Intros with Archie~Foot biting update

[AshleyRayeRats]

So it has been 8 days since Archie's neuter and he has had "neutral territory" intros and lap snuggle intros with our other neutered boy Ernie . . . we decided to move Archie in to the bottom of the double CN (keeping the 4 girls locked in the top, as I am paranoid about any lingering fertility!

Archie's Thread http://www.ratshackforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=23212

Thread with Ernie's tale http://www.ratshackforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=22468

They have wrestled a little and done some ninja moves on one another, a few light squeaks but no blood or even scratches (Ernie is a nakee boy) . . .much to my surprise, our petite gentle Ernie has pinned down big man rat Archie quite a few times. It's the first time I have seen him do anything "alpha". Poor Archie seems so nervous, this is possibly the first time he's lived with rats since he was a pup and Ernie hasn't lived with a male since his brother passed away after his neuter in December.

I am not ready to leave them all alone for the night together, but at least Archie will be in the bottom of the CN while still being able to smell and greet the others through the "ladder" space. . . so excited for the last piece of our 6 rat family to fall into place! :dance:


edit to update thread title

 

[AshleyRayeRats]

So, I didn't trust my gut and they seemed ok, so I let them have a sleepover




baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad idea


They were both in the igloo this morning, but it was more like Ernie holding Archie hostage. I put Ernie in the top to check out Archie . . .poor Archie has a ripped toenail on one of his forepaws, and his right rear paw is very swollen and his left rear paw looks to have a scrape on it (or just blood from something else . . . don't wanna pick at him right now as he is upset.

I was going to rush him in with me to the shelter I work at to have a vet take a look, but I think I will give him the day to chill and reassess tomorrow. My poor baby boy, I feel so stupid :wallbang:

 

[jorats]

The areas of the ****oos would indicate to me that those are "in between cage scuffles". I would be more inclined to blame the girls upstairs, being grabby with his extremities.
Rats who live together and are bullies, don't go for the paws... they go for the back and tummies. I don't think it was Ernie, unless you see Ernie grab at Archie's paws.
The fact that they were both together (hostage or not) is very good. The scenario in my mind is that Archie got bit by an upstairs girl through the bars, in his panic haze, hurt is back paws and Ernie tried to stay with him to console him because ****oos on the digits really hurt.

 

[AshleyRayeRats]

The "between cage" thing, makes sense, I suppose. Below are some pictures of poor Archie's 'battle damage', organized by injury site


Rear left paw (injured lateral toe)

Top view

Other angle

Snagged, pulled out nail on left front paw

Swollen, likely punctured right rear paw

From the bottom

Toes in your face!!

I am going to bring him into work with me tomorrow and have the vet take a look. At the very least, I would like to get him on ABs just to help prevent an abscess . . .

 

[jorats]

Those are very minor, keep the wounds clean and he'll heal up in no time. Abs will help but remember each time you do abs you run the chance of making him resistant to that abs. So maybe ask for something like Bactrim and not Baytril. And I wouldn't separate him from Ernie... if you take Archie to work with you, bring Ernie too.

 

[mamarat]

Your poor baby. Sending healing vibes.

 

[AshleyRayeRats]

Omg... I can't believe I can get on TRS from my phone...anywho!
I brought Archie with...no Ernie though, I would have had I thought of it...
Unfortunately, our hospital (at my shelter) has bactrim on order, but we ran out! So, he is on Baytril as it was the next best thing. He also has some hard swelling on one side of his neuter site, so hopefully the ABs and some more recovery time will help!

 

[TorachiKatashi]

My Vin had a toenail torn out a few weeks ago from an "in between the cages" fight. It was really scary, but it stopped bleeding that same night, and the nail started to regrow within the first week. I chose not to give him any abs unless the swelling didn't go down quickly (and it did,) so unless it begins to look infected, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[jorats]

The Baytril will definitely do the trick.

 

[AshleyRayeRats]

The torn nail is the least of my worries. Since he has a puncture and swelling on his one paw, he's on ABs. Also, one of his neuter incisions was looking funky and it opened up . .blech! There is no pus or smell of infection, just sort of angry/inflamed. The vet reglued part of the opening, but left the bottom open to drain in case any infection crops up. I also have a chlorohex solution to rinse his incision. Hopefully he'll be good as new and part of one big happy family as soon as possible!

 

[jorats]

Oh poor boy... sending healing vibes.

 

[AshleyRayeRats]

My last intro of a neutered boy to a group of girls was just so much smoother than this . . .

So last night, I kept Ernie and Archie together in the bottom, I figured at this point, Archie probably won't be venturing anywhere near the girls.

Either he tried to go visit them, or Ernie has a foot fetish. He has another owie on his left rear paw, but it's not to bad (more of a big scrape). . . I just put the ramp cover on the inbetween level ramp, so if that doesn't stop the owies, then Ernie is a weirdo.

Also, Archie seems really depressed. He's just sort of hiding in different spots and isn't his spunky self. I even brought one of my kinder gentler girls down to say "hello" and he was just aloof. His neuter was on 5/13, I would think he would be feeling better. It's like he is not happy to have rat friends . . . :sad3:

 

[jorats]

I would think it's the owies that's got him down. Unless Ernie is a bully...that could really make Archie depressed.
Have you observed Ernie and Archie together? It is possible for a rat to nip another rat's foot, just not likely but in this case, since it's continuing, that might be the problem. But a foot nip is not an aggressive "move". Is Ernie neutered?

 

[yoni]

I would think it's the owies that's got him down. Unless Ernie is a bully...that could really make Archie depressed.
Have you observed Ernie and Archie together? It is possible for a rat to nip another rat's foot, just not likely but in this case, since it's continuing, that might be the problem. But a foot nip is not an aggressive "move". Is Ernie neutered?

Ernie's been fixed for months. Archie does get active when Ernie tries to wrestle and even threw him off one of the shelves of the CN this morning. They're still together and I'll check on them around lunch time.

 

[jorats]

I would think it's the owies that's got him down. Unless Ernie is a bully...that could really make Archie depressed.
Have you observed Ernie and Archie together? It is possible for a rat to nip another rat's foot, just not likely but in this case, since it's continuing, that might be the problem. But a foot nip is not an aggressive "move". Is Ernie neutered?

Ernie's been fixed for months. Archie does get active when Ernie tries to wrestle and even threw him off one of the shelves of the CN this morning. They're still together and I'll check on them around lunch time.

How long were their intros before you moved them in together? And how old are they both?

 

[yoni]

I would think it's the owies that's got him down. Unless Ernie is a bully...that could really make Archie depressed.
Have you observed Ernie and Archie together? It is possible for a rat to nip another rat's foot, just not likely but in this case, since it's continuing, that might be the problem. But a foot nip is not an aggressive "move". Is Ernie neutered?

Ernie's been fixed for months. Archie does get active when Ernie tries to wrestle and even threw him off one of the shelves of the CN this morning. They're still together and I'll check on them around lunch time.

How long were their intros before you moved them in together? And how old are they both?

They had started intro's a few weeks ago but just brief play dates. They are both about a year old.

 

[yoni]

Sorry it's taken so long to update, Archie is ok after this afternoon but when I put him in with the girls he comes to life, wanders around climbs things tries to get into hammocks. Lets the ladies check him out. He was neutered 11 days ago and is definitely still recovering but don't know if it's ok to have extended time with the ladies yet.

 

[yoni]

and he definitely likes being out of the cage with me hanging out right now.

 

[jorats]

That's good that he perks up. So he's just not that thrilled living with Ernie. Maybe their intros should have been longer? When you say brief play dates, how brief?

 

[yoni]

That's good that he perks up. So he's just not that thrilled living with Ernie. Maybe their intros should have been longer? When you say brief play dates, how brief?

20-30 minutes a piece. Also Ashley is about to post some very good vibe pictures. I think we're on the right track.