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Post by moletteuk on Apr 21, 2024 8:57:31 GMT
It looks to me like he's lost some skin on those toes, but the toes don't look dead to me, not that I would particularly know, but I would expect dark colours. I would give it a couple of days to see if it starts healing by itself again. Have you got antiseptic spray or something like that, antiseptic cream? Some vets can't wait to amputate. I agree that with his arthritis you should give him every chance to avoid the amputation. Try not to blame yourself, it's just one of those things, could happen to anyone.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 21, 2024 11:25:02 GMT
Really? He's definitely down to the bone, especially on the second toe. I added some more pictures that show the toes in better detail. The toe pads themselves look pretty shriveled.
We started him on an oral antibiotic last night (every 12 hours) and I've put antibiotic cream on his foot too. A spray might be better, though, since it might stick for longer.
I was a bit shocked when he said they wanted to amputate the whole leg. Agreed, it may be his bad leg, but I'd be worried that the arthritis would get much worse in his left leg if we amputated.
I'm trying not to. I just regret not going in earlier. But what else would they have done? Maybe wanted to amputate toes earlier? But the vet agreed that his foot was starting to look better. I don't know if something happened around the 17th/18th, but I really do feel like it seemed to be improving before then. Those are the first days it started looking a bit crusty, but I wasn't sure if that was due to the cream or a normal healing process.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 21, 2024 15:38:29 GMT
Sorry, didn't realize until a bit later that I hadn't uploaded the new photos!
He lost another toe nail. He's looking pretty miserable as well, quite fluffy. The top and aide of the foot are still pretty scabbed and I do think the bottom of his foot is darker than two days ago. The antibiotics might not be agreeing with him either.
I just wish I could talk to my vet. I don't think there's been any changes since yesterday afternoon, which is good. I hate seeing him like this. I don't think there's anything I can do but wait, unless he gets much worse overnight. The ER can do supportive care, but they don't have time to do an amputation until Monday/Tuesday.
Sorry, I'm going around in circles, trying to figure out where I went wrong. I just kind of wish I had taken him in originally, but I really don't know what they would have done differently. I don't think there were many (if any) signs until very recently.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 21, 2024 15:50:07 GMT
Well, we all thought it was looking better a few days ago, I've had another look and I'm not sure. It's difficult to tell shrivelled from swelling going down and some scabbing over from shrivelled in a bad way. bouncy has seen more foot issues. I would probably speak to your own vet tomorrow, unless you feel the urgency to go ahead and operate tomorrow.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 21, 2024 15:53:59 GMT
Yeah, I'm definitely second-guessing. The last time the vet saw the pictures was the morning of April 17th, which is not that long ago.
I'll call as soon as they open, see when they can fit me in first. They've been good about that in the past, but they've also been pretty busy. They usually let me talk to the vet before surgery to really determine what needs to be done.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 21, 2024 15:56:44 GMT
I don't think there was a problem until yesterday, I don't think you could have done anything different, these things always happen at the weekend.
Edit, yese, try and get them to look at the photos asap tomorrow.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 21, 2024 15:58:19 GMT
They always do I met a very nice couple with a ferret at the ER. We definitely commiserated over the difficulty of finding exotics vets over the weekend!
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 21, 2024 15:59:52 GMT
I used to dread the weekends when I had any goos issues going on!
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 21, 2024 16:01:16 GMT
Hah, I don't blame you! Weekends definitely hit differently when you have sick pets.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 21, 2024 20:30:57 GMT
Well, it's not looking good for his foot. I've added a top-down view just now. I have slathered it with the antibiotic cream a few times today, though it had all wiped off/been absorbed at this point. It looks like that third toe in (still has fur) is purple/black as well. photos.app.goo.gl/TEXPUk92cM86DoRV8
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 21, 2024 21:17:57 GMT
The whole foot looks more shrivelled now, I think, especially the toes though. I'm sorry. I know you are, but keep an eye on how he is in himself.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 21, 2024 21:21:11 GMT
Agreed. And yes, absolutely will. He's lying on the heat pad at the moment. He's eaten and sort of trotted on the wheel. He's moved around the cage a bit.
I dont know if it'd be worth it to try calling the ER? See if they can possibly fit him in? Or if I should just wait to hear from my vet in the morning.
The area hydrated well after slathering it in antibiotic cream. I've added a picture. It kinda looks like raw chicken though? Which probably isn't a good thing. But its not black/purple. The scab kind of just sloughed off as I applied more.
Edit: he's been running around the play area for the past 10 min or so. He's peed and multiple tiny (but healthy looking) poops.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 22, 2024 15:11:42 GMT
I dropped Q off with the vet about an hour ago. I called as soon as they opened, and while they tried to find an appointment today, they're absolutely slammed. I had started to call emergency vets near me when I got a text from my vet--they'd make it work! Vet said to stop the antibiotic from the ER as it's not good for small animals. Glad he hasn't been on it too long. She will have to take at least two/three toes, but believes that parts of the foot look healthy enough to leave She agreed with my concerns about arthritis so would really prefer to keep the leg if possible. She'll also grind his teeth down while he's under. I don't know when I'll hear an update since they're squeezing him in. They did make sure I was fine dropping him off and staying in the area, so if all goes well, I'll be picking him up sometime today. I'm just hoping he does ok under anesthesia but I know he's in good hands.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 22, 2024 19:15:19 GMT
Good!
Presuming the yellow on the foot was antiseptic cream, I thought the foot didn't look too bad, but the toes looked done for. I hope the vet can make that work. Thinking of you and Q, hope it goes well.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 22, 2024 19:21:30 GMT
Just got home! I'll update more later, but 3 toes amputated and some of the top layers of skin removed on the foot. Also dental done.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 22, 2024 20:34:31 GMT
Ok, here's more detail. I'll start with the teeth, since it's a bit less gruesome. I probably should have added a content warning to the last few pictures of his foot...
He's hanging out on his heat pad, but he was moving around in the travel cage. I was cleaning his real cage again and he kept coming up to the door, probably wondering why he was still stuck in the small cage!
His bottom incisors were definitely elongated. They trimmed those and ground down some sharp points on his lower right cheek teeth. He's still not quite closing his mouth so they think his lower incisor roots are elongated and causing some mouth deformation. They don't seem too concerned, just mention that he might need more regular trims in the future.
For the foot (please don't read if squeamish!): they left the last digit since it looked healthy. I'm a little nervous about that, but her call. As for the rest of the foot, they essentially removed the top several layers of skin. It's red red. They told me to expect swelling and redness over the next week or so. I'll also have to go in again to get his stitches removed.
All of this cost 3x less than at the emergency vet. Still, very very glad I'm not on a graduate student salary anymore!
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 22, 2024 21:50:30 GMT
Fingers crossed this sets him on a smooth road to recovery.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 23, 2024 11:24:55 GMT
Understandable not a happy camper today. I syringe feed him some CC with his medication. I'm hoping that helps keep his stomach happier. He did poop several time while I did so and it looked hydrated but not without form. I've started a new album for his foot. The area closest to his toes is pretty red, but they warned me about that. I may just send some pictures just in case though. photos.app.goo.gl/kQZfYEfHpzkChDSx5.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 23, 2024 14:34:07 GMT
Aww bless him, back to waiting for the swelling to go down.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 23, 2024 17:37:52 GMT
Poor babe! As of this morning it didn't look too swollen. But that could just be in comparison to how bad it was over the last week!
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