Amy has a thing on her foot!

[Briony_S]

It's wierd I noticed whilst I was clipping her nails. At first I thought it was a poo but it is slightly lighter in colour. It is attached to the edgfe of the bottom of her foot pad and extends out away from her body and looks just like a poo that is hanging off her foot. I put some warm water on it just too see if it was a poo cos then it would melt or at least the cloth would go brown but nothing.

I clipped a little tiny bit off it praying it wouldn't bleed to see if it was a poo but it didn't seem like poo the bit that came off was more hard! it didn't bleed though.

I checked all my other pigs and george has something that looks simular only very small like it is just starting so almost just like a slight scabbing in same area that is barely coming off the foot?

Anyone know what this is & can it be removed? Does it need medical treatment or can it be left alone? The thing I'm worried about with Amy is that whatever it is, it's quite long and if she gets it caught anywhere it could get ripped off and that would be very painful for her?

 

[Niki]

It sounds like a spur which is harmless. You can clip it off but make sure you don't catch her actual foot.

Have a look at this http://www.guinealynx.info/feet.html#spurs

 

[Briony_S]

Thanks that is a relief! Does it hurt them to clip or is it just like cutting nails? Will clip it off tomorrow whilst bribing her with veg!

 

[Niki]

Thanks that is a relief! Does it hurt them to clip or is it just like cutting nails? Will clip it off tomorrow whilst bribing her with veg!

No it doesn't hurt to clip it off, it's softer than nails. Some of mine have had them in the past & i just clip them off with human nail clippers

 

[torieraa]

I found the same thing on my both my piggys feet the other day but thankfully it turns out to be just a spur. They are harmless and can be cut off. Here is a link to a really useful thread on how to remove them http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=24654&highlight=spur
Here is a link to my thread from 2 days ago with his some advice and pictures
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=44684&highlight=spur

hope that helps

 

[Char-x]

I'd just clip it low like a nail rather than clip it all off as some can bleed, like a nail, so I've read. Although never had a pig with one.

 

[Goldie]

It is a weird type of thing. Like a flap of hard skin, flexible but attached, dark and to the side of the foot.

It is ok to clip it off but just be careful not to catch the skin.