teambayern
Member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2009
- Messages
- 17
I was watching Chip tonight and he was brining his left front paw up to his mouth and looked like he was nibbling on it (as I'm writing this I saw him do it again). This really didn't trouble me too much because I've seen him do similar things to pick out things like rosebud pieces from his teeth. I went to check it out because I want to make sure his teeth are ok. I couldn't see anything wrong, and he started biting on a piece of wood, so i thought all's well.
Not so. I notice that on his left from paw the first finger/toe is shorter than the rest. When I look closer, it is very hard to tell for sure, but it looks like he is missing the equivalent of his last knuckle on that toe. The end of the toe looks a bit rounder than the rest, and I see a small blackish/reddish circle in the middle. There is no blood and he runs on it fine, and it is still very hard to confirm how much if any of his finger is missing because their paws are so small and he won't keep it still (my wife doesn't even think there is a piece missing).
My questions for you are:
1. Is it possible his cagemate bit off a piece of his toe? I have only rarely heard of a chin doing this, but I'm no expert. I will say that they have been squabbling a little more in the last few months, and we had to take him to the vet for a cut on his ear a month ago that we suspected may have been from a fight, but the vet said just as likely caught it on something.
2. If it is missing, what can be done/needs to be done? I will take him to the vet tomorrow if i can get an appointment, but is there anything they can do for him (they couldn't for his ear)? is it possible it has healed over, and that he has had this for a long time and I just haven't noticed? this one is important because its harder to get appointments with the exotic vets and i'd rather wait to have them see him than an ER vet
3. Does this mean they should be separated? Is this an indication that they can't live together or can i rehab them to continue living together? both are males, ages 2.5 (the one that is hurt) and 1.5.
Sorry for such a long post, and thank you so much for any responses/information you can give
Not so. I notice that on his left from paw the first finger/toe is shorter than the rest. When I look closer, it is very hard to tell for sure, but it looks like he is missing the equivalent of his last knuckle on that toe. The end of the toe looks a bit rounder than the rest, and I see a small blackish/reddish circle in the middle. There is no blood and he runs on it fine, and it is still very hard to confirm how much if any of his finger is missing because their paws are so small and he won't keep it still (my wife doesn't even think there is a piece missing).
My questions for you are:
1. Is it possible his cagemate bit off a piece of his toe? I have only rarely heard of a chin doing this, but I'm no expert. I will say that they have been squabbling a little more in the last few months, and we had to take him to the vet for a cut on his ear a month ago that we suspected may have been from a fight, but the vet said just as likely caught it on something.
2. If it is missing, what can be done/needs to be done? I will take him to the vet tomorrow if i can get an appointment, but is there anything they can do for him (they couldn't for his ear)? is it possible it has healed over, and that he has had this for a long time and I just haven't noticed? this one is important because its harder to get appointments with the exotic vets and i'd rather wait to have them see him than an ER vet
3. Does this mean they should be separated? Is this an indication that they can't live together or can i rehab them to continue living together? both are males, ages 2.5 (the one that is hurt) and 1.5.
Sorry for such a long post, and thank you so much for any responses/information you can give