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Post by moletteuk on Apr 14, 2024 9:07:44 GMT
Oh no! Could a vet do anything other than amputate? If not I would keep monitoring, watch him closely for lethargy because I think there might be a sepsis risk if it goes bad.
Did you enjoy your hols?
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 14, 2024 9:47:14 GMT
I don't think there's much else they could do. I believe in other animals they could try a steroid shot, but I've heard that degus don't react well to steroids (I think on here). Maybe a shot of an anti-inflammatory or prescribing an antitiobtic if it looks infected.
I'll definitely keep a close eye out! I checked him a few hours ago (yay for being on the wrong time zone!) and there was no increase in swelling or change in temperature. He was ridiculously active last night. Could be the addition of another pain med, but not sure.
I did a quick sterile saline soak last night. I'll probably try an Epsom salt soak in an hour or so, that should help bring down the swelling, correct?
I did! The weather didn't cooperate the first week, but the second week was gorgeous! Definitely need to go back to a few of the cities on my own. I love my brothers, but we spent a lot of time focusing on what they might want to do, rather than what I would have preferred. They didn't ask for that, but I revert back to older sister when I'm with them, haha.
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Post by bouncy on Apr 14, 2024 10:29:21 GMT
Oh Q! I wouldn't panic yet, seeing as his behaviour is normal. His foot is still warm, he's charging around, and you're giving pain meds that are also antiinflammatory. Even in humans, swelling from an injury can take days to go down, especially if he's not resting. As long as his foot doesn't go cold or something else happens, I'd let him tell you if it's a problem. I'm assuming the skin wasn't broken? Fleece causing try this problem is virtually unheard of, especially compared to other fabrics. Was there any stitching in the fabric? If so, I'm sure this is what wrapped around his leg
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 14, 2024 10:36:54 GMT
I thought I read somewhere that swelling usually peaks 48-72 hours after injury and can take quite a bit of time to resolve. Fingers crossed he's peaked already! Doesn't look like the skin was broken, but there are some areas along his toes that are a bit raw looking. Not sure if that happened while he was trying to free himself or whether he's been pulling fur. He's pulled the fur near that knee and the skin looks a bit aggravated. But he originally pulled the fur a few weeks ago before we started him on all the good meds. Ah sorry, I clearly shouldn't try to be coherent while sleep deprived It was a fleece rectangle sewn closed. It was the threading that caused the issue!
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Post by bouncy on Apr 14, 2024 10:45:56 GMT
If you're going to use sewn things (and you you're making them), try using 100% cotton thread instead of normal polyester. It's not as strong!
Yeah, soft tissue injuries can take longer than bones to heal!
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 14, 2024 11:06:54 GMT
Epsom salt soak is worth a try. Im my experience degus do well with steroid shots, but obviously milage will vary, hopefully it won't be required. Glad you had a good holiday, I think you might need to work on your older sister game, you should have a browbeating card for at least occasional use!
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 14, 2024 11:07:35 GMT
I am not at all handy with these types of things, so it was purchased But I'll definitely keep that in mind for the future! They definitely do! I twisted my ankle last year, no fracture or serious tears, and it was months before the swelling was gone!
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 14, 2024 11:10:08 GMT
My Epsom salts apparently have mint and rosemary essential oils... so I'll have to go grab some plain from the store. Fingers crossed it won't be! He's currently running in the wheel again. And the pain meds haven't had a chance to kick in yet, so thats hopefully a good sign!
Hah! The browbeating was mainly used to get them to even tell me what they wanted to do or eat!
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 14, 2024 13:02:24 GMT
Here are some photos of his foot. It happened on 4/12, sometime between 8:00-16:30. I don't have pictures of his toes from Saturday, but it does look like he might have been worrying at them. I'll try to take another picture at the same angle my petsitter did, but he's eating at the moment! The knee and leg he had already removed fur from. The redness kind of looks more like skin irritation, I think he was bothering that as well. His arthritis seems to be worse in that leg. photos.app.goo.gl/TEXPUk92cM86DoRV8 I got some epsom salt and will try that soon. Thoughts? I know it doesn't look great, but he's definitely active and putting weight on it. Edit: just added a few more (unlabeled) photos from today, right after a bit of an Epsom salt soak. I also accidentally labelled everything as March because I forgot it's mid-April!
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Post by bouncy on Apr 14, 2024 16:40:34 GMT
To me, it looks like a lot of the redness is from friction from the thread, and his attempts to try and loosen it. It's not half as swollen as I thought it would be (remember Spud's foot?) so I would take the redness as a guide. The stuff particularly on his leg should be more normal (if still no bald) after a week
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 14, 2024 16:51:37 GMT
That's definitely possible. It sounds like he had the whole mound of fleece around his ankle and had moved between at least one level like that.
Hm, I'll have to look at your pictures again, I don't think I remember Spuds foot. But glad it's not as badly swollen as I thought!
Just checked the foot again, it feels like it's the same temperature as his other foot. Hoping it stays there!
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 14, 2024 18:47:31 GMT
As long as he doesn't start nibbling at it too much then I'm quite hopeful it should be OK, there's obviously good blood flow, does look sore though, poor Q!
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 14, 2024 18:53:30 GMT
Yeah, that's one of my concerns for sure! I'm hoping that the multiple pain meds will keep him from doing anything more than pulling fur. Yeah, poor Q has had a rough go of it recently.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 15, 2024 0:47:19 GMT
Looks like he's going to lose one of his toenails. I wouldn't think that's uncommon with an injury? I know if can happen from impact injuries, just not sure if its a bad sign when it's from constriction/blood loss instead.
The foot is not warm, it's still similar in temp to the other foot. It doesn't feel cold, but kind of on the cooler side (again, similar to the other).
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Post by bouncy on Apr 15, 2024 2:12:40 GMT
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 15, 2024 8:21:55 GMT
Thanks for the picture, Bouncy! And yeah, that looks a bit more swollen than Q's foot!
I want to go check on him now, but it's 4am and he would not be happy to be woken up this early. I did check on him at 3am yesterday and I don't think he's forgiven me for that yet, haha. Yay for jet lag!
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 15, 2024 10:58:37 GMT
Ok, added a few more pictures from this morning. I'm going to clean him up a bit (he likes to walk through the critical care) and take some more. The foot is the same temperature and I think the same color. If I have to take Newt in, I think I'd want to take Q in too. photos.app.goo.gl/TEXPUk92cM86DoRV8It looks like he has some redness/bruising in the area between his cone and anus. Looking back, it seems like it was there last night, but I don't know when it appeared. I've attached a picture of this as well. Cause for concern? Edit: the vet asked for pictures, waiting to hear back. The vet who's most familiar with this case is out today, but tech (the one whos been so amazing with Q and Tom) said she'd text her. The tech asked immediately how he was doing, said she'd been worried all weekend! Which is super sweet!
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Post by bouncy on Apr 15, 2024 15:05:05 GMT
To me, the foot is looking a bit better, but that may just be the angle. The bit around his bum depends on whether it was there before. If he was tugging away trying to get free from the thread, I can imagine it causing chaffing. My only concern would be the hygiene of the area whilst it heals.
If you're going in with Newt anyway, though, I'd take him along for the ride. My own vet doesn't charge extra to look at both at the same time.
Don't you just love those cc paws! I get them all over sudoku books, phone screen, clothes ....
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 15, 2024 16:06:11 GMT
The foot looks a bit darker and crustier to me, hopefully that means it's healing(?) No idea about his bum. If you part the fur on his tummy is the skin a normal colour? I think any bluey purple colour on the underside of the body is a sepsis indicator.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 15, 2024 16:45:16 GMT
I feel like at some angles, it looks lighter, some angles the foot is darker. It was a but crusty, but I wonder if that was cause I soaked it and stuff got stuck? I cleaned it off and the crusties near his toes was CC/maybe some bedding that got stuck.
I'll check his belly again when I get home, but I don't think I saw any more of that bruising/redness. His furless leg is looking less irritated to me.
My vet unfortunately does charge extra, but it's worth it if I don't need to make a separate trip! If she wants me to go in, I might just see if I can go to an exotics specialist closer. Love my vets, but I don't have much PTO to spare at the moment.
Hah! Yep, I wear specific 'goo clothes' when I'm with them, just to keep the CC mess a bit more contained!
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