they are knowledgeable about gerbils and rodents, then ask to talk to one of the vets on the phone and describe what happened. They can give you an answer and suggestions to work with.
There are also rat and rodent bulletin boards that gerbil owners frequent where this question can be asked and you can get good responses to from people who have had their pets for years.
2007-08-23 19:04:47 · answer #3 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
They are allergic to it. Take them out and clean out the cage again, this time using shreded paper and bedding. That should help them out, if its still bad in half an hour, give then less than a fourth of an allergy pill. It will be strong to them so you need hardly any.
2007-08-23 19:04:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
well, hey are most likely allergic to some of the ingredents of the sand, call your vet, and don't use that sand again!
2007-08-23 19:05:01 · answer #5 · answered by Hedgi Hufflepuff 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
they are allergic to it
2007-08-23 19:26:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋