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Post by hpdegus on Apr 3, 2023 18:15:53 GMT
Forgot--the metacam dose is 80uL every 24 hours (1.5 mg/mL stock). This is higher than what I've given before, short term though while this is long term. Thoughts?
Edit: just confirmed the dosage with the vet!
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 3, 2023 19:09:13 GMT
Oh! I really hope the meds work for him, fingers crossed.
So, totally unrelated to the wound? I take it all was fine with the wound? (I wonder if inflammation from the wound has travelled to the spondylitis/ arthritis to suddenly make it worse?)
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 3, 2023 19:17:23 GMT
Thanks Molette!
I had the same thought as you, but I don't know if they can tell? Either that or the arthritis/spondylosis caused him to trip and be injured? I wasn't seeing any movement issues before the wound, though I could have missed it.
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Post by teemu on Apr 4, 2023 6:18:46 GMT
The arthritis and the spondylosis could both explain his tumble. It sounds entirely plausible that he might have been injured due to a moment of weakness, or due to moving awkwardly with a leg pain. If it has been minor thus far and is starting to make itself more known, it might explain why the first sign of trouble was him hurting himself.
Hopefully the medication will help him!
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 4, 2023 22:43:38 GMT
So. I tried looking this up, but I think my search terms were off.
I don't know if Mooney was feeling better and had some private time or if there's an unknown substance in their cage. But when I picked him up to give meds just now, he had some gunk that fell off his undercarriage with a little stuck to his cone. It honestly looked and had the texture of the wax swimming ear plugs.
He nipped me when I tried to examine him more, so clearly he's recovered from the vet appointment!
Thoughts?
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Post by bouncy on Apr 5, 2023 10:07:33 GMT
The meds can sometimes screw with their bellies, particularly the gut flora. Sausage has had a couple of cases, and it's been plastered to his undercarriage! I've had to clean him up with cotton pads and warm water. Trust me when I say he wasn't impressed!
It should sort itself out.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 7, 2023 0:36:41 GMT
Awww, poor Sausage! I'm sure he eventually forgave you! Mooney was on the top half level of the cage tonight. I don't think I've seen him there since he got hurt over a month ago! I did add an extra ramp, but still
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 8, 2023 21:09:02 GMT
First full playtime for the Marauders since the vet visit (busy busy week). Mooney is dragging his hind leg constantly. He's about due for both pain meds, which could be contributing. Or maybe because it's so much faster to slide across the hardwood floors. He does zoom around pretty quickly!
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 9, 2023 9:34:23 GMT
Oh dear. Is he making more effort to lift it when he is in the cage?
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 9, 2023 14:53:59 GMT
I think so. I'm keeping an eye out and watching for sores. Really really hoping this was an anomaly.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 29, 2023 0:09:59 GMT
Well, from what I can tell, Mooney is very much not making the attempt to keep his leg up.
I'm not sure if there's anything I can do to encourage him. Any advice?
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 29, 2023 22:18:54 GMT
Sorry, can't think of anything terribly useful to say. Did the painkillers make much difference? - Do you think he doesn't lift it because it hurts to lift it, or do you think he can't really feel properly if he is lifting it?
The image has popped into my head of him with his foot strapped to a mini skate board, like they do with dogs on the Supervet tv show. How is the skin holding up? Would any further cage mods help, or eliminating substrate in some areas maybe?
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 29, 2023 22:26:49 GMT
They did, in that he's more active! I think he's lost some feeling there. Vet said he's definitely lost some feeling in that foot at least. So I don't think it hurts, just a mixture of less sensation and seems to be easier to drag than keep it under him.
Hah! That would be adorable!
It looks like the fur on his toes is less dense, which sparked some worry. I wonder if it would be possible to coat them with something (is there a nontoxic nail polish?) For protection.
I had made up ramps from wooden ledges and lava ledges, switched those out for fleece covered ramps (gentler slopes too). I think the substrate is protective, so he doesn't drag his leg over the rougher plastic. He's dragging his foot even on the coconut matting and my hardwood floor unfortunately.
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Post by teemu on Apr 30, 2023 2:19:11 GMT
Would it be possible to gently wrap his foot in something like gauze? Basically, put a little sock on him? That would probably help with any chafing that he might be experiencing from dragging the foot. Though he might find that annoying and start tugging on it...
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 30, 2023 10:01:59 GMT
I think he's doing well to still have fur on his foot after a month. I agree with Teemu that it might be worth exploring some kind of sock. If the theory is correct that he can't feel the foot too well then I think there is a better chance he might tolerate a sock. I wonder if it would be possible to make something that you could wrap around, or maybe attach with velcro, rather than a traditional sock design that you have to pull over his toes?
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 30, 2023 10:12:39 GMT
I suppose nail polish might work to form a protective covering. When I google it, non toxic ones do exist and I suppose humans chew their nails, so they would need to be fairly safe for ingesting, not sure about being in contact with skin, I think some of the ingredients in the nail industry are pretty dodgy but perhaps that's more in terms of inhaling volatiles and I think there is a specific issue with gel polish.
Human runners use anti chafing stuff that is like a super slippery and persistent vaseline. I think his fur is probably more protective than this while he still has fur, but could be worth bearing in mind if the fur does get worn away, although I don't know if crud would just stick to it.
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Post by hpdegus on Apr 30, 2023 21:01:26 GMT
Yeah, I'm kind of surprised it's taken this long for me to see hair loss! The skin seems a bit tougher (scaly?) where I'm seeing it, which is on the joints of his foot. Here's a picture: photos.app.goo.gl/LmSfNPvFWpPcBNv98 What kind of material would you all recommend trying? I can try gauze, but what if he or his brothers eats it? I think they have tape that only sticks to itself, but again, probably not the best to eat. The anti-chafing gel sounds promising, but I'd be worried it get worn away/really messy really quickly.
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Post by moletteuk on May 2, 2023 18:02:57 GMT
I don't really know. I might be tempted to try the tape that sticks to itself, but the chances of it getting eaten seem quite high, in which case I suppose a natural fibre would be the way to go. I think you might need to blaze the trail on this one.
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Post by savvy on May 2, 2023 18:19:40 GMT
Didn't someone use plaster of Paris on a broken leg a few months ago?
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Post by hpdegus on May 2, 2023 23:21:17 GMT
Oh interesting, I must have missed that post! I had to look up what plaster of Paris was haha.
I'll keep looking, see what I can find. Maybe there are bandage wraps made from coconut fiber or something.
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