Posted by BabyHerp on July 27, 2000 at 11:26:26:
In Reply to: i FEEL SO GUILTY>>>>>>>>> posted by MC on July 27, 2000 at 10:56:41:
Igs are always bashing, whipping their tails into something hard, getting caught, stepped on something causing some type of trauma, so try not to be so hard on yerself! You did good to keep put the a/b ointment on her injury right away. If this is injury involves the tail tip...there isn't alot of circulation (not vascular)towards the end of their tail anyway (if ya ever did a tail tip amputation you'd know)so keep applying the a/b ointment late evening is best so ig isn't rubbing it off. Due to the trauma....later down the road you *might* notice the tail tip necrotize (dry up, blacken, look like a small dried up twig)....then its time to amputate the tail tip. Its not infection in this case....just that there isn't enough circulation to sustain healing. People often refer to this as tail rot or dry gangrene...and state that it can lead to a systemic infection and eventually kill your ig if left untreated. I think this is hysteria...not based on any fact, but to promote healthy regenerated tail the necrotized tail needs to be amputated. Keep an eye on it...may never necrotize but if it does let us know....and I will guide you thru doing a simple tail tip amputation at home...okie dokie!
Gina