I Noticed Some Blood On Geri's Toe

AngelBaby · 07-19-2011, 05:10 AM

So I was playing with little Geri-bear yesterday after cleaning her "habitat". It was a bright, sunny day so I took her out on my front lawn and let her do a little (very closely supervised) running in the grass. When I picked her up to bring her back in, I happened to notice a tiny red spot by one of her little toes on her back left paw. So I held her very carefully and sat her foot on my fingertip so I could inspect her toe. It didn't seem to be actively bleeding, it looked like dried blood. And only a little, at that.

The blood was right at the base of her nail, right where the claw begins. The nail was not off and did not appear to be cut OR hanging off at all, but just VERY slightly curved a little more to one side. I very lightly touched the toe with one finger to test if it bothered her, and she didn't react. Geri is not limping or acting at all out of the ordinary.

What do you think caused this? Should I be worried? Should I attempt to disinfect it? I am glad I noticed this on the day her cage was cleaned, because it means she has a cleaner environment where it probably won't get infected... right?

Gillzy · 07-19-2011, 06:25 AM

If you want to wipe it with some boiled and cooled water, to clean it, then it might be an idea. Just make sure it's not a tic or something which she may have picked up in the garden. If it wasn't actively bleeding then I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just keep an eye on her (and the foot). I'm sure she'll be alright, it doesn't sound like a very big cut, she might have just stood on a sharp bit of grass.

AngelBaby · 07-20-2011, 04:16 AM

I took another look at her foot, and the nail on the toe with the blood had come off. She doesn't seem to be in any pain, though.

DoomSlave · 07-20-2011, 04:23 AM

I believe she might have hit it very hard or maybe just hurt it in some other way its not uncommon for hamhams to lose nails. Sometimes they grow back and other times they do not in anycase it should not affect her health as she will keep it clean herself. Just watch the toe to see that its clean. I reckon the only time you'd have to take her to the vet is if the are becomes infected.