Bactine Basil strikes again

[jennifervb]

the little man has, yet again, injured his little foot. I'm telling you... I can't figure out what he is hurting himself on!!!

I noticed his limp on Thursday. As usual, I scooped him up and ran my finger under the little foot. I figure that, if it were broken, he would squeak when having it extended. No squeaks came so I figure he has scratched it again.

Today was better. He is still cautious about putting weight on it but he is using it more than he was yesterday. He is learning to tolerate the Bactine treatment... I guess he realizes that it does feel good.

Now all I have to do is keep Ben from trying to taste Basil's Bactine... he knows it tastes awful but he just won't catch the bus!!!!!

 

[jorats]

Aww... poor little guy. What kind of cage does he have? Could one of the ramps be the culprit?

 

[jennifervb]

Aww... poor little guy. What kind of cage does he have? Could one of the ramps be the culprit?

Thanks Jo, :heart:

Ben and Basil share a "rat skyscraper" from Martin's Cages. I have intentionally secured towel strips to each of the 3 ramps since day one because I was afraid that Ben and Jerry would contract bumblefoot. I have continued with it ever since.

The strips are attached to the cage with thin strips of cloth so that I don't have to worry about the guys ingesting it. I wash the ramp cloths in cook mode every two weeks unless they give me a reason to do it more often.

Basil is still limping but he is much better. His little foot is not in the curled position it was in yesterday and he was powergrooming Ben on the couch.
:love6:

 

[jennifervb]

Jo? Why am I in there as a black hooded? Ben is a beige hooded and Basil is a PEW... HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shock:!!!!

 

[lilspaz68]

Jo? Why am I in there as a black hooded? Ben is a beige hooded and Basil is a PEW... HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shock:!!!!

Its just a ranking of post cost Jen, it will change yet again :lol:

 

[jennifervb]

Jo? Why am I in there as a black hooded? Ben is a beige hooded and Basil is a PEW... HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shock:!!!!

Its just a ranking of post cost Jen, it will change yet again :lol:

WHEW.... thanks Sweetie!!! I just got this new laptop and I won't begin to tell you how much havoc I have wreaked, on the web, trying to figure out what keys do what.

 

[jorats]

Ya, like Shelagh said, just a little play with the rank system. hey, you look great as a black hooded. lol

You know... when I had my martins cages, I often had rats with sprained legs. I wonder if maybe there's a connection? Probably not... but just weird that since changing cages, I have not had one rat with a sprained leg.

 

[lilspaz68]

It does sound more like a sprain and bactine is probably not required unless you see an obvious scratch. Rats can run around and ignore bloody wounds much less a scrape. A sprain on the other hand they will favour the foot for a day or 3, but will eventually heal. You just have to make sure that it doesn't swell up too badly, and might need an anti-inflammatory or a vet visit.

Sprains are common in our munchkins.

 

[jennifervb]

Little man is back on track! No limping, squeaking or curling up in the back of his paper wine bag with a small chunk of teklad.

(yes, even when he is hurting.... food is an absolute MUST!!! :laugh4:!!!)

I have every concievable portion of wire mesh, in that cage, covered including the ramps.

Wouldn't it stand to reason that Ben would also suffer sprains and cuts as well... or is it just that my little man, Basil, tips more on the scale than Ben? :wink:

 

[jorats]

I don't know what it is... it's probably just my imagination, as many things are. lol

 

[jennifervb]

I don't know what it is... it's probably just my imagination, as many things are. lol

LOL... don't worry about it Jo... you and I are in the same boat.

It isn't my rats that drive me crazy.... it's ME that drives me crazy. :laugh4:

 

[jorats]

Exactly!! lol

 

[jennifervb]

Exactly!! lol

Ben tried taking off with my heel last night... :shock:

until he figured out that it was attached. DUH... you silly, little, fuzzball. :laugh4:

 

[jorats]

LOL!