What happens when gerbils have red stuff in their eyes?
Porphyrin Deposits in Gerbils In gerbils, in times of stress, the unbound porphyrin can leave deposits in the tear ducts, causing red colored stains around the eyes and nose as the tinted tear fluid leaves the eyes. These stains are often mistaken for blood, and must be differentiated.
What is wrong with my gerbils eye?
Eye Infections If your gerbils’ eyes are swollen, puffy, red or runny, they might be suffering from an eye infection. This could be due to your pet having something stuck in its eye – a piece of hay, for example.
Why do gerbils get tumors?
Male gerbils kept with other males are particularly prone to scent gland tumours which is caused by excessive marking of territory. It usually starts off just looking like a pimple, and sometimes never develops beyond this stage, but sometimes it grows rapidly and starts to bleed.
Do gerbils need a friend?
Pet gerbils need friends just as their wild counterparts do. Left on their own, gerbils become stressed and unhappy – playing with humans will not satisfy the full range of their instinctive needs. So, always opt for a pair, or buy your solitary gerbil a friend of the same species as soon as possible.
Why do Gerbils have pink and red eyes?
Albinism is the result of a specific genetic mutation that gets rid of melanin. The same genetic change can even happen to people. You can get white gerbils, and they even have pink or red eyes like albinos.
Is there such a thing as a white gerbil?
You can get white gerbils, and they even have pink or red eyes like albinos. But they aren’t albino. Instead, the change in coat color is caused by different, complicated genetic changes. These gerbils are pure white. They look like lab mice, but in the shape of gerbils.
What should I do about my gerbil’s swollen eye?
Determine the appropriate treatment. Depending on your gerbil’s diagnosis, your vet may recommend antibiotic eye drops or ointment that you apply to the area several times a day. The vet may also try to remove any irritants or obstructions in your gerbil’s eye to reduce the swelling and irritation.
What’s the phenotype of a blue eyed gerbil?
It isn’t visible in your appearance, your phenotype, but if you marry a blue-eyed person and have children, statistically half of your children will be blue-eyed and half brown-eyed. Agouti is the original color of wild gerbils. An agouti gerbil will have a brown coat with black ticking and a white belly.
Why does my gerbil have red stuff in his eyes?
This occurs because the gerbil’s eyes keep running, because of its allergy. This can look quite worrying, because gerbils’ eyes run red when this happens. The red stuff isn’t blood, but a substance called porphyrin. This is a product of hemoglobin, but doesn’t mean your gerbil’s eyes are actually bleeding.
You can get white gerbils, and they even have pink or red eyes like albinos. But they aren’t albino. Instead, the change in coat color is caused by different, complicated genetic changes. These gerbils are pure white. They look like lab mice, but in the shape of gerbils.
Determine the appropriate treatment. Depending on your gerbil’s diagnosis, your vet may recommend antibiotic eye drops or ointment that you apply to the area several times a day. The vet may also try to remove any irritants or obstructions in your gerbil’s eye to reduce the swelling and irritation.
What causes a gerbil to change its color?
Gerbils can change color. Color changes are usually related to age. So, for example, a gerbil will develop darker fur as it ages, or its pattern will become more pronounced. Take nutmeg gerbils, for example, which are a slightly darker and deeper brown than agoutis.
Why do gerbils eyes swell?
If your gerbils’ eyes are swollen, puffy, red or runny, they might be suffering from an eye infection. This could be due to your pet having something stuck in its eye – a piece of hay, for example. If your pet appears to be in pain then we recommend taking them to the vets so that they can get the proper treatment.
What does it mean when a gerbil has a bloody nose?
Red nose in gerbils is a condition called nasal dermatitis. It’s caused by the gerbil’s Harderian gland overproducing porphyrin (a red fluid that looks like blood). This leads to irritation, inflammation, and sores around the nasal area. It is usually triggered by an allergy, bacterial infection, stress, or illness.
Is it OK to pick up a gerbil by its tail?
To pick up a gerbil, the base of the tail should be gripped. Never attempt to pick up a gerbil by the end of the tail because the tuft and tail skin may pull off. The hamster should be fully away before attempting to pick it up.
Can gerbils get sick?
Gerbils are hardy rodent pets that rarely get sick, but one disease that they are particularly susceptible to is Tyzzer’s disease. Once your gerbil gets this disease, he or she will need a lot of care to help him or her pull through.
Why is my gerbils face swollen?
How do you treat a gerbil wound?
If you suspect your gerbil has a wound, change the bedding to towels to prevent infection. Arrange to take your gerbil to the vet as soon as possible for antibiotics. If you are not able to get to your vet within 24 hours, clean the wound with salt water or diluted Hibiscrub to reduce the risk of infection.
