Should I separate? - Page 2

Leon · 04-07-2008, 05:40 AM

Sorry, one more question. Bailey has a patch on his rump about 1-1.5 cm square where he's lost fur and has bite marks. I've cleaned it with a damp cotton bud but is there anything else I should do e.g. to keep it clean? He is scuffling around, eating and drinking as normal, so he seems fine in himself. I do have some antibiotics from a previous robo vet trip a couple of months back - a silver sulfadiazine cream and sulfatrim oral suspension. Don't know if the cream might prevent infection or something. Will do nothing for now unless an expert tells me otherwise. Thank you!

souffle · 04-07-2008, 05:48 AM

With bites it is best to do one clean with a cotton ball and cooled boiled water only then leave it to heal. It can take several weeks for the fur to regrow and it may be a different shade to the old fur and patchy. You do not needs creams or oral antibiotics unless there is an infection as they can upset the system. Keep a very close eye on the wounds and make sure there is no sign of oozing or very red skin or swelling apart from how it looks now. A little puffiness is normal at first. Leave the scabs till they come off on their own.
I have to say I would separate them now unless you are really keen to keep trying. It sounds as if they are not happy together and one is suffering from bullying. You will likely find they settle fine after a few days 'sulking' and improve in condition and health. You will also feel more relaxed knowing you are not going to wake up to a bloodbath one day.
I hope he heals up well

Leon · 04-07-2008, 05:52 AM

Thanks for the tips souffle. I will keep a close eye on Bailey's bites. I think you are right about separating them. I would really like them to be together but it's just not worth the risk. The past couple of nights I haven't slept well and have been waking up and coming in to check on them, and even if they seemed to be getting on well I'd be very worried if I went away.

May I ask what you think about how to separate them? Entirely separate cages, divided cage, swapping them over to remember each others' scent with a view to re-introducing them?

souffle · 04-07-2008, 06:03 AM

Personally I would just separate into totally separate cages. You can keep them side by side but I think if you keep smelling the others scents in cage swaps it would be stressful for them as they will keep thinking the other one is going to attack. Sress can contribute to their health situation and the injured ones healing may be impared by the stress of smelling the other. They do seem to remember being attacked by another. I don't think you would be comfortable trying to reintroduce them in case it happened again. You could not do it anyway till the injured one is completely well again which would take at least a month. A large bare patch that size is quite big on a tiny robo really. It can be done though as I remember Snugglehams Cupcake and Muffin got back together after separation for quite a while.

Holly · 04-07-2008, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souffle

It can be done though as I remember Snugglehams Cupcake and Muffin got back together after separation for quite a while.

I was thinking of Cupcake and Muffin! I think you've got no chance at all with any other breed of dwarf but robo's sometimes seem different, though obviously it's still risky.

Leon · 04-07-2008, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Sress can contribute to their health situation and the injured ones healing may be impared by the stress of smelling the other.

I've just put Bailey back into the 20-gallon, and moved Barnum into another cage, because I thought it would be the least stress for Bailey to stay in the same cage. However it will still smell of his brother - is that ok?

Leon · 04-07-2008, 07:52 AM

Hmm, well, they're separated now and have gone off to sleep quite happily. I think tbh as long as they seem ok separate, I will just keep them that way, it's probably not worth the risk.

Funny, I always thought robos were the easiest to keep together, but recently I've heard a few people say campbells are easier. The lady who took Barnum&Bailey's two brothers told me she had to separate them too. Must be an argumentative family!

Thanks for all of your help.

souffle · 04-07-2008, 08:32 AM

Next time you do a clean give them both fresh and I am sure they will be fine. When we separated our two WW we left the injured one in the old cage and he seemed happy with that.