Had my first scare

[mercynursie]

Axel couldn't be in better hands. You're a great chin mom and really on top of things. All my critters and I send get well wishes for both of you. I know your nerves have got to be frazzled!!!!:hug2::flowers7:

 

[Essentia]

Well today I caught him eating a few pellets, which is more than he had been doing before. Maybe the pain is subsiding a bit. His foot is still a bit swollen, but not as red and bruised as it was, so here's hoping he will be on the right track soon. I'm tired of hand feeding two chins!

 

[Laurie]

Yay Axel! Keep eating those yummy pellets!

 

[Essentia]

And once again he isn't eating. The swelling is almost completely gone in his foot, and he is still getting one dose of metacam a day in case, so I don't think it's his foot. Thinking about it, when I got him from the show his poos were on the small side and I thought it may have been the feed he was on. He will chew on everything with is front teeth, but the second there is anything with his back teeth to grind he won't touch it. He is going back to the vet tomorrow to have his teeth looked at. The vet is having to put my other chin under to do his surgery, so I figure he can kill two birds with one stone.

 

[jags]

Has the feed I sent you done anything for him?

 

[Essentia]

I have not recieved the feed as of yet. When did you mail it?

Edit: Also, he isn't eating any hay either. Nothing having to do with the back teeth at all. He laps up CC though like he's starving. I cut down his hand feedings the past few days to see if he would eat more, and nothing. I also changed over to mainly crushed pellets and a bit of CC as a "binder" for the pellets and water, and he laps that up as well without an issue. That's why I'm starting to think it isn't the taste of the food he doesn't like.

And trust me, as someone who runs a rescue, I am not one of those people who runs to the vet for every little thing. I know the stress of the vet is not good for these guys if it isn't absolutely needed. I'm just nto sure what else my next step would be other than thinking it's teeth related.

 

[jags]

Sent it Monday, I would have thought it would have been there by now.

 

[Essentia]

Sent it Monday, I would have thought it would have been there by now.

I'm really, really surprised it hasn't gotten here yet either. Even parcel post usually gets to be in less than 6 days... I'll keep an eye out for it tomorrow and hopefully we'll get lucky.

 

[Essentia]

Axel had his teeth checked this morning. He had two very, very tiny points on two molars, but the vet said it wasn't something that he thought would be causing any pain to his mouth. He said there was no inflammation or anything of the sort. He did file down the points. So, I guess we are back to square one. I am going to continue to cut back on the hand feedings. He did eat a few pellets at the vet. I swear, he loves to make me look dumb. Every time I bring him there he eats. Crazy little guy.

 

[jags]

Are you going to be in Orlando this weekend? I will be there for the show and could bring more feed there or do you want me to reship some more?

 

[mishellyshel]

crysta--do you think he just likes the handfeeding? and extra attention? have you ever tried the "puffed pellets" recipe i posted a few times? it is a little softer pellets, maybe he would like that.

 

[Essentia]

I tried that and he wouldn't eat those either. He very well could just like the taste of the CC. Now that I know he can eat, it's time for him to start. I'm going to give him a bit of metacam when he gets home since he did have those two teeth filed slightly, and I am going to give him one hand feeding of mostly crushed pellets and just a tiny bit of CC for a binder (water and pellets don't like to stay together like water and cc). Then I'm going to see what he will do on his own.

 

[mishellyshel]

the crushed mix that i make for richie is all crushed pellets, water, & pumpkin or baby food squash for binder. , sometimes i will add a 1 tsp of baby food pears, but that mix lasts a week so he doesnt get much. he LOVES that. he hates CC. wont eat it. as sooon as he smells the CC he turns his head but when i make the crushed mix he puts his mouth out for the syringe.
i let him eat what he wants but at least 10 cc's at a feeding, sometimes he will eat more. and i offer pellets and hay in his cage daily. he nibbles a little. but as long as he is gaining weight or staying steady i dont force him to eat anymore.
i do have him on daily meds, but not metacam. he is on tramadol. works great. i backed down the original prescription but it really helps with his jaw pain.

 

[chinsmom]

I had a similar scare, my little boy was going back into his cage though, he caught his foot momentarily, but got it out immediately. Luckily, he didn't seem to hurt it because he was back on that foot immediately. Scared me out of a few years, though. from that moment on, I would put a piece of cardboard or an extra plastic ramp that came with the cage - worked like a dream! I agree though, I think that if your baby is using the foot, it's probably not broken - can you see any swelling at all? I would think that if he's using it ok and there's no swelling or it does not look deformed in any way, you might just want to watch him for a couple of days. If he developes problems or you notice any difference in that foot, Run Forrest, Run!! Don't beat yourself up though, these little ones are lightning fast, and can be wild as march hares. You've just got a case of the "good mommy guilt", and that's not a bad thing. If you find at times that you wonder if you're a good mom or even worry that you're not, it's just that you ARE a good mom. If not, it would be a different story. Please let me know how he's doing.