Foot Injury

[Claire D]

She got injured once she had escaped and we were trying to catch her to put her back in her cage, she started running on top of a cage, which had one inch wire spacing by 1/2 an inch, and by trying to run away, her foot got stuck in the wire spacing, including up to her anckle, so we tried to take it out smoothly and we couldn't, it was stuck, so we had to cut a bit of the wire spacing in order to take her foot out, which it took a while, and her attitude was of desperation, like really wanting to get out as soon as possible, that she seemed to be willing to cut her whole foot off, but we were able to take it out, and she had a couple scratches on her anckle and around her foot, like the top, but don't remember how the finger looked like though, her foot didn't look like it broke to me though, it was just fine at the moment, and didn't see her chewing on it or anything, but when I brought her on thursday to sudbury, and jennifer went there on tuesday, I didn't have a chance to see how her foot progressed during those days, I knew she got hurt on her foot, but not something that she was going to start chewing on,

Thank you Kathiva.
How long ago did the injury occur?
Was she using the leg properly after the injury?


The nature of the injury just increases my concerns really - I would definitely want her x-rayed to rule out a fracture or bone chip etc.

 

[proudmom25]

I hope it is just the itchiness of the wound healing too.

What would the options be if she continues to self-mutilate? Is it usually a response to injury or could it become behavioural? I will be calling the vet tommorow to get some CC so will ask his opinion but wanted to know what others with experience may know. Also, if it were broken I thought that it would be a problem for her to use it. She seems to jump on it okay. Occasionally she will raise it to take the pressure off but otherwise uses it to jump...with no hesitation.

How long can they be handfed for? I know their teeth grow continuously so don't want to run into further problems. I did add some alfalfa to her ground up pellets and I am feeding her a paste via spoon...so it has a little more bulk than via syringe. But I don'tthink it would be enough right? I can't take t he cone off long enough for her to eat on her own as she goes for her leg.

 

[Ash]

I know some people have turned cones backwards to allow eating/chewing, but I don't know if that would be effective in this case.

Here is one alli713 did to use as a reference though http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11317

 

[proudmom25]

I don't think the plastic one that I have would turn backwards but I forgot that I made another fleece one (the first was too big). Perhaps I will try that for a bit. Heck...I think I might rig something so that I can put an adjuster on it. I have a couple of sewing projects anyways. LOL!

I am sure she would love to chew an apple stick.

I know some people have turned cones backwards to allow eating/chewing, but I don't know if that would be effective in this case.

Here is one alli713 did to use as a reference though http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11317

 

[Ash]

You could always message Alli and ask what that one was made out of.

 

[kathiva]

Thank you Kathiva.
How long ago did the injury occur?
Was she using the leg properly after the injury?


The nature of the injury just increases my concerns really - I would definitely want her x-rayed to rule out a fracture or bone chip etc.

Hi

It happened a couple days before I went to see my parents, so it was in that week and I applied EMT Gel - First Aid Kit in a Tube 1 oz. that I bought from Flowertown chinchillas, here's the link with the information about it, http://www.chinchilla.ca/items.php?ProductID=EMTGEL&Name=Health & First Aid&source=acces

they say it is very good to heal wounds, but haven't had a chance to use it so many times, so haven't been able to see its effectivenes, and left it like that for a while, I also put a clean bandage after, but she didn't chew on, she kept it on for a whole night, until I changed it again, and I saw her only one day that she had her foot in the air,

I touched her foot, when I was trying to put the bandage and I didn't feel anything broken, or soft inside her foot, so didn't think that she broke her foot there, I am not so sure also, if she pulled a muscle or something, since when she got the foot stuck, she must to have tried to pull it out right? at least for once on her own, because when we were trying to take her foot out, we were holding her, so she wouldn't pull, but maybe she did it once or twice before we went to get the pliers, and maybe pulled hard for a moment, but like I did say, she seemed scared and nervous at the moment.

 

[alli713]

You can't really be sure she didn't break something, as if she broke a piece inside her foot or even just fractured it a bit, you can't feel it.

Normally when chins self-mutilate like that there's something going on. Sure, it could be itchy from a scab, but I would think that a chin would tend to stop picking at it. The fact that she's biting her foot raw makes it seem like there's an underlying issue.

I would really get an x-ray done.

 

[kathiva]

You can't really be sure she didn't break something, as if she broke a piece inside her foot or even just fractured it a bit, you can't feel it.

Normally when chins self-mutilate like that there's something going on. Sure, it could be itchy from a scab, but I would think that a chin would tend to stop picking at it. The fact that she's biting her foot raw makes it seem like there's an underlying issue.

I would really get an x-ray done.

Hi

Yes, that's what I think, I just said it for everyone's information, that I didn't feel anything strange, but it's true that there must be something else like you said.

 

[Claire D]

How long can they be handfed for? I know their teeth grow continuously so don't want to run into further problems. I did add some alfalfa to her ground up pellets and I am feeding her a paste via spoon...so it has a little more bulk than via syringe. But I don'tthink it would be enough right? I can't take t he cone off long enough for her to eat on her own as she goes for her leg.

If you have time you could offer her pellets & hay to eat from your hand (if she will tolerate it) because some chins will happily nibble food held by their human slave.
I have had collars on chins in the past & they have managed to eat without using their paws. It takes a bit of practice for them but they get there & once they do find the knack of manipulating around the collar then they can merrily chomp away by themselves. Some chins are very good at hoovering up stuff without using their paws.
If you are spoon feeding her several times a day then try offering her a bit of mini shredded wheat, a few strands of alfalfa, some timothy hay & a some pellets in between spoonfuls or at the beginning & end of the feeding session. You might find she will eat from your hand.

How is she doing today?
May I ask, what are your thoughts on getting an x-ray to rule out fracture/break/chipped bone etc?

 

[proudmom25]

With the plastic cone there is absolutely no way she can feed herself. At this point, I only feel safe with her wearing this at night...as I can't keep a good watch on her. Last night I did put her fleece cone on. I did tweak it a bit after seeing the pic of Mushu's cone but I am still not 100% confident in leaving her with that one without supervision and she can manipulate it around a bit. When she did have the fleece one on she chewed up an apple stick, had some hay and pellets. So, I think I will do that during the day and handfeed at night.

As for the x-ray, I do think it is necessary at this point. I will be adding some new pics of the injury in the next post to show you the progression of the injury and also some of my concerns.

If you have time you could offer her pellets & hay to eat from your hand (if she will tolerate it) because some chins will happily nibble food held by their human slave.
I have had collars on chins in the past & they have managed to eat without using their paws. It takes a bit of practice for them but they get there & once they do find the knack of manipulating around the collar then they can merrily chomp away by themselves. Some chins are very good at hoovering up stuff without using their paws.
If you are spoon feeding her several times a day then try offering her a bit of mini shredded wheat, a few strands of alfalfa, some timothy hay & a some pellets in between spoonfuls or at the beginning & end of the feeding session. You might find she will eat from your hand.

How is she doing today?
May I ask, what are your thoughts on getting an x-ray to rule out fracture/break/chipped bone etc?

 

[proudmom25]

Here are the new pics of the original injury site. I put them as thumbnails as I didn't want to shrink the pics as it makes is more difficult to see the injury.

Bottom of foot where she chewed the padding. It is scabbed over and I don't see any drainage but it is warmer to the touch that the other foot. Concern?




Pic of the back of the injured leg. This is my area of concern. After inspection it was noted that there is obvious swelling at this location and also a scab...so she did chew at this area.

 

[Tagna]

Her cone looks great btw! Swelling and heat could mean a more serious issue. Did you notice that before or is that new? With everything that you've had going on it wouldn't be hard to miss that in the beginning.

That poor girl doesn't need anything else added to her full plate. Because she's on the antibiotics I wouldn't think it's an infection so it could be a break or really bad sprain.

An X-Ray would rule those out

Just the way Kathiva described the accident and how they had to get her out of that wire makes me wonder if she did a lot more damage to her leg.

I really hope you get a reprieve from all this soon Jennifer!

 

[proudmom25]

The heat is something new. I noticed the swelling a couple of days ago. It could have been there but I didn't really want to touch it as she was cacking and trying to bite (hence the leather gloves in the first pics). But she is much more willing to sit with me now. No more leather gloves. Yay! I am gaining her trust. :heart3:

Her cone looks great btw! Swelling and heat could mean a more serious issue. Did you notice that before or is that new? With everything that you've had going on it wouldn't be hard to miss that in the beginning.

That poor girl doesn't need anything else added to her full plate. Because she's on the antibiotics I wouldn't think it's an infection so it could be a break or really bad sprain.

An X-Ray would rule those out

Just the way Kathiva described the accident and how they had to get her out of that wire makes me wonder if she did a lot more damage to her leg.

I really hope you get a reprieve from all this soon Jennifer!

 

[Claire D]

It could just be the angle of the photo or the tissue loss but her foot looks crooked to me.
Swelling & heat could be indications of infection (not responding to the antibiotics) or a break etc.

The problem with scabs on wounds is that they can hide a multitude of problems underneath; one of which is "bottling" or sealing in infection - it needs to drain. When wounds are sealed in this way the infection can track back up the leg ..........

I would ring your vet for an x-ray ASAP.


If the x-ray does show a break I'd go for a high amputation - it is far easier & heals much quicker - chins do well on 3 legs & recovery time from amputation is usually quite quick.

 

[kathiva]

Her cone looks great btw! Swelling and heat could mean a more serious issue. Did you notice that before or is that new? With everything that you've had going on it wouldn't be hard to miss that in the beginning.

That poor girl doesn't need anything else added to her full plate. Because she's on the antibiotics I wouldn't think it's an infection so it could be a break or really bad sprain.

An X-Ray would rule those out

Just the way Kathiva described the accident and how they had to get her out of that wire makes me wonder if she did a lot more damage to her leg.

I really hope you get a reprieve from all this soon Jennifer!

I don't know if I really did, but we tried to hold her as much as possible so she wouldn't keep try to pull her foot out and keep hurting herself, so it's hard to know, but you can tell that she did pull her foot for a couple times before starting to hold her and cut the wires, that's the way she got the scratches in her foot, plus, the wire spacing was 1/2 inch by 1 inch, so it was a small space, imaging all her foot stuck in that little hole, that's why it was hard to take her out and that's why she hurt herself when she pulled a couple times

 

[Tagna]

I am assuming that she wasn't exactly still when you were trying to get her out, so that's why I think she did more damage to her leg. I'm sure she was twisting and moving.

I think that xrays are a must and that will have to be something you talk with Jennifer.

 

[kathiva]

I am assuming that she wasn't exactly still when you were trying to get her out, so that's why I think she did more damage to her leg. I'm sure she was twisting and moving.

I think that xrays are a must and that will have to be something you talk with Jennifer.

Hi

Oh, I see, yes, you are right, she did try to move all the time, she was desperate and couldn't wait to come out soon

 

[saphire]

Any news?