Basil ate his hydrocortisone cream!

[jennifervb]

:shock:

On Tuesday, I discovered that Basil has, yet again, scratched up his little foot. This time it is the front paw so his hobbling is very pronounced.

I could actually see the scratch so on Tuesday I saturated a cotton ball with Bactine and treated the foot. Yesterday, I thought it would be beneficial to treat the foot with a small amount of hydro-cortisone cream but the little mohano ATE THE CREAM before I even knew what was happening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is ingestion dangerous??? I couldn't find anything on the packaging to indicate that a poison control center would need to be contacted by consumption so I gave him some yogurt and prayed.

This morning he was still his spunky, mischievous self so I think it was ok... nevertheless, any input would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!

Thanks!

 

[lilspaz68]

I wouldn't use hydrocortisone cream on a wound at all. If you see scratches use the bactine or neosporin only.

I am sure it wasn't much and I would just make sure he drinks a lot and flushes it out. He sounds like he is doing just fine if it was on Tuesday LOL

Sounds like you need to feel over your cage inch by inch without looking at it. Feel for anything that might be scratching him, check his fav places to hang out. Our eyes can be fooled but touch is much harder.

 

[Moon]

I've had to use hydrocortisone cream on my worst eczema. It's really not good for you, and I try not to use it ever now.

I wouldn't worry too much, as it's not like he chowed down on the tube. I'm pretty much repeating what Shelagh said, but in different words.

 

[jennifervb]

Thanks you two! :heart:

I won't use any more cream on Basil. He is still limping but I gave him a shot of bactine last night; gave him some soy yogurt for being a good little patient and got nose kisses while he got scritches. :love6:

He has now been limping, and not using the foot, since Tuesday. There does not appear to be any sprain and I can't, for the life of me, find anything in his cage which would hurt him.

I did what you suggested Shelagh and ran my hands through every floor of the cage but was not able to find anything sharp or protruding.

How much time should I give things before taking him to the vet? I can't imagine that they would be able to do much more than I am already doing but maybe I am missing something obvious. (not surprising with me...LMAO!!!!)

Basil is, otherwise, just as happy a little camper as he ever was. His appetite is still going strong and his interest, in what the living room floor has to offer, is still running wild. The only difference is that he hobbles his way around... {{{{{{{{{{Basil}}}}}}}}}}

 

[lilspaz68]

Hmmm...where exactly are the scratches? Same place evertyime? How does he hobble? Does he drag the limb or pull it up into his body or use it but it knuckles over?

 

[jennifervb]

Hmmm...where exactly are the scratches? Same place evertyime? How does he hobble? Does he drag the limb or pull it up into his body or use it but it knuckles over?

From what I can tell; the scratches are at the line where the toes attach to the foot.

He pulls the limb up into his body, for the most part, but I have seen moments where he will put the foot down and walk on it for a split second.

 

[lilspaz68]

bottom of foot or top of foot for the scratches?

 

[jennifervb]

bottom of foot or top of foot for the scratches?

bottom of the foot.

I don't remember where the scratches were the last time he hurt himself... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

My poor little dude!!! He is being really good natured about it and spends a significant amount of time lazing around in his wine bottle bag under the couch. :heart:

 

[lilspaz68]

How bad are the scratches? just wee ones?

 

[jennifervb]

How bad are the scratches? just wee ones?

They seemed to be middle sized... they kind of reminded me of the kind of marks I used to get, on my hands, when I went across the monkey bars in school.

 

[lilspaz68]

How fast do they heal if you leave them alone?

 

[jennifervb]

How fast do they heal if you leave them alone?

The last time he was walking again within 4 days but I was treating him with Bactine once a day.

Thank you Dr. Lilspaz... :heart: :love6:

 

[lilspaz68]

tiny scratches that make him not walk on it...strange. Rats can almost ignore gaping flesh wounds so this is different.

Lemme think a bit, I am at work so I cannot do too much Rat Thinking right now LOL

 

[jennifervb]

tiny scratches that make him not walk on it...strange. Rats can almost ignore gaping flesh wounds so this is different.

Lemme think a bit, I am at work so I cannot do too much Rat Thinking right now LOL

Ok... they are actually middle sized scratches. I will check him again this evening and let you know what they really are!

Yes, don't let your boss catch you Rat thinking!!! LMAO!!!! :laugh4:

 

[LA]

Couple of questions, has this just been recently happening like in the winter? Or all seasons. What bedding and what type of cage?

 

[jennifervb]

I had to take Basil to the vet this evening. When I got home I discovered that his little leg had swollen very badly.

The vet took x-rays and determined that he may have a soft tissue tumor just above the foot. The foot and his toes are also beginning to swell. He is on Baytril and Meloxicam for the next 10 days and I will be taking him in for a re-check once the meds are done.

If the swelling goes away then all is well, but if the swelling gets worse over the next week I have to take him in right away to have the foot amputated. They would remove from the "elbow" down.

I would rather have my little pirate on three and a half legs than to lose him by letting the tumor run wild in his system once it has penetrated the bones.

Dr. Richards is enamoured with Basil. She said that he is one beautiful rat man. I won't disagree with that. He did, however, GAIN WEIGHT!!! He is now a whopping 713grams. It's diet time! Dr. Richards suggested also that his weight may be aggravating his condition so it is going to be hard love until I get him back down to 675grams. My poor little dude. :love6:

Pray hard for my boy. He was a precious little face and ate his meds after cleaning my face. I think my boys both know that it has to be something serious for me to leave them at the vet overnight. :heart:

God, I love my little guys. :love6: :love6: :love6: :love6:

 

[lilspaz68]

Ahh poor sweetie!

That makes more sense to me now. The scratches were just a sign but there was an underlying problem that would cause such an over-reaction. I am praying its only an infection for both of you!!! :heart:

 

[LA]

Aw poor sweetie pie.

 

[Fidget]

Ah, tonight I'm saying prayers for your baby Basil. I sure hope the meds can fix him up and keep him from needing surgery, I believe they will!
Hugs to you, it's gotta be hell to go to sleep without your baby in the house.

 

[jennifervb]

Thank you for your support; I really appreciate it!!! It is rough when a beloved fuzzy family member is hurting. :tearful: Fortunately, they are so good about dealing with it. I wish more humans were as resilient.

When you read about some of the issues they deal with; it is really an eye opener. Wasn't it little Summer whose jawbone had been replaced by infection? It continues to amaze me that she carried on as if things were as normal as ever!

Sorry Fidget, I forgot to mention that I brought Basil back home after his visit. I won't leave my boys overnight unless there is a very valid reason. I believe that they are better likely to heal quickly if they are in a trusted environment with companions they know and have bonded with.

Basil was very active this morning when I got up to treat him. He LOVES his Baytril!!! (WHEW!!!! thank GOD!!! (insert "relief emoticon" here ) Unfortunately, Ben loves Basil's Baytril too so once I put Basil back in the cage; he was pounced on and got a powergroom face clean...LMAO!!!!

His foot and leg are still swollen but he is significantly more active than he was this past week.

The vet visit cost me almost $200 but that's ok. I will be submitting the invoice to VPI for partial reimbursement. Let's hope they don't develop another one of their anal attitudes or I will report them to the BBB. :scolding:

My little phurphase deserves the medical benefits I pay for him to have. :love4: