Hello everyone,
I hope I don't offend anyone with this question, but I need some advice. My guinea pig has bumblefoot. I have been treating it for over a month with very little progress. His foot is swollen, warm, and oddly shaped. Treatment so far has included antibiotics, iodine soaks, and keeping his cage very clean. I have also separated him from his brother into a much smaller cage to try to discourage too much movement. I recently started applying New Skin to the sore on his foot because it kept reopening and hindering the healing process. The sore finally developed a good scab and started to heal. THEN today happened.
I bathed Crouton in anti-bacterial/anti-fungal shampoo (I'm also treating ringworm... it keeps coming back). Everything was going fine, I wrapped him in a towel and held him while watching TV so he could dry. When I went to take him out of the towel, I discovered to my horror that the towel was soaked in blood! He was bleeding PROFUSELY from his foot, I mean like a stream of blood, not drips. I had no idea what to do, I dipped it in cornstarch to attempt to quell the bleeding and immediately packed up and rushed to the vet. This was a completely horrific experience.. When I was a child, I had a puppy who died of internal bleeding from a surgery, and I could tell that Crouton was close to death by the time we finally made it to the vet. He was unable to hold himself up during the car ride, he was disoriented and biting the bars, wanting me to pet him. When we got there he was completely on his side, eyes half-closed, and barely breathing. The entire experience was horrific and nauseating.
Thankfully, I DID get him there in time. They rushed him back, put him on oxygen, and applied a pressure bandage to the foot. The doctor thinks he bit it (and I have known him to bite his nails when he's upset, so maybe that's what happened after his bath?). She is hoping the pressure bandage will be enough to stop the bleeding, but if not, it will require surgical intervention. I am home now waiting for a call from the vet to find out if the pressure bandage was effective.
My question: at what point is amputation an option worth considering when treating serious bumblefoot? Crouton's quality of life has drastically decreased, and today he almost died. The vet keeps telling me that bumblefoot in some cases requires long-term treatment. I am considering all aspects of this and I find myself wondering if removing the leg and being done with the infection would be worth considering? It's his front right leg, and from things I have read, recovery and quality of life can be very good for a piggie with a sick front leg. She said they can surgically tie off whatever is bleeding, but he will still have bumblefoot, along with this new wound.
One of my childhood doggies had a leg amputated right before I adopted her. I cared for her during recovery; took care of the stitches and her bandages. It was work, but paid off so well in the end, because her quality of life was amazing afterwards... would it be the same for my piggie?
Advice or opinions would be much appreciated.
I hope I don't offend anyone with this question, but I need some advice. My guinea pig has bumblefoot. I have been treating it for over a month with very little progress. His foot is swollen, warm, and oddly shaped. Treatment so far has included antibiotics, iodine soaks, and keeping his cage very clean. I have also separated him from his brother into a much smaller cage to try to discourage too much movement. I recently started applying New Skin to the sore on his foot because it kept reopening and hindering the healing process. The sore finally developed a good scab and started to heal. THEN today happened.
I bathed Crouton in anti-bacterial/anti-fungal shampoo (I'm also treating ringworm... it keeps coming back). Everything was going fine, I wrapped him in a towel and held him while watching TV so he could dry. When I went to take him out of the towel, I discovered to my horror that the towel was soaked in blood! He was bleeding PROFUSELY from his foot, I mean like a stream of blood, not drips. I had no idea what to do, I dipped it in cornstarch to attempt to quell the bleeding and immediately packed up and rushed to the vet. This was a completely horrific experience.. When I was a child, I had a puppy who died of internal bleeding from a surgery, and I could tell that Crouton was close to death by the time we finally made it to the vet. He was unable to hold himself up during the car ride, he was disoriented and biting the bars, wanting me to pet him. When we got there he was completely on his side, eyes half-closed, and barely breathing. The entire experience was horrific and nauseating.
Thankfully, I DID get him there in time. They rushed him back, put him on oxygen, and applied a pressure bandage to the foot. The doctor thinks he bit it (and I have known him to bite his nails when he's upset, so maybe that's what happened after his bath?). She is hoping the pressure bandage will be enough to stop the bleeding, but if not, it will require surgical intervention. I am home now waiting for a call from the vet to find out if the pressure bandage was effective.
My question: at what point is amputation an option worth considering when treating serious bumblefoot? Crouton's quality of life has drastically decreased, and today he almost died. The vet keeps telling me that bumblefoot in some cases requires long-term treatment. I am considering all aspects of this and I find myself wondering if removing the leg and being done with the infection would be worth considering? It's his front right leg, and from things I have read, recovery and quality of life can be very good for a piggie with a sick front leg. She said they can surgically tie off whatever is bleeding, but he will still have bumblefoot, along with this new wound.
One of my childhood doggies had a leg amputated right before I adopted her. I cared for her during recovery; took care of the stitches and her bandages. It was work, but paid off so well in the end, because her quality of life was amazing afterwards... would it be the same for my piggie?
Advice or opinions would be much appreciated.
I will definitely be having a chat with the vet when I hear from her. I will ask her what she thinks of amputation... I just hope I don't come across the wrong way by asking. 
