RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:20 am

We have two rats, sisters from the same litter. One of them has an owwie on a finger on her front paw, almost like the finger nail is gone.

She runs all night on her wheel, which probably aggrevates it.

She keeps licking it, probably to relieve the pain...

Is this a vet emergency (I have an appointment for a week from today)?

TIA

Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:44 am

Oh it is probably nothing. Rats can rip fingernails from snagging them or playing too rough. If the wound does not heal in a reasonable amount of time you may want to take her to the vet though

good luck with your ratty

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<3 to my Fats and my Meeces

Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:54 am

Thanks

Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:17 am

Aye - what Rouge says. Ripped fingernails can bleed a fair bit, but if the nail is gone completely and isn't bleeding right now, it's probably fine. If you have any neosporin or other pet antibacterial/antiseptic product you can put a dab on the toe but just basicaly make sure it doesn't start bleeding again, or get very red, swollen, painful or producing pus.... but it should heal just fine.

If the nail is still attached though, it can be a nuisance as it tends to catch on things and pull and make it bleed a bit - in that case, you should try to trim the nail as short as you can and/or remove it if it's only held on by a tiny thread.

Like Rouge says - not an emergency (unless you see signs of infection or heavy bleeding you can't stop with pressure on the toe and a little corn starch or styptic powder) and will likely heal all on it's own.

Welcome to RP by the way.

Feel free to pop into Casual Corner or Mischief and introduce us to you and your girlies.

are always nice. Mr. Green

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Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:20 am

It isn't actually bleeding... and it even looks like the nail's coming back in.

I'll stop over and post some pics tomorrow.

Thanks again

Fri Feb 10, 2006 11:04 pm

Just watch her hand for any excess inflammation. As long as you don't see her entire hand start to swell, she'll probably heal just fine. One of my boys recently lost all of one of his fingernails (and a bit of his finger) and it healed without intervention. I don't recommend putting Neosporin on it because it seemed to draw WAY more attention to the wound (a lot more so than Neosporin anywhere else would).

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