Tom's Tail

[hpdegus]

Hi all, unsure of I should be worried or not. Long post ahead, tldr at the bottom.

Tom (of the Rescues, Ollie's brother) has always had a pretty bald tail, fairly dry especially since its the winter. The last inch or so has also been pinkish for as long as I can remember. I noticed a dark spot maybe two weeks ago, but thought it might be just a scab.

I looked more closely on the 25th and saw they had been nibbling the very tip resulting in a small bit of bone being visible. The end is also a slightly different color (slightest of a yellow tinge) and looks almost calloused (so a different texture.

I started putting olive oil on it to help keep the area moist on the 25th, then switched to an antibiotic cream (safe for degus, given by vet a while back) on the 29th.

Some more of the skin at the end of the tail has been removed, but I forgot to get the most recent picture before I put more cream on the tail.

His weight is stable, he's been active and acts completely normal. The tail is a normal temp, there's blood flow, and he has feeling pretty close to the tip (he definitely reacts if I poke and prod more than he is comfortable with).

Here's a link to an album with pictures from multiple days. Thoughts? Should I be worried?

photos.app.goo.gl/oANQY842giZvZ5xC6

TLDR Tom's tail is weird and I'm not sure if I should be worried.

[hpdegus]

Just in case dates aren't visible, the picture at the top, with the flooring is from the 25th. The last pictures (featuring my green and blue pj's) are from Saturday.

[deguconvert]

I think it would be a good idea to have it looked at.

While it may have sensation, it could also have infection or something else going on. At one point it looked a bit like it was blistered near the end, and then it almost looks as though they have chewed that away? It does seem as though it is being whittled away tiny bit by tiny bit. When I look up the tail, just above the dark spot, it seems to be rather mottled in color . . . different than what is the normal mottling. Do you feel like you see that as well?

[teemu]

This seems somewhat similar to how one of my rats developed a necrotic infection in the tail. He actually started trimming off pieces of it from the tip. I think there might be an infection that's climbing down the tail, since it looks like he's been gnawing on the end of it and shortening it, and the end of the tail looks like it's both descaled and irritated. You should definitely take him to be looked at. If there's necrosis or similar going on, having the end of it amputated in a controlled way would likely be the best course of action.

How's his tail looking, hygieny-wise? If he's managed to get his tail dirty, that could explain why it's getting these issues. That was the underlying issue with the rat tail I mentioned earlier. Since tails of rodents are kind of scaly, dirt can easily get trapped under small crevices on the skin, and that can lead to infection. Before you apply more cream or oil, you might want to try to gently wash the tail. Just dip it in warm water (or carefully and lightly wipe it with a wet cloth or similar) and gently wipe it with a soft tissue or similar, and see if filth comes off of it. No force, obviously, but gentle cleaning certainly can't hurt.

But still, I would recommend taking him to a vet.

[hpdegus]

I have a vet appointment scheduled for the 22nd! Unfortunately they're very booked and have nothing sooner. I did send over pictures, vet looked and said it should be fine to wait until then. Just keep it clean and hydrated. If I notice redness, irritation, color change, discharge, or pain I'm to take him to the emergency vet near me.

They also mentioned I should look out for a foul smell. That's a pretty clear sign on necrotic tissue and to bring him in!

[hpdegus]

DC, I think the difference in mottling might be since I accidentally gave him a cut a few days ago.

But it definitely seems descaled, like you mention Teemu. I cleaned it off last night and this morning before putting the cream on. He does tend it get it dirty and banged up, so that might be contributing for sure.

[teemu]

Feb 1, 2022 16:22:09 GMT hpdegus said:

I have a vet appointment scheduled for the 22nd! Unfortunately they're very booked and have nothing sooner. I did send over pictures, vet looked and said it should be fine to wait until then. Just keep it clean and hydrated. If I notice redness, irritation, color change, discharge, or pain I'm to take him to the emergency vet near me.

They also mentioned I should look out for a foul smell. That's a pretty clear sign on necrotic tissue and to bring him in!

Yeah, smell or discharge are definitely signs of infection or necrosis. I would also add to that list that if it looks like he's steadily trimming the tail shorter, you need to take him to the emergency vet even if there's no obvious change for the worse. If he keeps worrying at it and biting off bits from it, it's obviously bothering him somehow and needs to be seen to so he doesn't keep doing it.

[savvy]

The other issue is, if there is anything nasty such as an infection in his tail, by chewing it, he's potentially swallowing it.

[deguconvert]

If an infection takes hold in the spinal column of the tail, it can cause a die back that will just keep on going up the tail. It has to be removed back of the infection to prevent any further die back. Sometimes this is difficult to achieve. We had a member that had a very lovely degu that was several times to the vet to have more tail removed because of exactly this kind of infection. By the time they finally got it, he had nothing but a nub of his tail left. If that hadn't worked for him, there would have been nothing more they could do for him, because then it would have continued up the backbone section of the spine. In that case I think they would have had to put him to sleep. Thankfully, that didn't happen!

Let me say, this is not common! I've only heard of this boy, and maybe one other, and the other required only the one surgery. I suspect that the first boy had an especially resistant and persistent form of bacteria.

[hpdegus]

Thank you all for the comments, they've been very helpful!

To your point about nibbling at the tail, Teemu, there doesn't seem to be any change there at the moment. We'll see if that continues. And I feel like he's judging me whenever I put my face super close to his tail to smell it! But as long as he's bribed with treats, he doesn't seem to care too much.

Ah, didn't even think of that Savvy, that would definitely be a concern.

I'm glad the worst didn't happen in that case! That's for sure my concern here, I very much want to avoid that happening. I'll continue watching carefully and keep applying the anti-microbial cream.

[moletteuk]

Could you measure it, then you will know if it gets shorter. Or photograph it with a ruler next to it.

[hpdegus]

That dark spot on his tail--definitely a scab! I was trying to clean the tail before putting on more cream just now. I was wiping it down with a wet paper towel and he needed unexpectedly. Towel must have caught on the edges of the scab, since it pulled up and mostly off. The skin underneath is what I would have expected for a healing area when a scab is picked off early. I feel really bad that I wasn't more careful

We'll see how the area heals, as well as what happens with the tip of the tail. They haven't picked at it anymore, but the last but is still a bit yellow tinged.

[deguconvert]

I have done that with my dogs on occasion when there is a scab from running through bushes or something. OR the two dogs have been playing a little rough with each other. Our little dog needs a regular bath with Epsom salts to help with his allergies, and I sometimes find unexpected scabs that I've lifted when I'm rubbing him dry with towels after. I feel badly as well. However, I'm glad we now know that it was a scab, and that means that there has been healing going on. I'm glad too, that there is no more gnawing on it going on.

Don't be afraid to pop on more photos if anything changes.

[hpdegus]

Ah, thats too bad about your little dog--glad the Epsom salt baths help!

Yes, I was glad to see it was a scab and not just worrying skin discoloration.

Here are some more photos from today and yesterday. Anything with just a paper towel as background is from today. Anywhere you can see brown flooring is from yesterday. It would be helpful to have another opinion since I just keep staring at photos to try to see if I need to bring him in immediately. Color is obviously a bit funky in any of the pictures taken with flash on.

photos.app.goo.gl/ffEucsyfvAsZzh6T7

His weight is still ok, on the lower side of his range. He's been cycling between 180 and 192g since late July/early August.

[deguconvert]

I think you need to have his tail looked at. It is definitely changing color and texture. The way it is getting pale, and that paleness is creeping further along . . . I don't like the look of it. I think he may need to have some amputated.

[moletteuk]

I also think it's worth trying to get him seen before the 22nd. The pics are quite deceptive in terms of whether or how much the tail is disappearing, it's so difficult to tell, but if there is an infection that they need to operate to remove back to healthy tail, I think they would want to remove a lot more than you might think just to get plenty of margin. Plus there might be a wait between getting him seen and them being able to fit in the operation. I think you have another vet in a different location you have used before that is still doable?

[hpdegus]

All good points. I'd definitely want them to have a healthy margin if amputation is necessary!

I just called in, there was a cancelation so they're able to fit me in on the 19th. It's not much earlier, but you were right Molette, they most likely won't be able to do the surgery on that day if it is necessary. Obviously hoping it won't be, or that if it is, they can fit him in quick. But we'll see.

Unfortunately both of the vets I see are in the same practice and visit the same two hospitals. They're just super booked right now. I really need to find another vet closer, but I trust my current vets and have built up a really good relationship with them.

[hpdegus]

The vet tech recommended that I call when they open to see if they've had any cancelations. Called just now, new tech was beyond flustered--their head exotic vet just tested positive for covid and their second is at a funeral. I feel really bad for them!

Do you all think this is serious enough to try calling the emergency vet near me? They would hopefully be able to get him in sooner than the 19th. I just dont know.

[hpdegus]

Also, was doing some reading and apparently the wound cream I've been using can actually inhibit wound healing and cause skin issues/pain. So I stopped that last night and switched back to the olive oil to keep the tail hydrated. Fingers crossed this helps.

[savvy]

This may sound silly, but also may help. Can you use something as a mark on his tail so you can see how fast the issue is travelling up his tail? This would serve as an indication of if he could wait until the 19th or if you need to get him seen faster.

You may need to speak to your vet as to what could be used. I know in human medicine they use a marker pen to track infections such as cellulitis but I don't know if its safe for degus.