Duprasi are getting more and more popular – and as more people talk about keeping them on groups and forums – we are starting to notice that duprasi get sore eyes quite a bit.
They can be just closed, a bit crusty, weeping, with red tears or having hair loss. These all have different reasons – and here are the most common explanations for each.
Why Are My Doops Eyes Closed?
Quite often, your duprasi might wake up and have one of both eyes stuck closed.
This is usually nothing at all to worry about – usually just having woken up after sleeping on it in a silly position – it will open itself after a few minutes of so (sometimes longer).
As long as your doops isn’t pawing at it more than just the odd time, it isn’t swollen, overly red or causing them distress – just leave them to it. Nothing ever came about of any of ours with sticky shut eyes after waking up – however if it happens all the time and for longer, a trip to the vets or a change of substrate might not be a bad idea?
Why Does My Doop Have Crusty Eyes?
If you notice that your duprasi has crusty bits on their eyes either closed or open – especially if they have been awake for ages – this could indicate something that is irritating them – or has done.
You can get a cotton bud rinsed in warm water and wipe over the eye (moving away from the eyeball) and see if the bits come off easily. However if they aren’t annoying your doop, perhaps you should leave them there to avoid any risk (eye crust can be really hard).
If you notice that eye crust happens a lot or the eyes are a bit weepy (with clear fluid) it may be that the substrate you are using just doesn’t suit them, or they are getting to excited about a left in sand bath? So changing the substrate and only using sand for short periods could clear this up in a few weeks.
Weirdly each doop is specific to their issues and we often hear that what irritates one doop’s eyes is what cures another doops eyes?
My Doop’s Eyes Are Bleeding!!!
It is very frightening when you first see red stuff coming out of your doops eyes – but don’t worry – it isn’t blood.
Gerbils produce a red secretion called porphyrin when they are ‘stressed’.
This can mean they are irritated by something in their environment (possibly their substrate) not settled in their home (too noisy, draughty, hot, etc) not getting on with their tank-mate (doops can get grumpy with a friend even after 2 years or more of happiness) or are having health issues like loss of sight or hearing or are in pain.
All of these things can cause ‘biological stress’ and result in red liquid in or around the eyes and nose. It is an irritant too, so can lead to sore and bald skin over time.
Basically you need to get to the bottom of it to find out what is causing the issue before it get worse. Usually best is to start by checking the teeth (front ones still present and meeting), tail (not shrivelled, skinny or sore) and poops (nice a solid and well shaped) – then move onto reducing or changing the bedding type/sand bath frequency.
If sharing with another doop – check over the skin for tiny scabs or bites – which if found could mean that they need to part company (or move to a larger enclosure with more doubling up of things including wheels and water bottles).
If the red discharge is great, continues for weeks or starts to cause damage to the fur, nose and/or face – then a trip to the vets is a must as this could indicate something internal may be causing the ‘stress’ – something you can’t see or wish away.
Eye trouble very often turns out to be an underlying health issue.
My Duprasi Has Swollen Eyes?
Sometimes you may notice your duprasi have slightly sticky-out eyeballs or there is a sort of bluey blob sticking out of the eyes by the tear glands.
Sticky out eyeballs is called boggling in rats and other rodents and is caused by the jaw muscles being flexed a sign of excitment (?).
If this is the same with doops – which so far it has turned out to be – then we are all good.
However, if your doop has swollen eyes all the time, or along with any other symptoms or behaviours, then it could be in discomfort and needs to see a vet to check for anything major.
My Doop Has Funny-Looking Eyes?
Sometimes your doops eyes will look funny – like they have rings around them or that some of the fur around them is missing – this could be one of two things.
Firstly, it could just be a weird moult – especially so if there is no irritation or redness around the eyes themselves – and this should grow back to normal within a few days.
Secondly – and most likely – it could be a reaction to something in the environment. This could be anything that they have come in contact with over the past few days including the same substrate they have been using for months – just a different bag of it.
Gerbils in general can be very sensitive to anything – and unfortunately every bag or pack of something can be different – even if it is the same brand. Changing ingredients especially if the ingredients/contents showing are vague like the word ‘herbs’ can be next to useless for continuity – as well as how something is stored by the supplier like products in a shop window – terrible.
Can be fine one bag/tube/pack and allergy-inducing the next if stored or packed incorrectly.
Do I Call The Vet For My Doop?
Basically – your doop means everything to you – so although most of the time there is no need to get veterinary treatment – we would never advise anyone not to go to the vets for themselves.
We aren’t vets and every doop is different – so do whatever you feel is needed to make YOU happy about this.
If that is to get a second opinion from the gerbil community, then get some good pictures and get them online first – it could be something simple for sure.
But if you would rather have a wasted visit to the vets and everything is alright – than have no visit to the vets and regret it – then that should be that.
Try to find yourself a small exotic pet specialist where possible – as although ordinary vets will see any animal for simple pain relief or check up – vets with less practice with smalls will only be able to offer less services obviously – so optical specialisms and such operations would be beyond them. Like you could probably run a service to fill up a car with fuel and plan a suitable route to take – but you couldn’t fly someone in a jumbo jet.
Extreme example I know – but if they have never even treated a duprasi (or anything similar) before – how can they offer a great service checking delicate eyes or offering proven treatments for them?
Sometimes though, you have no choice – and an animal in pain seen by a cat or rabbit specialist might be your next best thing. You can’t leave an animal in pain a moment more than necessary – but you can get a diagnosis off someone else later.