Rat Paw Sprain

[dan2333]

My rat sprained his paw just over a week ago. It swelled up and he couldn't walk on that paw after. Then it got better for one day and he was using it again.

Then he jumped off the kitchen table and I think he hurt it again.

The swelling is gone and he doesn't squeak when I touch it. But he still can't walk on it.

I am worried that he won't regain the ability to walk on it again. I don't think it's broken.

Has anyone else had this experience of a sprained paw/ankle on their rat?

 

[mamarat]

It is a common injury, and it will take longer to heal if he injures it again. It will heal eventually. If only we could tell them to take it easy when that happens. I have a girl and she's just getting over it now and it's been 3 weeks. I did give her Metacam at the beginning though, when it was swollen.

 

[dan2333]

Thanks. He wrestles a lot with the other rat and maybe that was the cause. They never get into serious fights, just play fighting.

Today when I let them run around, I separated them cause they were wrestling a lot. I don't want him to potentially re-injure his paw.

 

[lilspaz68]

He is going to re-injure that paw no matter what you do, until he learns not to. I would just let him be, as long as there's no swelling

 

[jorats]

I agree with lilspaz, rats will be rats.

 

[TheRatQueen]

Do you have any metacam to give him?

 

[dan2333]

His paw is better today. He is using it more now when he's eating. And he was walking on it more today. He doesn't walk or run around as much as before though.

No I don't have metacam. However, I have been giving him a bit of glucosamine/chondroitin in oatmeal. And I have been applying Helichrysum oil to his paw. It's a natural, non-toxic oil that comes from a flower. It's supposed to reduce inflammation, and speed up healing.

 

[mamarat]

Glad your little one is doing better.

 

[TheRatQueen]

Paulie always used to sprain his back foot and it would swell and he would complain and lay belly up. LOL And Icarus now sprains his all of the time as well. And he'll act like a dead fish until the next morning. Such drama queens. I constantly have metacam on hand.