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My gerbil has a raw red spot on her claws. What could ...


Sent to Pet Experts April 03, 2007 6:41 p.m.

My gerbil has a raw red spot on her claws. What could have caused this? How can I treat her paw?

Optional Information:
Age: <1; Female; Breed: Gerbil

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Status: Closed   Value: $9   
Answer
April 04, 2007 4:05 p.m. (21 hours and 24 minutes later)
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This could be caused by several things. One such cause is mites or fleas. She could have been biting the area to get relief from small mites that embed themselves much as fleas and ticks do on larger animals. If you look here you can find a treatment for your her:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=11178&N=2007+113626

If the area is raw then it must be treated soon. You can treat this much as you would on yourself or other animals with medicines like:

  • Wound disinfectant such as Betadine or Povidone
  • Triple antibiotic ointment for skin
  • Sterile saline
  • A probiotic gel such as BeneBac, LactoBac, Probios, or Fastrack
  • You want the area clean and medicated so that it will not become infected. You may need to make a small bandage out of sterile gauze and paper tape to keep your gerbil from gnawing at it even more,but watch this carefully to make sure she does not ingest any of the bandage (paper tape is much better than most other medical tapes that have more adhesive). If this does not begin to heal within a few days, I would take her in to a vet for a physical examine. Make sure to check the bandage daily to make sure she is not eating it and the wound is covered. Change as needed.

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