Is there anything I can do to help?

[Raven McAdams]

Clover had to get stitches because they chewed their plastic space pod to the point where it had sharp edges and I didn’t notice until it was too late. She had a two inch gash on the back of her neck. Originally she came home with just the stitches, but she tore them out so they had to bandage her. She’s absolutely miserable and it looks so tight. She can barely move her head or upper arms. I’m not sure if she can drink. She’s bruxing, but in an uncomfortable way. Is there anything I can do to help her? I feel so bad.

 

[Luna&Ralph]

Is she on Metacam for pain? If she absolutely has to be bandaged, making her food, water, bed and toys easily accessible for her to still enjoy will make things much easier for her until she can be free. If she can open up get stitches, I wouldn’t expect that bandage to last too long though. In that case, pain control is important.

 

[Raven McAdams]

They didn’t give anything for pain, just an anti inflammatory. I just had to cut off some of the bandage because it was too tight and she could barely breathe. I was giving her her medicine and she couldn’t swallow and her ears were dark red. Hopefully I helped her out. She fell straight asleep after, today has been a super stressful day for her.
Edit: she also had a bunch of porphyrin coming from her eyes.

 

[Luna&Ralph]

Poor little thing. The porphyrin is almost certainly from the stress she had to go through today. Which anti-inflammatory were you given?

 

[lilspaz68]

my guess is the wound was more of a tension wound slice, I'll attempt to see if Photobucket lets me post a pic then let us know if thats what it looked like?

Similar to this?

 

[lilspaz68]

Or this?

 

[Raven McAdams]

Rey sim

my guess is the wound was more of a tension wound slice, I'll attempt to see if Photobucket lets me post a pic then let us know if thats what it looked like?

Similar to this?

Very similar to this.

 

[lilspaz68]

These are usually not a big deal but look incredibly scary. The skin gets sliced by an object, teeth or claws and it goes through to the muscle layer. The skin tension pulls it open wide, but these usually aren't very painful, bleed much or at all, and the skin tension will often pull them closed up again overnight or they heal in a couple of days. Next time you see one of these, clean it with saline or wound wash initially but they don't usually need stitches.

 

[lilspaz68]

Do you have a dominant rat in your cage? This is more of a dominance bite where they hold the back of the neck, the holdee tries to escape and the skin gets sliced.

 

[Raven McAdams]

Do you have a dominant rat in your cage? This is more of a dominance bite where they hold the back of the neck, the holdee tries to escape and the skin gets sliced.

I do, I thought she was doing better because she was being aggressive, but I guess not. I may have to separate her again, which she was very unhappy about.

 

[SQ]

Rats usually leave their stiches alone if they are getting enough pain control.
It sounds like she needs pain meds from the vet, not that bandage
Since we have no idea what meds she has been given, I would suggest contacting the vet about oral pain meds because some meds can not be given if rats are on other meds

 

[lilspaz68]

Are the other rats worried or scared around her? Do they avoid her, freeze and slink away when she comes by? These are small injuries that I generally don't worry about, rats get little wounds all the time. Its their mental health I worry about most. If they aren't frightened of her, no need to pull her out just yet.

 

[Raven McAdams]

These are usually not a big deal but look incredibly scary. The skin gets sliced by an object, teeth or claws and it goes through to the muscle layer. The skin tension pulls it open wide, but these usually aren't very painful, bleed much or at all, and the skin tension will often pull them closed up again overnight or they heal in a couple of days. Next time you see one of these, clean it with saline or wound wash initially but they don't usually need stitches.

Well that was an expensive lesson to learn

 

[Raven McAdams]

Om

Are the other rats worried or scared around her? Do they avoid her, freeze and slink away when she comes by? These are small injuries that I generally don't worry about, rats get little wounds all the time. Its their mental health I worry about most. If they aren't frightened of her, no need to pull her out just yet.

One of them is kind of afraid of her, but they still cuddle together in their hammock.

 

[Raven McAdams]

Rats usually leave their stiches alone if they are getting enough pain control.
It sounds like she needs pain meds from the vet, not that bandage
Since we have no idea what meds she has been given, I would suggest contacting the vet about oral pain meds because some meds can not be given if rats are on other meds

I think it was just itchy, she was scratching with her foot. She wasn’t acting like she was in pain from the stitches.

 

[lilspaz68]

Owning rats are a learn-on-the-job deal. LOTS of people have gone to the vet for a skin tension slice to have it stitched...my first was terrifying. On a tiny baby, who kept playing and didn't show a sign of issue in the evening. By the next morning I couldn't find it again.