rat update
Today Ignatz got the stitches taken out. The wound is still very swollen from the previous bleeding, but I just hope he's healing beneath as well. The vet said the blood should be reabsorbed over the next two or three weeks, so I guess it'll look awful for a while yet.

I've also taken the divider out of the cage so he's together with Emil again. That thankfully went without any scuffling that might have happened because he still smells of the vet or the separation of the last ten days. Emil just climbed over Ignatz a few times, peed on him and then there was some grooming, so all things considered a fairly friendly welcome back so far. Which is good because of course Ignatz is still recovering. I mean, they haven't fought much since they were out of their rowdy young adult days, and even then never so serious that there were any bleeding wounds or anything, but still, you never know.

Anyway, they now have each other for company and cuddling again, and Emil the full run of the cage, so I hope he'll be less frustrated, and both happier than isolated from each other.