Bumblefoot? Help.

[crnyng]

My boyfriend and I recently rescued a guinea pig that was housed with 30 other pigs in a small garage closet two days ago. Today as I got home from work I took him out I realized his foot looked quite strange. Is this bumble foot and if so how can I work on fixing it myself until I get an appointment with the vet. How serious is this so I know how urgently to work at it.

 

[crnyng]

He walks on it fine and seems completely normal for the most part. Wouldn't have even known something was wrong with his foot if I had not checked his nails.

 

[crnyng]

More clear of a photo

 

[AuntyC]

Oh bless him! I am not sure what it is, somebody will be along with more experience with feet than me to advise you. A gentle bathing in warm water in which you have dissolved a little plain kitchen salt, then dry gently on a clean towel won't do any harm and salt has an antiseptic action without being harsh.

 

[crnyng]

I was thinking of a warm bath for him myself. I'm not sure if it's spurs as of right now. It looks more thick and crusty-ish than a pussed filled wound (bumblefoot). But not being very knowledgeable on either I'm stuck. Just glad he seems happy in his new home compared to how he was living.

 

[crnyng]

The reason I say I think it's Spurs though is because between his toes it looks like he's got bedding stuck to his foot but it's not bedding, it's whatever this is on his foot.

 

[Veggies Galore]

He's a gorgeous boy . Please be patient waiting for a answer . Your thread title is good and it will be picked up by a health and illness guru

 

[crnyng]

I know I'm impatient, sorry. I just worry a lot for my pigs. And having rescued him I worry how long he's had his problems without being taken care of.

 

[Veggies Galore]

I know how you feel . I know it's not easy.

It'd be a good idea to organise a vet appointment anyway

 

[Veggies Galore]

Have a look at a thread I posted a while ago

Is This Fungal?

When I took Max to the vet, he was given antibiotics and topical fungal lotion . He also had painkillers .

 

[crnyng]

Update!: I put him in warm water to soak his foot, hoping to magically disappear what is on his foot seeing as I panic much too quick, and it's somewhat coming off, like loosening up and off. I barely tugged at it (seeing as I would be too afraid to hurt him) and it came off completely! Is this what a spur is? And I have read the Guinea Lynx page but I'm curious as to what advice and reccommendations people would have that they have personally used and found helpful for Spurs if this is what it is.

 

[Veggies Galore]

Does his foot look OK ?

no wound or signs of swelling ?

 

[crnyng]

Just a normal looking little black foot! (:
I made sure to check, being paranoid that I somehow may have created an open wound and all.

 

[flintstones]

Perhaps it was dirt from poor housing, considering where he has come from I wouldn't be surprised.

Glad it's come off easily, leaving him with a healthy little paw.

 

[crnyng]

Perhaps it was dirt from poor housing, considering where he has come from I wouldn't be surprised.

Glad it's come off easily, leaving him with a healthy little paw.

That's what I was thinking too. Very glad this was much simpler than I was thinking it to be!
Some of these pigs where he came from were housed in a chicken wire looking cage barely any bigger than a 1x1.5 .... And there are nearly 30 of them.. I'm tempted to go back and buy/take all I can but I already have 7 myself.

 

[VickiA]

I'm so glad a warm bath loosened it off and he is fine. You are very vigilant and he's lucky to have found his forever home with you

 

[Chief Guinea Pig]

I'm glad it has came off it is easy for poo and that to get stuck! Lola had some hardened on her foot the other day

 

[crnyng]

I'm glad it has came off it is easy for poo and that to get stuck! Lola had some hardened on her foot the other day

I don't think it is poop. It truly looked like (at the time of coming off since wet) wet thick thick skin because it had a clear coloring to it. I'm beginning to think Spurs for sure? But yes I'm glad it was a simple problem rather than being a big problem! (:

 

[helen105281]

Thank goodness you got him out of there. I know he has come to a wonderful home. My first thought was spurs too, it does tend to look a lot redder with Bumblefoot and it would be sore too. I would keep soaking for now and if it doesn't disappear over the next day or so get him to your vet.