We've always known that the one cage door you have to push on to make sure it latches. Well...someone forgot to listen and the chins got out!
We didn't even KNOW this. Pizza delivered...and were eating when my husband came home to see the bulldog chase something into the furnace room. [Thinking a squirrel got into the house]
Ran to find flashlights. Cole keeps on beside his bed. And noticed the door to the cage open! I freaked...for the sliding door had been open when I came in from the backyard. Thinking...could one have gotten outside...I actually vomitted from fear one got outside.
Luckily...Fluffy never left the bedroom. And we found Nibbles in the furnace room petrified hiding among the crib that's torn down and stored there. He wasn't "chewed" but the tips of fur was like dried from being wet. It was less than 15 minutes to locate him...And he wasn't wet when I picked him up. We have central air. So maybe the condensation of the furnace from that running? Anyways...I called the Emergency vet. And told them what happened.
They didn't seem concerned in the least. No he's not bleeding.No he's not breathing heavy... Yes he ate food once placed in his crate. Offered him a dust bath and he used it. But he's favoring his one back foot. They said he may have taken a tumble down the stairs to the basement...and possibly bruised it.
I can't see where the dog actually caught him. [Sarge doesn't move exactly fast] It isn't hanging limp...And he did scratch his ear with the foot in question earlier today. He also was chewing on a wooden chew as well today and standing on his back feet.
I did closed off the top of his cage and have both the chins together up on top so he doesnt' attempt to jump to the top part of the cage. Since they cuddle a lot I kept them together. Our vet is out until Monday. So he has less area to move around and doesn't have access to the opening that allows him to jump from the top part to the lower section. So he can have more rest. I offered him another bath today. Just to see if he could use it. And he did...he tossed around more than he did last night while in the bath. And...used his litter box and perched on the edge with his back feet. And ate some food from the feeder on the side of the cage. And did seem to use it a little more than last night. He was up hopping around while I cleaned my son's room but slower than normal. [Wiped walls down due to the dust baths in there] But ever so often...I notice him lifting his back foot while he hops. I'm frustrated that I can't seem to locate a vet that will look at him.
I'm thinking...I doubt the flying saucer will make it to the cage next weekend. When I give it to my son for his birthday. I cried off and on last night...thinking "He can't die the week before my son's birthday". I was so distressed. My husband offered to sleep on the floor in front of the cage to check on him through out the night.