Tail less....

[alan]

Hi everyone. Im at a loss. Can anybody tell me how a chipmunk suddenly loose his tail??? This is the second one to happen to me!!! I literally let Cybil out, along with Frasier, around my room for normal fun freedom and play time. I was watching a movie, when all of a sudden Cybil jumped up in front of me in distress. Missing the end of his tail! No blood, but absolutely startled! It happened to my first chippie, and I brought him to a vet, and he clipped his tail. I just to understand why this is happening!!! I dont want my chipmunks being in danger. Nothing out of the norm with my room, no knives!

I read that they can heal themselves, but his tail, at the very tip is de gloved. He was running around extremely hyper before hand. I thought he was happy. He does not look sick. Can anybody tell me what is the best course of action I should take?? My vet told me before,that with Woody, he was not in pain, and a simple snip would suffice. I on the other hand, only want the best for my mental chippies. What am I to do?? Please help

[jennyb]

My Creamie lost her tail, it was bitten off by my Christmas in a fight. It was their only fight but ended up with her having no tail. Asriel could of lost his tail after Hermione bit him, thankfully it wasn't a serious enough bite. Chipmunks do have a very fragile tail, it is mainly fur but there is a small skin and bone part which can easily get damaged and also their tail is designed like this so if caught by a predator on the tail it comes off so they can escape.

Sorry about Cybil's tail but the degloved bit of bone will dry up and fall off and it should heal fine as long as it doesn't get infected.

[alan]

I can only hope , thanks Jenny

[alan]

I was abruptly awoken this morning by loud squeeks from Cybil. As i mentioned, he lost the tip of his tail. I have been dipping his tail into antiseptic solution, just to prevent infection. But this morning, poor Cybil was stuck in his little nest house. He must have fallen asleep last night, with his tail left outside the little house, and the tip of the tail dried and stuck to the bedding. The bedding is stuff I bought in a pet store, its like wool, vegetable based, for small pets. Well, not so friendly for poor Cybil. Frasier is completely hyper, and absolutely loves getting out. He heads straight to the window, and sits calmly for ages staring out!! That gave me access to Cybil. I calmed him down by talking to him and rubbing him. Gladly it worked. He then sat calmly whilst I carefully pull the wool away from the tail. I then made up more solution, picked him up and dipped his tail in it again. That loosened the small bits of wool so he himself could remove, without my huge hands interfering. All of the wool is gone now, and he looks a little happier. Those tails are so so fragile!!!! Just thought Id keep everyone up to date.

[jennyb]

Good to hear an update. By the way the cotton wall bedding can be a hazard to chipmunks and Hamsters if they get stuck in it or try and pouch it. If you do use it tear it up into small bits, just something i've read. Mine prefer paper-based bedding and hay.

[alan]

Okay, thanks Jenny. They seem to love it, but to be sure, ill chop it up nice and small

[alan]

Hi everyone. Just thought id keep you updated on Cybil, and his tail. Well, Im glad I took your advice because it seems to have healed up really well, and as I mentioned before, Cybil is the happiest I have ever seen him with his new friends. The rest of his tail operates the way it originally did and the dry cartilage has broken away at the tip. Thanks again for the advice 

[jennyb]

Glad Cybil's tail is better and that he likes his new friends

[Pete_ren]

One of my chipmunks who is now departed lost her tail, we had gone on holiday leaving a family member looking after the chipmunks, when we got home we noticed Poppy our female had lost her tail, there was no blood, I searched the aviary for signs of the missing tail but could find nothing, we do have a wheel in the aviary that the chipmunks love to run on, we always wondered if whilst running on the wheel her tail got trapped/pulled off, it never impaired her one bit.

[Sam_Spice]

Great news for your chip alan, glad to hear it went well. No experiences personally but I hopefully won't need to panic if it ever occurs to any of mine. What kind of antibacterial solution did you use? I have used salt water on small animals before but nothing else 

[alan]

I know it sounds mad, but I used TCP. It did absolutely no harm whatsoever. But Im glad people can learn from others on this site. 

[Sam_Spice]

Cheers Alan  I can't see it doing any harm, I have used regular cleaning products and disinfectants on their cage before rather than shelling out on the animal stuff and never had any problems, and I wash their feed and water bowls with washing up liquid with no complaints 

[ell1es]

Sugar's tail is dried and dropping off the last inch or so, she is in the house as there were issues with her being picked on in the aviary. She is happier in the house and isn't skittish anymore. I have started her on colloidal silver in her water (drinking water) today as she has a clean sore further up.....any advice gratefully received?
Ellie

[Nick]

1 of my first ever chippies lost a third of its tail, it just tended to itself by cleaning it and was fine, I've found them very hardy when it comes to cuts and scrapes.

[jennyb]

Sugar's tail is dried and dropping off the last inch or so, she is in the house as there were issues with her being picked on in the aviary. She is happier in the house and isn't skittish anymore. I have started her on colloidal silver in her water (drinking water) today as she has a clean sore further up.....any advice gratefully received?
Ellie

Hi Ellie, Sorry to hear Sugar's been bullied 
Asriel's now had three bites to his tail, one last year and two this autumn, the second bite had not long healed before she bit him again. He looks sorry for himself now i had to separate them, it looks like his tail will be ok. I just keep the wound clean as best i can by spraying saline on the wound for about a week but he kept it very clean himself, it heals very quick. They seem to adapt very well to these sort of injuries. One of my past Chippies lost her full tail after a fight and it never seemed to bother her so hopefully Sugar will adapt well