Hurt chin?

[Mookie]

I was cleaning out the cage today and I noticed some blood on some of my chinchilla's wooden houses. I looked around at Misty and she was fine, but then I noticed it was coming from my neutered boy cookie. He is limping but still jumping around. I am going to try to get to the vet as soon as I can. What should I do in the mean time? Is he okay? I don't know how it happened but I do realized that he does have a wire ramp in his cage but I thought the spacings were too smll, the spacings are the same size as the critter nation cage. Help me please, this has never happened to me before

 

[Cuddlebug]

Keep the wound clean until you can get the chin to a vet. I would remove the ramp since they are dangerous and chins don't need them. They prefer to jump from level to level.

 

[addictedtochins]

Where is the blood coming from? Which limb is he limping on? Is the limping bad ie; zero weight bearing? You will likely have to see a vet and get X-rays.

 

[Mookie]

He is limping on his rght front leg, and that is where the blood is coming from I believe because I don't want to get too close because I don't want to hurt him I'm going to check to see if he is walking on it at all.

 

[addictedtochins]

Do you have Blu-kote to put on the wound? Do you have a vet lined up for a Sat. night or Sunday visit? If not start calling to find one just in case. If it was my chin I would examine the arm feeling for a obvious break or tender spot by the chins reaction when I touch it. And don't forget the arm comes way out, not just the tiny little T-rex arm. If I didn't find anything I would wait until Sunday and see if the limping has gone away. If not we are going to the vet that day.

 

[Mookie]

I'm trying to examine the arm he doesn't look like he's completely not walking on it at all. I think I am going to wait until tomarrow and if he is still limpingI am going for a vet visit. I do have a vet that I can see. He actually has chinchillas himself and he is always happy to see me and my chinchillas. The bleeding has definatly stopped. I am just going to examine the full arm completely and then if there is an obvious break I'll take him tonight.

 

[addictedtochins]

How is Cookie today?

 

[Mookie]

He seems better! He still is not walking on it completely. I called to make an appointment this morning little to findout they are closed I really don't want him to have to be in any pain for another night but we were going to have to take him tomarrow He does seem a little better today though. He doesn't walk on it normally but he will put some weight on it, when he is just standing he will put it down and when he walks he will put it down sometimes. He is still very active, but if there is no improvement tomarrow he is 100% definatly going to the vet. I would've gone today but they are closed :/

 

[obcsed]

I had one sprain a front leg and it took a few days before he would put it down let alone bear weight on it. He had pain meds for a few days. Good idea to have it checked out and maybe get some meds for him but it doesn't sound too bad. Hope he gets back to normal quickly.

 

[Mookie]

I had one sprain a front leg and it took a few days before he would put it down let alone bear weight on it. He had pain meds for a few days. Good idea to have it checked out and maybe get some meds for him but it doesn't sound too bad. Hope he gets back to normal quickly.

Thank you!

I have a question for anyone: Do you think he can go back with his cagemate, or should I wait until he goes to the vet? right now he is in alarge cat carrier with no shelves or leges so he doesn't jump.

 

[addictedtochins]

No, I should have told you to isolate him in a small cage. Chins can hide their pain and injuries. I'm glad he is feeling as good as possible. Prob. will need to get seen for an exam and poss. pain meds. Keep an eye on his eating/poo's and drinking.

 

[Mookie]

I made the appointment he is going today at 6:10 I'll post back the result when i get back, wish us luck and that's what I thought he's been separated since to be safe

 

[Mookie]

Just got back from the vet! They checked his leg and found a cut, butit wasn't vey red or swollen. They also checked his reflexes and they weren't acting as they should . They didn't feel any breaks or anything. They put him down and he wasn't walking on it at all .He walks 3 legged. They told me that I need to check him everyday and if his wound/ cut gets worse by being swollen or red or if he is still limping in a week then we haveto take him back for possible x-rays. I hope he gets better

 

[Claire D]

If the vet is concerned that your chinchilla has nerve damage then you need to restrict his movement. A small, chinchilla safe (i.e. not plastic he can chew through) carrier is ideal - you need to make sure he cannot do more damage to his leg than he has already done & also watch that he does not start chewing his leg.

 

[Mookie]

Yeah, the vet told me to restrict his movement as much as possible I have him in a small cage with no ledges or anything besides food water and his house.

 

[ticklechin]

I would have wanted a x-ray, since vets don't have x-ray vision I wonder how they thought they could see a fracture? Just curious what others think.

 

[Airyn]

The lack of x-ray seems really strange to me too. Nixi broke her leg a few months ago and even though it was very clearly broken, they still did an x-ray to see HOW the bone actually broke to best evaluate next steps.

 

[Andrea]

I would be pretty disappointed if that's all I got out of a vet visit. I guess do as the vet says and if your chin doesn't seem better soon go back for xrays. The fact that he isn't putting any weight on it sounds very serious since chins will not show signs of injury unless it's really painful to them. It's a natural defense mechanism since they are prey in the wild...they try not to show weakness/injury. Seems like you paid that vet for pretty much what you already knew...I hope your boy makes a quick recovery.

 

[Claire D]

Just curious what others think.

I must admit I am curious about a lot of this thread - as for what has been written, I think I'd be looking for another vet if that was the response I had to taking a chin who was non-weight bearing on a leg in for an appointment ........

No x-ray, no pain relief, no diagnosis ........ no idea. *shrug*

 

[Cuddlebug]

I agree with you, Claire. I would have insisted on the x-rays. The chin is in pain and nothing is being done to relieve his pain. Leaving it like it is could also result in more damage.