| Minor Medical Page Two by Crazy Lady
Broken Bones
Broken bones, although not life threatening, should always be treated by a vet. Fractures to ferrets' legs do and can happen (as they can happen to other parts of the body) but I will deal with fractures of the legs. For an example, the signs of a broken leg bone are: painful movement of the leg, swelling, tenderness if you attempt to touch it, and in some cases the leg looks as if the ferret has no control over it (some breaks are obvious, such as a compound fracture where the bone comes through the skin). If you suspect your ferret has a broken leg bone, carefully place splints on either side of the leg (small lollipop sticks make great splints) and bandage carefully to prevent the ferret from moving the injured leg and risk causing more damage. If possible, elevate the limb to help reduce swelling. Contact a vet as soon as possible as x-rays need to be taken to ensure the bone is in alignment and help reduce possible deformities from a bone knitting together wrong. Your vet will also be able to immobilize the limb correctly and provide suitable pain relief for your ferret if needed. The key to broken bones healing cleanly and with no after effects is immediate treatment from your vet . In the case of a compound fracture do not attempt to splint. This must be treated immediately by a vet to prevent infection of the leg and a vet must reset the bone. Please note -- this is only intended to advise on how to prevent further injury prior to visiting your vet. Clipping Nails Too Low............What should be done
If you do have an accident when clipping nails and don't have a styptic pencil, the blood flow can be stopped by dipping the nail in corn flour (I think you call it cornstarch in the USA) or by rubbing a bar of soap across the bleeding nail. Remember, a little blood looks like a heck of a lot so don't panic - keep your cool if you clip a quick by accident!
Credits for Minor Medical Pages go directly to Crazy Lady from her own experiences. 
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