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Bumble Foot?

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Kirsty

Kirsty

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Hi there
It's possible that my Darwin now has bumble foot! it's very swollen and has a scab underneath it, he's just finished his weeks worth of baytril and nothing has changed? Vet said he now has to have a week off antibiotics then he can go back on it after a week, just wondering how long it takes until it starts going down? I have metacam pain relief but I'm trying not to give so much medication to him as it's making him not like me lol but obviously been doing baytril! any other suggestions how to speed up his poorly foot?
 
I am slightly surprised that the vet has said to come off baytril for a week before introducing baytril again?
Perhaps instead what they mean is that they are concerned that baytri isn't effective against the infection and plan to take a culture to find out what bug is causing the problem and what type of antibiotic would be best to give next? This would necessitate the withdrawal of any antibiotic for at least a week before a culture is taken in order for a reliable result to be obtained

If the vet is planning on re-introducing baytril again in a week's time then I personally would suiggest you see another vet as this is not good practice and encourages bugs to develop antibiotic resistance.
If they are planning to take a culture to determine a more effective antibiotic then in the interim I would discuss with the vet whether bathing the foot in dilute hibiscrub would help and ensuring you continue with effective pain relief.

Husbandry can also help - changing to e.g. fleece if on woodshavings.

Can you provide details of his current arrangements please? Also how old is Darwin?
HTH
x
 
I think because it was only 3 weeks ago that Darwin was on baytril for a different problem with his stomach, so I thought maybe that's why? And Darwin is around 3, I have changed all bedding to fleece now in the last couple days so hoping that will help, the foot just isn't any better really after a week of antibiotics I'm wondering if he's body has built up a resisiytence to it because he's been on it so many times :-/
 
@Pebble there is a previous thread that may have some information. Will link to it when online properly after work.
 
You say that you are not giving the Metacam very often? please keep up with it, he will need it.

Bumblefoot is often not just the result of poor hygiene and can be linked to heart issues too as a heart issue can affect the circulation to the extremities which includes the feet. If this does not clear up with antibiotics you may need to see a vet who would be able to look into the other causes of Bumblefoot, though reading back through the other thread this does seem linked to the bedding he was on.
 
Ok so now he is off baytril (because the vet said it's his week break) I will continue to give his metacam everyday and hope that makes him feel better and I'll go vets Friday as I'm off work and hope he goes back on baytril :-/ poor Darwin feel so sorry for him, he's like the most friendly of all my guinea pigs but now he doesn't want to come to me because he noes I'm giving him baytril which tastes horrid! my vet did suggest that it looks as if it was an abscess from an injury? But to me it looks a lot like bumble foot, and if it's not clearing after a week with baytril surely it wouldn't be from an injury? argh so stressful :(
 
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