Tail Caught in CN Door

[TorachiKatashi]

Argh, I can't even believe it. I always check for tails and feet and little noses when I'm closing the cage doors. I opened the door to give Whiskers a yogie (I read about not feeding through the bars, and he already mistakes fingertips for treats so I'm definitely trying to avoid that), and-- I don't know. I'm all worked up now, I can hardly remember what happened. Either I got distracted as I was closing the door, or he turned his butt towards the door just as I closed it, or something, but his tail got stuck between the edge of the shelf and the door, about an inch from the tip.

I think I'm worse off than him, though, thank God. I ran back and opened the door as soon as he started screaming (if screaming is the word you'd use, it wasn't blood curdling or anything), and once he was back in and licked his tail a few times, he went right back to eating his yogie. I took him out to sit back in my lap so I could watch him, and he seems fine. I can't really see anything on his tail (but his entire tail is pretty discoloured with what I assume is old/dead skin so it's really hard to tell), and he let me touch/lightly squeeze the entire tail without any protest. He didn't actually start to scream until I was a few steps away from the cage, so I think he was screaming because he was stuck and panicking, rather than because it really hurt. I just gave him a new tissue box to shred and he seems to be his normal self now, so hopefully, we just had a little scare. I'll keep an eye on it, of course. Is there anything in particular I should look out for?

He crawled up and gave me some big kisses after I finished checking his tail, so either way, I think he forgives me at least. <3

 

[Joanne]

I think the big risk is that the blood supply to the end of the tail has been compromised. After a trauma, swelling and bruising increase for the first 48 hours, and then start to decrease. So if his tail is a bit puffy, or looks bruised, then that would be normal. However, it should then start to improve, and go back to normal. If the tail starts to get really dark and discoloured as the days progress, and doesn't look like it's getting better, I would have a vet evaluate it.
It really depends on how tightly the door closes in that particular spot. My doors seem to have different spacing. One door would barely hold their tail, while another would amputate it. I think by his low key reaction, that it wasn't that serious. Just check it every day. It sounds like he forgives you!

 

[jorats]

He might have only caught it between the pan and the door, that wouldn't be so bad, discomfort sure but nothing too dire.
But if the door closed completely on the tail, I think you would have heard a very loud scream and probably see damage.

That's the only thing I dislike about the FN/CN... the large doors that can allow for heads, feet and tails to get caught. And yet, the large doors are also one of the great features of the CN. You just can't win. lol

 

[PitLuvs]

I did this to Londo the other night, he turned around after I shoosh him from the door and his tail flopped out. It wasn't closed 100% but it did pinch him. He squeeled, not blood curdling but enough to make me feel like crap. I'm much much more careful now, and Londo forgave me with a nice calm shoulder ride afterwards. Yes, I'm the one who's spoiled when shoulder rights are taken lol Sorry to hear about Wiskers! let us know how it all fairs out for him :heart:

 

[Roo]

Scary! I always say "beep beep beep!" when I'm closing the door so they know I mean business. They always move back a little.

I hope he's what Jo said and was just caught between the pan and the door.

 

[lilspaz68]

I sing song to my kids "watch your toes and tails" and most have learned to back up usually facing me But the tail pinch in CN's and FN's will happen, just try to be as careful as possible and also learn to close the door slowly and wait a second before walking away to make sure no one got pinched. But in my opinion that's all his was, a pinch, scary but not bad.

 

[mamarat]

I throw a handful of cheerios to the back of the cage and say (pousse pousse) French for push and now when I say it they just move away. It's been working great for all my colonies.

 

[Joanne]

Mine is 'Watch your toeses and your noses!' :giggle:
I hold on to the latches until the door is completely closed, so that if someone does get pinched the door doesn't latch shut and make it worse.

 

[Argent]

Don't feel too bad - I managed to break Rufus' arm because I wasn't looking!!! The doors are a bit of a danger >.< I can't wait to make some correx trays, hopefully it'll stop that kind of thing happening so easily.

 

[TorachiKatashi]

I checked him over again when I woke up this morning before work, and again just now. He seems fine, but I still feel awful. I did go back and check and there is an awful lot of space between that particular tray and the door, and I can't see any marks or anything on his tail (a spot or two that might be a little red, but like I said, his tail has a lot of dark/discoloured spots so it's pretty hard to tell), and it's not at all tender, so I definitely think he got stuck as opposed to his tail really being squished. He doesn't seem afraid to come greet me at the doors, which was my biggest fear aside from the potential injury, so I'm glad.

 

[Godmother]

Glad he seems OK. Those cage doors are scary. I once had a very close call with Janie, whose head would have been squished if I had kept closing.

Since then I tell the ratties to "watch your paws and tails, guys", and they have the sense to back up usually, but I love the idea of the cheerios and the "pousse, pousse" command. Rats would catch onto that very fast!

 

[Joanne]

Glad to hear that your rattie's tail seems OK. Sometimes we just need a little 'wake up call' to make us more attentive.