floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 2, 2015 20:23:05 GMT
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floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 2, 2015 20:24:29 GMT
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floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 2, 2015 20:27:08 GMT
How warm did you have the solution? I was thinking that to have any warmer than lukewarm would be uncomfortable. Yet to have to too much cooler would also be unpleasant. Perhaps to use an Epsom solution saturated wrap/plaster that you could envelope the joint in, and then let her rest in a warmed towel while the joint is wrapped, would help her? oooh I hadn't thought of that! Will try that tomorrow b4 the feed/antibiotic mix so the handful of oats I have are more tempting. It was lukewarm-bordering on cold (tested on inside of my arm)
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 2, 2015 20:33:18 GMT
Oh, poor lamb. Did the vet say anything about the AB dose? I would maybe up it a bit, it's so hard to measure out accurately anyway. Errr well done for achieving any kind of bath soak, I have no idea how you would do that! Hope she enjoyed your tasty food creation.
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floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 2, 2015 20:39:58 GMT
If I'm brutally honest I've gave her 0.1ml anyway most days - I told the vet this on my first visit and he didn't say much but them proceeded to measure me exactly 0.06ml out on 5 pre-filled syringes she's had 0.1ml today. at 0.06ml nothing but a tiny drop comes out! Even when I remove air bubbles. I put mouse in a wide brimmed tea cup and allow her to but her front legs on the edge of the cup. Her bottom half seems rather wet but she dries within minutes. I think I will use a kitchen roll wet wrap tomorrow. She's had enough stress tonight. Yep she's eating well at least which is a relief
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 2, 2015 20:44:42 GMT
What a mean vet, I hate those syringes, you always lose half the dose, then you lose a bit more on your fingers and then a bit more on the degu's hands...
Interesting how fast she dries, I've never had a wet degu before!
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floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 2, 2015 22:00:45 GMT
He's not mean lol. He knows I have a stash at home left over from an ear injury (not mouse) I would have been annoyed if that's all I had and was orally giving. Mouse gets it in food and gobbles it up.
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Post by animalmadchloe on Feb 2, 2015 22:08:29 GMT
Poor mite would aloe vera gel be any good? For soothing....
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floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 2, 2015 22:18:29 GMT
Presuming she would eat it?! Are they allowed aloe Vera??? Hopefully the metcam injection has kicked in. She was really enjoying her heat mat a few minutes ago. She is getting lots and lots of sympathy from me
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Post by Karma on Feb 3, 2015 0:19:43 GMT
3 minutes is about what I got Einstein to sit still for his foot ...... I think it's a goo thing with their 10 second attention span
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floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 5, 2015 20:24:31 GMT
Mouse spent nearly all day at the vets yesterday and I'm a little frustrated.
They had to do two X-rays as the first one wasn't clear enough. He said at first it may be broken but after the second x-ray thought Mouses leg was just sprained.
I asked about infection and they said there was no puncture marks so thought it wasn't. We reiterated that there was certainly a bite that started all this (I saw the blood - there was plenty and the teeth marks) It is almost two weeks no wonder there are no holes. They then said the initial antibiotic would have sorted any infection. I'm frustrated as we all know you can't say that 100% and the fact they weren't taking the bite into consideration.
Mouse has been sent home with some oral painkillers (finally) and that's it.
Mouses leg is getting bigger by the day, it's like a mini balloon now and I'm still so worried.
Do others think I should get a second opinion? Should I see how the next few days go? The cost is quickly mounting up, I looked at Degu insurance just the other week and decided not to take it. Wish I had now.
Mouse is sort of dragging her leg now when running around then lifts it when she is on her wheel. She seems happy enough in herself and LOVES the snuggle safe (so cute!!!!!)
I have given her another epsom salt bath today (I couldn't get the wrap thing to work as her leg popped straight back out)
I'm just a bit lost what to do. I had in my mind the leg would be broken or there would be an infection/abscess we had to tackle.
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floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 5, 2015 20:36:28 GMT
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floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 5, 2015 20:36:39 GMT
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Post by ntg on Feb 5, 2015 21:16:04 GMT
Get a second opinion as soon as possible. That is horrendous how the vet has treated this injury as there is obviously something more going on than a sprain or you would have seen improvement by now.
Is the area hot to the touch?
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Post by ntg on Feb 5, 2015 21:35:21 GMT
I showed this to my flatmate (well experienced with animal injuries) and she thought exactly the same as me - it's very likely to be a compound fracture or similar break. It might be worthwhile, if you can, to get your previous xrays and take them to the second vet to look at and see if he's missed something without having to have more xrays taken.
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floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 5, 2015 21:40:37 GMT
I will be ringing a vets I have just found first thing in the morning (an exotic vets they specifically say on their website they treat Degus)
Thanks for your help.
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floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 5, 2015 21:42:44 GMT
Sorry, yes for a second opinion, says on the website they will need full history and xrays etc and they will contact the vet practice to save me time. My husband is worried we will "upset" our local vet. I told him to stop being daft and if this was the case I don't care!!
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floss
Foraging Degu
Posts: 86
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Post by floss on Feb 5, 2015 21:54:05 GMT
Get a second opinion as soon as possible. That is horrendous how the vet has treated this injury as there is obviously something more going on than a sprain or you would have seen improvement by now. Is the area hot to the touch? I can't really tell any difference in heat between the back legs (Mouse generally feels nice and warm) although I haven't persisted as she doesn't want me touching it. It feels very hard, there is no indentation when i gently feel it.
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Post by ntg on Feb 5, 2015 23:26:45 GMT
A bit strange, with swelling you'd expect it to be a little fluid-y and spongy. Abscesses are the ones which tend to be hard lumps. Hopefully this vet will have more of a clue for you; poor little Mouse has been through the mill the past couple of weeks.
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 6, 2015 11:46:41 GMT
I agree that a second opinion is the best idea. Wait and see is a legitimate course of action quite often, but not when it is getting worse and no actual treatment is in progress.
It is a bit puzzling that some things point to structural damage and others to infection. I completely agree that swelling to protect an injury should be 'squishy' and that infection is usually hard. When my degus have had leg strains, I think we are up to about 4 occasions now, there has never been any noticeable swelling. So perhaps this means there is likely to either be a break, or an infection or both. It is a little odd that it hasn't responded at all to the ABs if it is infection, but not impossible. TBH I don't think it should be that difficult to get a decent xray to rule in or out a break, and to do a tiny biopsy to see if it is an abcess.
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