leg stuck in cage

[mommykitty]

my chin has a ferret Nation cage and when i got up she was hanging by her leg.zx i took her to the vet and the good news is its not broke but they put her on antibiotics. shes still not using her leg ? how do i keep this from happening again? my poor baby cant use her back leg.:cry3:

 

[Airyn]

Did they do x-rays? Where was she hanging from?

 

[mommykitty]

yes i dont know how but theres no brakes? she got stuck on the 2 row of bars from the bottem. she had her leg the hole way around she drags it behind her the vet hopes when the swelling goes down she should use it.

 

[Jaina_Organasolo]

Is she on metacam? that should take down the swelling and act as pain relief. One of my lads sprained a paw - No idea how he did it as I went away for the weekend and when I came back his arm was just hanging there and huge.

He was on metacam for 10 days and still wouldn't use it. I took him back to the vets and as soon as they put him on the exam table he ran around like nothing happened! monkey!

 

[Airyn]

I'm concerned with the way you're describing her leg position, as all signs point to a break or a sprain at the very least. If that's the case, you'll want to pull out her wheel and all ledges so that she can't cause further injury to herself while she heals.

Is she eating, drinking and pooping normally? What kind of antibiotics did they put her on? What about pain meds? If there's anyway you could post the x-rays, that would help other members to chime in as well.

 

[mommykitty]

i dont have the x ray but i did see it its not broke. shes on prednisone and orbifloxacin. the vet is also woried cuz she drags it behind her like its broke but the x ray shoed no brakes? i moved her to a small cage with nothing in it for now. shes eating i havent seen her drink yet. she pooing fine?

 

[Airyn]

Prednisone is a no-no in chins from what I've read. There was a more detailed discussion on it here. Hopefully someone else will chime in with more info, as I don't have any personal experience with either of those drugs.

It's great that she's still eating for you, but the lack of pain meds and the use of an antibiotic without a known infection really concern me. Did the vet say why she put her on an antibiotic? Was there a cut or something, or was it just a preventative measure?

Based on what you've said so far, if I were in your shoes, I'd get her to another vet for a second opinion, as it doesn't sound like you have a concrete diagnosis.

 

[mommykitty]

she riped the skin off thats why.

 

[AllieKatt]

Ouch...You never said she ripped the skin...but I would if I were you...Take her to another vet. She could be not using her leg because it is sore...But it dragging behind her s a red flag...

I am hoping for a fast recovery for your baby.

 

[mommykitty]

i know the vet wants me to call if she dosent start useing it by fri. she thought her hip was broke but the x ray looked fine. ill try and get some pic mabbie then youll understand my poor girl

 

[Claire D]

I would take the chin to another vet - if the skin is broken, have they covered the wound with anything? Do you have a collar to stop her chewing the leg at all?
Can you post a photo at all?

If the leg is dragging behind her then it is possible that there is nerve damage &/or vascular damage. What colour is the skin of the leg?

Apart from the no-no of the steroids, lack of pain relief, & (possible) non-treatment of the wound, I would want a full assessment - if there is nerve or vascular (blood supply) damage then she may need an amputation.

 

[Airyn]

Aww... the poor baby! The antibiotic definitely makes sense then. She really needs pain meds though, so I'd still get a 2nd opinion. Can you post pics of her leg and the wound so we can see the positioning and the severity of the injury?

 

[mommykitty]

soon as my phone charges ill get pic. no she told me to put neosporn on it. she not doing nothing but sleeping her skin is pink the vet said she can feel her leg so thats good right?

 

[Airyn]

The poor thing's probably in a lot of pain. I'd get her to a vet tonight.

 

[AllieKatt]

What kind of vet did you take her too? Because neosporin is a big no no from what I understand...

 

[mommykitty]

a animal hospital

 

[menagerie]

soon as my phone charges ill get pic. no she told me to put neosporn on it. she not doing nothing but sleeping her skin is pink the vet said she can feel her leg so thats good right?

According to our resident expert chin vet. She does not like tetracycylines and if you talk to most exotic vets - they agree. Neomycin is not metablized correctly and should NEVER be given orally to hind-gut fermentors. This is why she worries about the whole issue of use of topical neosporin in chinchillas because if they eat it, they can get very sick.

 

[AllieKatt]

I understand it being an emergency and taking her to an animal hospital but as soon as you could get her to a proper chin vet you should... Because improper care for even something that is not considered "life threatening" Can kill them. I am not saying this to be mean or to scare you I am saying this because you need to know.

 

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

I would be calling around and find another chin knowledgeable vet to take her too. =)

Is she using her leg yet or still dragging it?

 

[mommykitty]

shes still draging it. i put it right then she hops away but dosent move that leg.