Do you think she's sick?

MeganAndMisty · 11-26-2016, 05:09 PM

I haven't posted on here in so long it feels so strange!

For the past few weeks one of Miranda's eyes has been gooey and stuck shut when she wakes up she usually manages to open it by herself and at first I thought it was just normal I think I posted on here and someone told me just to wipe it. She didn't like me to wipe it so I didn't unless it was really bad, it didn't seem to cause her any pain so at first I wasn't that worried.

Then a few weeks ago her behavior started to change slowly. When Miranda was first brought home she was VERY active she'd run on her wheel for long periods of time and play with her toys. Lately she's hardly been coming out at all and if she does it's to get food or water and then she goes straight back to her nest. I put some bedding on top of her wheel about a week ago to see if she was using it and it's still there now.

I also noticed she's started making strange huffing / speaking sounds. And she does this constantly weather or not I'm in the room. She even does it as she eats.

She's also been a lot easier to handle which is strange since she hates being touched and picked up she seems really lethargic. Anyway, earlier I noticed that her other was sealed shut after she woke up, she managed to open them both eventually, and she's still making her weird noises.

What should I do, she's eating and drinking normally. So you think it's just the weather? I don't think I an afford to take her the vets at the moment unless she needs to be seen urgently. What do you think?

Rads · 11-26-2016, 05:38 PM

You could wash her eyes with a little saline solution or boiled water with a cotton bud, she could have conjunctivitis, have you changed any of her bedding/substrate at all??

MeganAndMisty · 11-26-2016, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rads

You could wash her eyes with a little saline solution or boiled water with a cotton bud, she could have conjunctivitis, have you changed any of her bedding/substrate at all??

I tried to wash her eyes with some wet tissue but she got really annoyed. I haven't changed her bedding it's the one that she's been on since I brought her home. I've also noticed her rubbing her face a lot I know that they do this when they're cleaning but she has been doing it a lot more than usual.

Rads · 11-26-2016, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeganAndMisty

I tried to wash her eyes with some wet tissue but she got really annoyed. I haven't changed her bedding it's the one that she's been on since I brought her home. I've also noticed her rubbing her face a lot I know that they do this when they're cleaning but she has been doing it a lot more than usual.

Hmm it does seem as though some thing is irritating her, could well be conjunctivitis that will itch and cause her eyes to glue them selves together with the discharge as she sleeps...
You may have to persevere with the cleaning of her eyes no matter how annoyed she gets at least using boiled water it is sterile..

cypher · 11-26-2016, 10:14 PM

Sticky eyes are a common problem, sometimes due to infection sometimes not & if it's not an actual infection then bathing with cotton wool buds soaked in warm water or saline works well, they don't like their eyes being bathed I know so it can be a bit tricky.
I would be more concerned by the noise she's making & change in behaviour, they do tend to stay in the nest a bit more in winter & can get a bit lazy but not lethargic, her change sounds more like she's unwell & the noise could indicate a problem with her sinuses possibly which may be connected to the eye problem or it could be her chest.
If you possibly can manage it I would get her to the vet.