Degu Rock - View topic - Bloody Foot ... Again - A Degu forum dedicated to degu's worldwide - Free Message Board Hosting by FreePowerBoards.com

For the past couple of weeks, every few days I've been finding little bloody footprints in my boys' cage. I couldn't figure out which boy it was (so I've been taking their wheel out) until today when they were climbing up the side of their cage to see me and I noticed that one of the boys had a little wound on the pad of his back paw. It didn't look infected at all though. The heel part (I think that's what it is.. looks kinda like an elbow?) looked more dry than normal and it may have been scabbed up I'm not sure. His actual paw though (where the open wound is) he keeps chewing at (or licking) and I don't know what to do Sad

I took him out of his cage to try to clean his foot and possibly get ointment on it but I wasn't able to Sad

. The only thing I ended up with is scratches up and down my arms. He just wiggles too much and there's no way I'll get to see the bottom of his foot long enough to put anything on it. I put some paper towels in some warm water and I put them on the bottom of a bucket that I had him in and that's the best I could do for him (if it even helped at all). Their cage was completely cleaned out today and they won't be getting their wheel back until he's all healed. I don't know what else to do Sad

I noticed that one of the other boys was chewing (or licking) the bottom of his foot too but he seems to be fine. They use carefresh bedding, do you think it could be tickling their feet? Any advice would be great and thanks in advance Sad

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~ 4 Chinchillas ~
~ Girl: Chilla
~ Boys: Cadbury, Punkin, and Casper

aaaawwwww i'm so sorry to hear one of your boys has a bad foot Sad

Firstly you did the right thing trying to bathe it as this keeps it clean and stops infection from getting in. I can understand how hard it was as i've been there. I had an idea you could try with him though, i'm not sure if it will work but it is worth a go if you can reach the wound. Soak a cotton bud tip in some tepid salt water for a few seconds and then allow the access water to drip off and then see if when you go upto the cage he will climb up the side like he did when you first noticed the wound and see if you can reach him with the cotton bud from there, its better than nothing and less stressful for the both of you. I wouldn't worry too much about the other two licking it either as in my experience i have found animals saliva helps heal wounds. One of my dogs once scratched her face and it was taking a long while to heal and was pretty open and a friends dog started to lick it oneday and it was gone within a week. I can't see carefresh irritating him but if you think it is that then i would maybe keep them on just kitchen towel till his foot has healed Confused

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Thanks for the advice Smile

I'll definitely try the cotton idea. Once my husband gets home I'll see if he can help me and lure the little guy up there with a treat and get him to stay still long enough.

I think the problem is their wheel. It's metal with little round holes in it and I think it might be hard on their feet. Soon we'll be investing in a flying saucer wheel for them, hopefully it'll be better Sad

. At least I won't have to worry about tails getting caught anymore.

I'll keep you updated on how the saline solution idea works. Hopefully I have luck. Thanks again.
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~ 4 Chinchillas ~
~ Girl: Chilla
~ Boys: Cadbury, Punkin, and Casper

Yeah let me know if the cotton bud idea works it just popped into my head as i was reading your post. Hopefully it will be a way to bathe it without causing either of you any stress. Wishing the little guy a speedy recovery Smile

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