URGENT!! Pixie has wound to top of back leg!

[savvy]

Urgent advice needed!

Got home today to find that Pixie has what looks like a scratch to the top part of his left leg. The wound looks clean although there is some fur missing.

He is rather subdued, but happy to take treats from my hand.

Should I get him to the vet? Is there anything I can do at home.

[bouncy]

Clean the wound in salt water.

I presume there's no more bleeding? How is he on the leg? Any limping or favouring?

[savvy]

He seems fine on the leg, just turning every so then to look at it. There's no limping and I can't see any blood in the cage. He's eating and drinking normally and has been in the sand bath.

They were fighting this morning (Dixie trying to mount Pixie and Pixie not having any of it) and I'm not sure if its the result of a bout so I've separated them by means of a perspex sheet across the gap in the centre tray (they are in an Aventura cage) so they can see each other but can't get to each other. This is the only way I can separate them until I can get to the shop tomorrow and pick up something better. Or move the cage so they can go side by side but separately.

I spoke to the vet who advised separation and said that I shouldn't keep two males together as they would fight to the death even if its not breeding season! Even when I said they had been together three and a half years, he refused to let me book an appointment to get him checked over.

[bouncy]

Well he's a helpful vet!

If it's a nice clean wound and he doesn't seem bothered by it, I would just keep an eye on it. Avoid the sand bath for a couple of days, and keep checking it. If you see any swelling, or the leg starts to feel hot, then take him to the vet ASAP, as this could indicate infection.

[uglibug]

What nonsense from the vet!!! Our boys live together very happily and have been for years. Personally I would be loath to keep them separately for any length of time because it could cause reintroduction problems. As long as the wound is clean and it's not bothering him I would personally leave them together to sort it out, just keep an eye out for FBOD fighting, a few cuts and scratches are fairly normal.

[savvy]

So should I remove the barrier and let them be together?

Silly question, but whats FBOD fighting? And how does this differ from what they're already doing?

They've have spats before but I am not sure if this was inflicted by Pixie or if its something he's done throwing himself around the cage.

[saddlers]

FBOD is the fur ball of death, normally if fighting is noisy then it is okay, the furball is exactly as described ....things go quiet and they will lock together in a ball and just roll around the cage..this is when they do real damage each other. Advice would be to get a water spray and towel ready and then let them get back together, you will see if the fighting escalates but try not to squirt the water too early they may need to sort their differences out. If they do get into a fur ball spray the water at them and they should separate throw the towel over one of them which keeps them separate and stops them getting beck together then scoop up the degu under the towel. This also stops you getting bitten in the process. The idea is to understand at what point they are going to fur ball and then if there is a next time you will know what indicators to look out for. Don't worry if you squirt too early I used to be terrible at first...but do try and let them kick, punch etc if they need to.

[savvy]

Thanks Saddlers, I'll go and remove the barrier and have the spray bottle and towel ready. To date, their fighting is either playful which means they get distracted by grooming each other, or you can hear it all over the flat.

I'm still a bit new to degus. Cats and bristish wildlife in general I know a fair bit about (used to do wildlife rescue), but degus is new to me.

[saddlers]

In that case I would definitely get them back together they are more likely to react badly if kept separate....at least you now have the emergency fight kit ready

[savvy]

Just put them back together, following each other around the cage and attempting to mount just like they were this morning. They have only been apart for a couple of hours. There's been a bit of tail waving and a bit of a spat (hind legs and leaping apart - again what they were doing this morning)

But even though Dixie has let Pixie sniff his wound, they seem wary of each other, but the chasing seems mutual ascin when one stops and moves to another part of the cage, the other one goes looking for him.

Wait.... they've just started grooming each other.

[saddlers]

Ooh sounds promising, just keep an eye on them

[bouncy]

I just can't get over the attitude of your vet! Obviously doesn't know much about goos. Perhaps worth seeing if there's an alternative nearby?

[savvy]

I know I'm getting paranoid here, but Pixie is laying on the tube, squeeking to himself while Dixie is on the other side of the cage. Dixie (the injured one) seems to be the agresser.

They did have a tumble on the bottom of the cage while chasing, and I think he was a little shaken, but he appears to be moving around OK. He won't let me groom him, but that's normal for Pixie, and doesn't run away when I put my hand near him. I can't see any obvious injuries.

Sorry to harp on, but should I be worried or is this just stress after being separated?

[savvy]

Feb 19, 2016 21:28:05 GMT bouncy said:

I just can't get over the attitude of your vet! Obviously doesn't know much about goos. Perhaps worth seeing if there's an alternative nearby?

He knew they were rodents but I think that's about all, he kept insisting that I had a female which was causing the boys to fight.

Think I'll check with my local vet teaching hospital and see if we can train a few up.

[bouncy]

Don't worry, they're tough little things. Just because they're not cuddling, doesn't mean they've fallen out again.

If he's not favouring the leg, there's no FBOD, and there's no sign of infection, let them sort it out between them.

[savvy]

Thanks all.

Peace or is it exhaustion seems to have broken out.

I know I get paranoid about them, but I suffer from PTSD so my reactions can go a little off the wall at times and panic mode sets in, especially when it comes to my babies.

The cat has had 19years of it, the goos may have to either get used to it or take lessons from Dibble.

[saddlers]

Debug fights are enough to cause anyone stress.......you need to experience one to settle you down for when they next occur. I used to be terrible, and my daughter still hates the sound of them fighting, but I have learned it is just part and parcel of their social behaviour. The noisier it is the less violent it is

[moletteuk]

It is very stressful, totally normal to feel freaked out by it!

Keep a close eye on them today if you can, hopefully they will settle a bit as they bond and make up again, if the tension seems to escalate you may have a little bit more of a problem. Sometimes a distraction can help, maybe you could throw in a heap of twigs or mess up the cage and give them something to focus on. If it all gets too much for you or them, it is OK to give them a time out or short separation.

[savvy]

Thanks all.

Today they seem to be having a duvet day, loads of stretching, yarning, jostling for position and then curling up again after a couple of chirrups and a quick groom, not to mention breakfast in bed! They have had a little chase around the cage and a rear up on hind legs at each other, but not for long.

Pixie is lying in full view so he's not hiding like he was yesterday and I can't see any swelling or redness to the wound, which looks smaller today. Both are eating and drinking normally.

I did put my hand in to encourage Pixie to move and his leg seems fine when he's moving around on it. I've got to deep clean the cage later today which always distracts them and I'm going to take out one of the wooden bridges they've chewed as it looks like they've chewed one of the pieces to a sharpish point.

[saddlers]

I would be hesitant in doing a "deep" clean whilst they are having a bit of a spat. By all means clean them out and distract them, but I would hold off with a deep clean at the moment, the loss of scents could cause more problems.