Face Injury, Very Painful and Not Eating

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Pederoni

Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2018
Messages
10
Hi, looking for a bit of advice to help my poor 8yr old boy Pedro.

On Monday he was out for playtime, I didn't hear or see anything strange but when he went back into the cage he had a line under his left eye, not bleeding or broken skin, just a line in his fur. Thought a bit odd but he didn't seem too bothered by it so I didn't either.
The next morning he had nearly all of his food left in his bowl but seemed chirpy and had a bit of shredded wheat for bfast. Thought he'd maybe just filled up on his new hay.

By Wednesday he'd barely touched anything 'hard', I soaked a bit thinking maybe he was a bit sore from the possible bang to his face. He ate a bit.
Thursday wouldn't touch anything, even a bit of soaked shredded wheat (his fave). I gave him some metacam hoping may perk him up a bit and help with any pain. And started syringe feeding as worried he wasn't eating.
And got into the vets as he looked a little swollen around his eye.

The vet advised to carry on what I'm doing and I picked up some more Oxbow Critical Care. Was worried about doing an X-ray as he's not been eating and has lost a bit of weight, and possible head injury as has obviously banged it pretty badly to be causing these problems. He said he's not as responsive in his left eye as in his right one. Will go back in a few days if not improving.

His face/eye area on the left has swelled more over the last couple of days, yest looked terrible but looking a bit better this morning.
He's on the highest dose of metacam I can give but still looks quite miserable and not really wanting food. Will lick a bit of CC off a spoon but I'm having to force feed as nowhere near what he needs.

When I'm holding him he acts normal (a mad man! Hates being held!) but when he's in the cage acts very sad :(
I've never dealt with head/face injuries with chins (teeth probs yes), I can imagine the swelling's very sore and if he's had a bang to the head prob not feeling his best. Also guessing it has to get worse before it gets better as it's an injury/bang that's causing swelling.

Very worried though :(
Just looking for a bit of advice from anyone that's possibly dealt with anything similar? Feel terrible for him but really don't know what happened.
I'll carry on what I'm doing but should I let him out for playtime to cheer him up? He was out for 30mins on weds and was really happy running around like normal and having a bath. He just seems very depressed and not his usual cheery self. Must be in pain/feeling rubbish from meds/head and face injury. Just want to do what I can to try and get him through this :(

Sorry so long, thanks for reading.
 
After getting him out for a feed of CC at 1600 (its 1745 here) I've noticed his eye looks a bit cloudy, he's been unable to close it completely the last few days and prob getting dirt/dust in there. I've given it a clean with boiled water but will have to get straight into vets in the morning as def needs some antibiotics (drops and oral I think?!).
His tissue under eyelid at bottom is looking more swollen again (and red).

Guessing an infection on top of injury which is why he's not feeling too great.
Should have demanded some at vets the other day just in case.
Useless me. Know eye problems in chins can be very painful and hard to treat so hoping can get on top of it.

My poor lad.
 
He looked terrible this morning, has got hugely worse overnight.
Vet thinks he has either an abscess behind the eye, or blood from the injury possibly, it's pushing his eyeball outwards. Stinks of infection (which it didn't yest).

Were first trying antibiotics, (Baytril) orally and drops four times a day to keep eye moist as he obviously can't close it properly. He's had an injection of stronger pain relief (vetergesic) as metacam not doing a thing.
Back in two days. She didn't want to put him under to check it out today as neither of us think he's strong enough to handle anaesthetic at moment.

A poor prognosis on keeping his eye really. Were just hoping antibiotics may help for now and we'll see how he is in a couple of days. I'm going to get as much food into him as I can and hope he keeps fighting, he's a strong boy and hope he can kick this in the butt.

When we got home he went straight to his hay and nibbled on it, painkiller obviously helped and was feeling a bit better! He seems more at ease as he sleeps now than he has the last few days.

Everyone keep their fingers crossed for us :)
 
I really don't have anything to add, since my only suggestion would be go to the vet, which you are already doing. I just wanted to comment so you know someone is reading and following this.

I'm glad it sounds like you are on the right track anyway to getting this sorted. I really is amazing how quickly they can get themselves hurt, even when you are watching them.
 
Thanks for your reply.

Yes hoping on the right track! Was woken up first thing by a noisy beast who felt a bit better jumping around!! Lots of 'stuff' drained out yest and he's a bit more himself. Did eat a few oats, first time he's shown interest in food for days, as well as nibbling on some new cuttlefish I got him.
His front teeth slightly out as not nibbled stuff for ages but hoping keeps improving :)
 
Not doing as well as I hoped, he's very up and down.
Still not eating himself and although today he's not got as much discharge from the eye I think needs the eye out v soon.

He's miserable and been going on too long for my liking. So am going to continue to monitor for the next couple of days (got vets again weds) but think I'll be ringing my specialist vet and he'll be getting the eye out as only way it's going to heal properly. And he can be my Pedro again! If gets through everything of course.

These chins break your heart :(
 
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