Greetings,

This morning, while clipping claws, I discovered that one of Victor's back toes is "sideways" sort of. It just makes a left turn. I've never noticed this before, and it'd be impossible to overlook, really, but there it is. He didn't seem to mind it being touch and showed no signs of pain. No swelling or redness, either.

Can a ferret break a toe and not feel it or care, and just live with it?

Do you recon I should take him to the vet about it, or just see how it goes?

Thanks,
Gary

Hi Gary, I've seen ferrets in pet store that toes go sideways from walking on wirer . Your don't do they I don't know what to tell you, I my self if I noticed this on one of my kids & I knew their feet weren't like this to start with. I would take them to the vet just to make sure it wasn't broken, then I'd look for what ever might of caused it.

JC, Over the years, there have been/are 140 toes in that cage; this is the only one that's changed like that. Actually, most of the bottom cage wire is covered with something or other , and there's only about 15% that's bare. I know what you are talking about, though. The wrong wire and not being able to get off it can do damage.

I'm wondering if he did that coming off the second level shelf there. They usually come out of the main hammock and go down the ramp, but Victor often hooks his back legs like ferrets do and comes down to the first level that way.

I only recall it happening once, but one time, when I was picking him off that shelf, his foot or some of his toes did catch in a wire hole. But, there wasn't even a squeak.

Now, if *my* toe got caught in something to the extent of making it go sideways, I WOULD be squeaking! So, I don't think that was it (not to mention that that was a number of claw-clippings ago - I would have noticed it before.

But, that's not to say that he did it when I wasn't here. He might have. Regardless, it seems to do him no harm or pain. We'll see....

Gary

By the way, if Victor is feeling any pain, he's sure hiding it well. The past week, he's been particularly active during playtime. Really mixing it up with the others. His wonky toe doesn't seem to be slowing him down any.

Gary

That's great news. As long as he is happy then I guess there's nothing to worry about. Like you said if it was bothering him, He let you know. I have to wonder some times why they limp one day & run the next. .Amazing little souls. Hugs to all your kids.

I remember Victoria limping once, but none since then. Actually, I'm wondering why Victor's so active lately. Right now, he's having a playtime to end all playtimes! He's all over the place and his brother and sister. He's usually more sedate than that. I wonder if the cold weather has anything to do with it? It's -1 outside right now.

Gary

kinda sounds like it'd be a dislocated finger or something... I know for a human, you just gotta pull on it till it "pops" back in. (same for a broken nose, I've re set mine 2 different times). and yes, alcohol was involved. It was my pain killer for the resetting.

If it doesn't bother him, I'd leave it. You would have to re break the joint in order ti get it back into place, which would probably get you bite, AND you would get some aditude for awhile lol

That's what I was thinking - if it's not hurting, leave it alone and just bring it up at his next exam. No point in involking a vet bill if it's not urgent.

Gary

That's what I was thinking. If moving it or gently squeezing it doesn't catch his attention and cause him any obvious pain or issue, then I would just wait until the next regular exam. Unless you just need that peace of mind and have the extra hundred bucks for an exam and x-ray.

I rolled over little Buddy's (my first ferret) foot with my office chair once, with me in it! He let me know real fast that he was being assaulted, but after a thorough check, amazingly there was nothing broken... he also had a door closed on his foot once by a dumb relative who wasn't paying attention like they were told to..! Again, no broken little bones but he sure made a heck of a fuss to let us know someone was trying to murder him. For the second time.

I think that if it were causing him distress, he'd let you know. So it's probably all good.

~Jamie

Jamie,
Yeah, he didn't seem to mind having that toe nail clipped. It sure was difficult to hold right for clipping though.

Oooh! Office chair - bad news. I heard from a guy that accidentally killed his ferret with one of those. He was hating himself BIG TIME! I sit in a rolling office chair myself, but on carpet, it doesn't freely roll. The ferrets are under it every day, and, over the years, I have looked thousands of times under it before moving it any, and, a handful of times, it was a good thing I did.

Gary