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Post by hpdegus on Feb 23, 2022 1:19:04 GMT
I was worried I spoke too soon, but so far he's really liking the sweet potato baby food/baby oats mixture! Still hate metacam though. I might sneak that in the mix too, but then he'll only get metacam once a day (dose is 1 drop/day).
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Post by hpdegus on Feb 25, 2022 1:28:53 GMT
Alright, here are a few more pics! Anything with the tail pointed up (north) is from today after I cleaned off the antibiotic cream. The sideways pointing tail is from 2/16, a few days before I took him to the vet. Thoughts? photos.app.goo.gl/T3a8MwEVZ76fWV87A
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 25, 2022 11:51:30 GMT
Hmm, it doesn't look that different to me. The fur seems a bit closer to the end in the recent pics, does that mean the tail has got shorter?
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 25, 2022 17:58:56 GMT
I agree, Molette . . .I don't see improvement either. I think the tip looks like the dead/dry, kind of blackened husk, has increased in size, and the other parts that have looks livid seem to look darker now. I encourage you to go back to the vet if you can.
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Post by teemu on Feb 25, 2022 20:13:36 GMT
Yeah, I agree with the others. Seems like the tip of the tail might have sustained too much damage so it's died off and the area there is essentially necrotic (but not notably spreading, so essentially just the tip is too damaged to recover) If you can try very carefully, does the tip feel dry and scabby when you feel it out? Likely best to try when you haven't applied the cream, as that will make it moist in any case. If it's dry, then that's a (relatively) good sign, since dry, dead tissue is not getting infected. Looking at the pictures, it seems like there has essentially been no real change. The rash and the scabs are almost exactly the same, barring some discoloration, and possibly some more drying. No healing is happening, but the good thing is that it's not getting dramatically worse either. I would definitely recommend taking him to a vet again. Likely, the best course of action is to amputate the tip of the tail so that a new, healthier stub can be formed and it can heal properly. It sounds scary, but degus are by nature designed to be able to recover from tail injuries pretty well, so I'd still say that after this injury has been seen to, he should recover quite nicely
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Post by hpdegus on Feb 25, 2022 23:31:59 GMT
Thank you for looking the pics over!
The increased dark area/hair closer to tail tip is a function of the tail position and camera angle! So that hasn't changed, which is good.
I can't say if it's dry, since the cream seems to form a protective barrier and keeps moisture in really well. I do know that some of the skin at the very tip sloughed off when I was cleaning the cream off.
Yeah, I was pretty sure amputation was going to need to happen (appt is on the 3rd). I'm not really worried about the tail being amputated, since I've had degus recover just fine from their own accidental tail deglovings. I'm more worried about the sedation. He's light and has always been on the lighter side for a degu. And I know his heart apparently sounded good last week and his brother went through sedation while much lighter, but I just worry.
I guess there are some good things though. He's much more active than his brother was before almost all sedations and they can hopefully check his teeth/heart while he's under.
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Post by teemu on Feb 26, 2022 0:10:19 GMT
The skin sloughing off is a good indication that it's not having much success healing, since that only happens if the tissue is actually dead. It really sounds like the initial damage was just rather extensive, so it's likely that this was pretty unavoidable.
That is a very understandable worry, too. It's hard to get degus to pack in extra weight, especially since their diet is so strict. If there's any treats he enjoys, like nuts or seeds, there's still some time to try to put some extra weight on him. But if it doesn't manage to happen, then as you say, there's still a good chance that things will go fine. Try to keep the tail clean and treated until then. The antibacterial cream will, if nothing else, prevent bacteria from getting into the area as easily, and might prevent him from nibbling it further.
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Post by hpdegus on Feb 26, 2022 0:38:29 GMT
Yeah, I also just pinched the tip and it's gone harder and he didn't seem to feel it at all. I moved a bit further down though and he did feel it.
Yeah, it's not easy at all! I'll add more seeds and forage during playtime, see if he'll eat those. Fingers crossed. Yep, going to continue with both oral and topical antibiotics. I would think that would also be helpful post op, if he does ok in surgery?
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Post by teemu on Feb 26, 2022 1:01:40 GMT
Yeah, antibiotics will definitely be in order for a while after the surgery too. I'd expect the vet to order them in any case as a precaution.
Going hard and numb definitely sounds like the tip is totally dead. Drying is good in that it means that the tissue has essentially mummified instead of starting to get infected and rot, which means that infection is much less of a risk for now.
It's possible that Tom will try to trim it off himself before the vet visit happens. Not necessarily a bad thing since it needs to be removed anyway, but it's possible that it will cause another untidy wound that might create complications, since trimming off the dead tissue will expose new flesh underneath. So if you notice him trying to do it, it's probably best to stop it if possible. It will get sorted soon, in any case.
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Post by hpdegus on Feb 26, 2022 1:15:49 GMT
For sure, hopefully he continues to cooperate and eat them in the sweet potato baby food!
Yeah, when I felt that, I thought the same. Oh thats a good point! Fingers crossed nothing changes in the next few days before his appointment.
I'll watch for that! I haven't seen anything yet, except for a little bit of nibbling very early on, so hopefully he won't try anything.
And thank you again for taking the time to respond! It's always very helpful to have additional opinions and thoughts--gets me out of my head too!
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 3, 2022 2:52:47 GMT
Vet appointment is tomorrow morning.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 3, 2022 7:46:58 GMT
I'll be looking for your updates!
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Post by teemu on Mar 3, 2022 13:36:18 GMT
Hoping you all the best!
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 3, 2022 15:18:35 GMT
Just got the call from the vet!
Tom is awake and has his priorities straight--can't quite walk, but he's eating, hahaha.
His x-rays look normal for his age and so do his teeth. Didn't need any dental work, which is excellent.
Apparently they amputated about half the tail, which is about what I thought might happen. They'll give me antibiotics and pain meds to administer for 14 days.
Fingers crossed that he can start gaining weight now the dead/dying part of the tail is gone. I'm really relieved he made it!
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Post by teemu on Mar 3, 2022 15:37:14 GMT
Great news! I'm really happy for you! Now that the stub is clean and properly treated, it should cause no more worries. Really great to hear that he was alright otherwise as well
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 3, 2022 16:24:17 GMT
Such good news!
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 3, 2022 18:39:37 GMT
We're home! Not sure if its anesthesia or pain meds or just the fact its been a big day, but Tom has mainly just been sitting in a single spot. I'll continue to keep a close eye on him, but he is definitely capable of moving and he's eaten some!
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 3, 2022 19:30:48 GMT
I'm so glad to hear all the news, all good things, and GREAT that he is starting to eat!! Well done, Hpdegus!
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 3, 2022 20:49:43 GMT
Thanks all! He's still really out of it about 6 hours later, so hoping he picks up here a bit soon. They did give him a metacam injection, no idea if thats also hitting hard.
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Post by winic1 on Mar 3, 2022 20:58:17 GMT
Would it be a good idea to give him some critical care, mixed up with plenty of water, to make sure he's getting some "drink" into him? Or is he also using his water bottle?
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