Message Number: YG12446 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Troy Lynn Eckart
Date: 2002-04-12 09:03:00 UTC
Subject: Re: torn back nail

Scooter obviously thought I needed to know about this as right before
leaving for work he ripped out a nail coming down a covered ramp in one of
the cages.... by the time I got to him the nail was out and he was
running back and forth on the bottom of the cage. I grabbed him and ran
for the clotisol which is so old it had a brown tint to it which I noticed as
I squirted it all over his foot and my hands.... but it stopped the
bleeding and when I put him down he took off to hide.

Tearing nails out is painful when it happens and for some time afterwards
(you may notice limping or sleeping more and less playing). I keep
an eye on the toe and if it becomes overly swollen (there will be minor
swelling due to the tissue trauma) or discolored I'll wash it with a
warm wash cloth and apply an antibacterial ointment or vaseline. I use
newspapers and paper towels in the litter boxes and change them frequently.

Anything put on the toe is likely to be licked off so I don't use anything
unless I see sign of infection and then I use a triple antibiotic ointmnet
that my vet recommended (not the one with pain killing properties).

Poor Scooter, he looked so confused as to why that @#$% cage bit him....

hugs to all. tle
Troy Lynn Eckart
Ferret Family Services
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html
http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/5481/