Wicket's injured toe- advice please?

[Esmy]

Hi, can someone please tell me what to make of Wicket's toe? He doesn't really stand still long enough for me to examine his toe but it's purplish. Maybe he tore a nail out? I can't tell. Not sure what I should do.

[BrainGirl]

I'd just keep an eye on it. Really I don't think it looks that serious and should heal fine on its own. He probably did just catch his nail and tear it a bit. He should be fine

[DrKMcK]

It's nighttime now, so keep an eye on it. In the morning, check him out. If it seems worse...time for the vet. He may have pulled the nail out somehow, but it's hard to tell. Maybe he got his foot stuck in something while he was climbing? Does he have bars and does he climb them. Could it be he got stuck and twisted his foot in the bars?

[BrainGirl]

It looks like the nail is still there, though further to the side than the same toe on the other foot. He probably did just wrench it somehow. You may need to trim that nail for the rest of his life if it no longer gets worn down by his daily activities.

[Esmy]

Looking at he cage, I really have no clue how he could have done it. The cage does have bars but he doesn't climb them that I've seen. He has two wheels- a saucer and a comfort wheel. One tube, a chew willow ball, chew stick, food dish... He could have done it in the playpen last night and I didn't notice? I'm not sure. Maybe he managed to get it caught under the last bar that connects to the base, but that's just a flat out guess.

Braingirl, I will keep an eye on the nail. I have no clue how to trim a squirmy hamster's nail without further injury.

[Esmy]

This is his cage, but the orange wheel is now a comfort wheel:



I imagine he could have gotten in caught in the bend-a-bridge between the two pieces? He won't use it though. He tries to climb up to the shelf (and succeeds with effort) while ignoring the bridge.

[DrKMcK]

I don't do my hammies nails. I just find them too squirmy to do it safely. My vet does it for me. I just say I'm coming in for a nail trim.
Just saw the cage. He could have caught his foot in the bars. Small foot injuries usually heal on their own. Just watch for more discoloration and swelling. Give it a day or two and see how he does.

[Esmy]

How much do they charge you for the trim? Thanks, I will keep an eye on it. I hope running on the wheel/saucer doesn't make it worse. He'd go insane without them though!

[DrKMcK]

Don't go by my vet LOL. The guy charges too much for everything! A nail trim cost me $20.00. For him to see Yoda, my Chihuahua, just walking in the door costs $75.00. Most vets will usually only charge around $12.00 for the nail trim. some $10.00.

[ThePipsqueakery]

In my area every vet charges an office fee and a nail trim fee on top of that. So it would be at least $50 at one and probably $80 at the other.