she got into a fight and she got cut...it doesnt look deep but its long and its worrying me altho she isnt at all bothered by it...she isnt bleeding and didnt bleed at all when it happened...if u look at the cut its like in the opening u can see another layer of skin thats red and slimy, but i dont kno if thats bad or what...i called the only vet opened right now and told them but all they could tell me was to clean it and watch her cus they dont deal with rats..she is bruxing and runnig around playing on my lap...doesnt act like she is in pain or that its btohering her at all....it just looks really bad and i thought i would ask..if anyone could help me i would appercaite it...
2006-09-04 22:27:35 · 4 answers · asked by mistymornings18 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
If she's not bothered by it then it's not really a problem - I would be more concerned if she was in pain. If you can see other layers of skin then it's not deep and should heal quickly. Put 1/4 of a teaspoon of salt in a pint of hot water, leave it cool and clean the cut with that - it will sting and the rat may bite, but it'll kill anything that could make it go nasty.
2006-09-04 22:35:19 · answer #1 · answered by Tallia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've had a similar problem. It's best to remove the shavings if there's any in the cage and rinse the wound with warm water. The salt solution mentioned above works wonders. I tend to use it when the wound has had a day to heal as I find it doesn't sting nearly as much. You're going to want to watch that an abscess doesn't form. It's a swelling that forms very fast - usually in a day or two - and hurts like heck when you try to touch it. The rat Will squeal and swear at you very impolitely. There's directions on how to clean it, but it's pretty disgusting. it means removing the scab and rinsing out the green cottage cheese-like pus from the wound.
It is NOT for the faint of heart.
The first experience I had with an abscess was one that ruptured at the vet's so I didn't have to deal with it. All I can say about it is EWWWWWWW. If one forms and you don't want to deal with it, bring your girl to the vet.
Good luck!
2006-09-04 23:04:46 · answer #2 · answered by white_ravens_white_crows 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
keep wound clean with warm water only and keep seperate from others untill healed. Put paper towles in cage instead of reg. bedding. If he starts acting different or wound looks infected take it to a vet.
2006-09-06 17:25:57 · answer #3 · answered by Taldeara 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call vet
2006-09-08 20:12:54 · answer #4 · answered by ang 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋