URGENT! Huge fight, many wounds. Care and cause?

[rhapsody]

I have no idea what happened. I picked up Rufus and Millie from the rescue folks last night - there's still no real improvement on Rufus' head tilt so we're going to have to try a different med cocktail. Its only been five days of separation from the rest of the gang (and the cage hadn't been cleaned in the meantime), so I popped Rufus and Millie with them when I got home. I went to go wash my hands, and was gone for only five minutes. The laundry was in the dryer and the hubby was taking a shower, so I didn't hear anything due to the noise.

When I got back, Odin and Rufus were covered in blood. Odin got it the worst. Both of their right shoulder areas were lacerated, Rufus had a couple deep wounds on his side near the hindquarters, and Odin had a bad one under his ear. To my limited knowledge, the shoulder wounds looked like severe scratches and the others looked like bites.

I immediately separated them. I cleaned both cages and changed the hammocks. I used paper towels soaked in saline solution on the wounds. Rufus is already on antibiotics, and I gave Odin some too.

Am I doing this right? Is there anything more I can do to reduce the possibilities of abscesses developing? Some of those wounds are bites without a doubt. Do I need to worry about blood loss? Both boys were alert this morning.

And why the heck did they fight??? Everyone had been getting along just fine! Rufus and Millie might have had other rats' smell on them from the rescue, but that doesn't explain why only Rufus was attacked. Rufus is the alpha, but maybe his position has been weakened from the head tilt? *Scratches head* Odin is such a submissive guy, so I can't see him trying to take over. Then again, I have no idea who started it. Maybe Rufus was the instigator ... When I get home from work today, I'm going to work with those two boys to try and figure out what's going on between them.

 

[jorats]

First of all, you are cleaning them out just right. Don't worry about abscesses, they really are rarer than we think when it comes to bites and gashes unless you close them up with polysporin.

They have been separated for 5 days? Some rats, even with 1 day separation need to go back to intros. You got to start all over again. unfortunately.

 

[lilspaz68]

Especially with boys more than girls...but yeah re-intro's will be necessary after that long. Millie is fine I take it?

Are the wounds slices, gashes or puncture wounds?

 

[rhapsody]

They have been separated for 5 days? Some rats, even with 1 day separation need to go back to intros. You got to start all over again. unfortunately.

*HEADDESK* I am such an idiot.

Millie is fine I take it?

Are the wounds slices, gashes or puncture wounds?

Millie is completely unscathed - she's everyone's pillow and snuggle buddy. As for the wound types, its all three - most seem to be slices and gashes, but there's at least three puncture wounds on both boys.

 

[jennifervb]

Have these two guys been neutered? :shock:

Yikes, you poor thing!!! What a shock! Obviously some-rat had his boxers in a twist. Maybe they were fighting over Millie.

I hope they heal quickly. The poor little fellows. :sad3:

 

[rhapsody]

Have these two guys been neutered? :shock:

Yup, they're both neutered.

 

[jennifervb]

Have these two guys been neutered? :shock:

Yup, they're both neutered.

do you think they have an extra stash of testosterone hidden away somewhere? :cheeky:

 

[jorats]

Naw, just do your intros again, and I bet it won't be a long one...

 

[rhapsody]

*SIGH* After out-of-the-cage playtime tonight, its become obvious that Rufus is the one having ... issues.

Every single time Odin would come near, Rufus would get all puffy. Fortunately, there was no squabbling, but it was probably because they both sensed that my hand was hovering nearby.

Looks like we're back to square one - same thing happened back when I was doing the first intros between them. Before though, Odin was just a tiny pipsqueak so he didn't bother fighting back. HOWEVER, now Odin is nearly Rufus' size and is apparently more willing to defend himself.

Drat it all, Odin's intro was the hardest thanks Rufus' attitude towards him, and now I have to start all over again.

 

[jennifervb]

*SIGH* After out-of-the-cage playtime tonight, its become obvious that Rufus is the one having ... issues.

Every single time Odin would come near, Rufus would get all puffy. Fortunately, there was no squabbling, but it was probably because they both sensed that my hand was hovering nearby.

Looks like we're back to square one - same thing happened back when I was doing the first intros between them. Before though, Odin was just a tiny pipsqueak so he didn't bother fighting back. HOWEVER, now Odin is nearly Rufus' size and is apparently more willing to defend himself.

Drat it all, Odin's intro was the hardest thanks Rufus' attitude towards him, and now I have to start all over again.

Hang in there Rhapsody!!! You can do is!!!! :bunnydance: :bunnydance: :bunnydance: :bunnydance: :bunnydance: :bunnydance: :bunnydance: :bunnydance:

 

[jorats]

If all he does is get puffy, that's not a big deal. That's the rat making himself appear bigger just in case someone wants a piece of him. Some rats will get puffy but it doesn't escalate to a fight or anything.
Keep at it!!

 

[jennifervb]

If all he does is get puffy, that's not a big deal. That's the rat making himself appear bigger just in case someone wants a piece of him. Some rats will get puffy but it doesn't escalate to a fight or anything.
Keep at it!!

Roquefort got puffy once... it was so cute. It made him almost as big as Albert. :giggle:

I really miss my boys, especially my little runt of a heart boy, Roquefort. :heart:

 

[rhapsody]

GAH, these two troublemakers are confusing the heck out of me.

I put the whole gang in the temporary cage, and Rufus didn't get puffy at all. I'm not sure if the power balance has shifted, but Odin kept flipping Rufus on his back and pinning him down. There was some protest squeak-age, but it didn't escalate into anything. However, I should point out that my kiddos are always on their "best behaviour" if they sense that I'm hovering nearby, and boy, I was really hovering.

 

[jorats]

They might very well remember him now. Or have shown him his place back in the colony.
In any case, they sound pretty stable and good rats.

 

[rhapsody]

The kiddos are finally living together peacefully (or at least until someone tries to steal someone else's treat). I've been keeping an eye on Rufus' and Odin's wounds, and they seem to be healing well.

The whole gang isn't as happy-go-lucky anymore though - I think they sense that Millie is very ill, and that Rufus is sick too.

 

[jorats]

I'm glad that they are living together... sad about Millie and Rufus though.