Bad bite! Kahlua got bit on her nose!!!! PICS INCLUDED!

[xenrielle]

So just now Kahlua stuck her nose through the ladder on the FN (I have a double and that is what is separating them. They chewed through the cardboard there I had to help.) and her nose got slashed and/or bit and it seemed to go through part of her lip. The bleeding isn't really bad, it has some blood around it, but it's not leaking or dripping, it seems sore! She is still breathing through her nose okay from what I can tell and keeps trying to groom it. She is still moving around okay, but I'm worried.

I think it looks worse than it is, but I'm still stressed. There is no way to get her to a vet till next Fri. (I had to take 2 weeks off work cause I had pneumonia and am out of money till then. I am literally only eating while at work cause it's free.)

 

[handmeafish]

oh, that looks nasty.
I'd wash it with saline, and keep it as clean as possible. We put tripple antibiotic ointment on stuff at work, but I dunno about how that would work so close to the nose... (plus it says "do not ingest" and the first thing any of those things does is groom it right off, so that worries me, but the vet says its ok)

 

[Rattus]

Just keep it clean is all you can do, watch for too much swelling and redness and smell(infection) It looks deep but it may heal on its own.. shes going to try to groom it, thats unavoidable as long as its not bothers her Id say she'll be fine. Just again keep it clean and look for signs of infection, if it gets any worse then Id take her to a vet but otherwise Id say theres no need.

 

[lilspaz68]

It doesn't look bad at all...not too swollen, that should heal up just fine. Breathe. :cuddle:
I would advise more solid things under the ladder, nothing chewable.

 

[xenrielle]

I am breathing now. I'm alot calmer. lol It just looked so bad last night. It looks a little more swollen this morning, her whole muzzle looks funny. It just freaked me out because it went through her lip and I was all OMG!!! Right now she's curled up in her box relaxing. Not to happy is she. I put a chunk of cardboard back on there, with a chunk of plastic on top of that and her heaviest dish, and I'm going to check it everyday now. Soooo don't want that to happen again. My poor little munchkin. Those rats seem to have it out for her, especially Minnie. Last time I tried intro's, Minnie had bitten poor Kahlua 4 times before I separated them. I am starting to wonder if she will ever live with them... Hopefully the one I'm adopting from a friend who is closer in age will work out better.

 

[jorats]

Ya, it's not bad at all... and typical for rats to do this. Just another experience to put under your belt. You'll know better next time.

 

[xenrielle]

Definitely. I am about to start cleaning their cages, and I am going to switch plastic trays so the one ith the hole is at the bottom so there is no way for them to get at her! I am so annoyed at Minnie for this. I don't get why she hates Kahlua so much. She is so vicious when she is near her...

 

[Dahlas]

I had my CN seperated into two cages...and had my rats on the top and foster rats on the bottom. The foster rats where aggressive towards mine....I switched pans and put the one with the cut out for the ladder on the bottom...but still the foster rats nipped my rats tails if they went by the egdes....So I put my rats on the bottom and the foster rats on top.....no more problems....

 

[Sharlees rattakisses]

Poor sweetie!!!!
Poor you. :cuddle:

 

[xenrielle]

I had my CN seperated into two cages...and had my rats on the top and foster rats on the bottom. The foster rats where aggressive towards mine....I switched pans and put the one with the cut out for the ladder on the bottom...but still the foster rats nipped my rats tails if they went by the egdes....So I put my rats on the bottom and the foster rats on top.....no more problems....

I saw that and so I took hot pink (hehe) Bristol board and lined the edges. There is no way for them to touch her now. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Joanne]

Ow! Poor nose!
With trauma, the swelling and inflammation is worst the second day afterwards, so if she has a bit more swelling tomorrow that would be normal. After that though, it should start to decrease. If she has swelling 5 or 6 days later, then it is an infection and should be treated as such.
Speedy healing Kahlua!