• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Specialist Bumblefoot? Vet has suggested possibly Cancer!

slizzie91

slizzie91

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
26
Reaction score
16
Points
155
Location
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Hi,

It's been a long time since I last posted! I first noticed our 3 year old sow, Winnie, had a sore on her foot 4 weeks ago and took her straight to the vet (her foot was very swollen and slightly hot). I had read a bit about bumblefoot in the past and thought this is what it looked like.

The vet prescribed Baytril, Metacam and Hibiscrub foot baths, which we did for 2 weeks before revisting the vet. We were advised to continue this course again for another 2 weeks. Whilst most of the swelling around 3 of her toes has subsided, she still has a swelling around her 4th toe and footpad. She is back at the vet today for a checkup, and we were told if it doesn't respond soon they might think it could be cancer?

Has anyone had experience of bumblefoot taking a while to heal and/or the potential of it being something much worse? We are keeping her bedding as dry as possible to avoid the sore opening up again.

IMG_4071.webp

Thanks in advance!

Sonia
 
Oh, poor girl! It looks sore! I don't have much experience with bumblefoot, but do know it can be hard to keep on top of, similar to any other type of pressure sore where the patient can't offload weight (obviously a guinea pig won't understand to not bear weight on that limb.) I have never heard it linked to cancer, however, and if there was an underlying issue contributing I would more suspect diabetes or a circulatory issue than a malignancy.
 
The only experience I have had with Bumblefoot was a link to a heart issue. If the heart is compromised then the extremities like the feet are affected by the bad circulation. Has your girl ever been checked for a heart issue? Otherwise I am not sure, I did once have a pig on a solver cream for an infected area on her back and that seemed to help. Maybe worth asking your vet too.
 
UPDATE: We've just had Winnie back to the vet (a different one to the past two times), and they have rubbished the idea of cancer (thankfully!) and have advised we continue as we are going for now, as it can take a long time for the swelling to go down. When we are back in a couple of weeks I will speak to them about the issues above and hopefully it's nothing too serious!

Regarding heart issues for those who mentioned, are there any other symptoms I should be looking for here?

Thanks!
 
One of my pigs had a lot of fluid on his chest due to scarring of the lungs and poor genetics. The vet prescribed heart meds for him too and they really helped. He had bumblefoot.

A change of antibiotic might help. Baytril is the standard 'go to' medicine but something like Zithromax may help.

My boy was on a diuretic as well as the heart meds.

Poor circulation was said to be a contributor to the bumblefoot.
 
UPDATE: Winnie has now had another 2 weeks of Baytril/Metacam and although her foot is vastly different to where we started 5 weeks ago, it hasn't shown any further impovement in the past 10 days! Strangely, our vet (though we have been givena different on each time!) has said they don't need to see us back unless it worsens...:hmm:

I am seriously considering looking for another vet for a better opinion (I am North East based if anyone knows of a good piggie vet?). I have considered wrapping her foot so that the little sore left cannot open up, but I don't think she would tolerate it! I am at my whits end, all advice welcome!

TIA
 
slizzie91 said:
UPDATE: Winnie has now had another 2 weeks of Baytril/Metacam and although her foot is vastly different to where we started 5 weeks ago, it hasn't shown any further impovement in the past 10 days! Strangely, our vet (though we have been givena different on each time!) has said they don't need to see us back unless it worsens...:hmm:

I am seriously considering looking for another vet for a better opinion (I am North East based if anyone knows of a good piggie vet?). I have considered wrapping her foot so that the little sore left cannot open up, but I don't think she would tolerate it! I am at my whits end, all advice welcome!

TIA
Click to expand...
Have you looked on the vet locator?
 
I don't have any experience with bumble foot but I have heard people soaking the foot in epsom salts and having good results. I also agree with others that maybe a different antibiotic might help as baytril might not be strong enough. I would keep up with the hibi scrub as well and like you say keep her bedding as dry and clean as possible.
Personally I would get a second opinion from another vet if possible. Good luck.
 
Ouch, poor sausage!
It looks quite severe, I wonder if maybe it has spread to the bone which is preventing it from healing? Maybe an x-ray might help?
The only other thing I can think of is just to change the bedding to something like fleece and keep it very clean. Could possibly be a heart problem as suggested, it would affect circulation I think which might make healing in her feet difficult!
I hope she gets better soon :hug:
 
Merrypigs Sanctuary said:
Ouch, poor sausage!
It looks quite severe, I wonder if maybe it has spread to the bone which is preventing it from healing? Maybe an x-ray might help?
The only other thing I can think of is just to change the bedding to something like fleece and keep it very clean. Could possibly be a heart problem as suggested, it would affect circulation I think which might make healing in her feet difficult!
I hope she gets better soon :hug:
Click to expand...

If it has spread to the bone, what are the implications of this for her? I really don't want to lose her, she's only 3 and has a very devoted cagemate!
 
slizzie91 said:
If it has spread to the bone, what are the implications of this for her? I really don't want to lose her, she's only 3 and has a very devoted cagemate!
Click to expand...
It would depend really, your vet will be able to advise best! I've heard some suggest very strong antibiotics, some amputation depending on how bad it is - but I'm definitely not suggesting it's that bad yet! Really only your vet can tell sadly :(
 
UPDATE: We took Winnie to one of the vets in the "recommended" post. She has subsequently had X-rays, which thankfully ruled out any issues with the bone and also indicated that the foot was free of infection. Her little wound was flushed out and we were told to continue with anti-inflammatories for a couple of weeks.

We went back last week, and have since seen no improvement (or worsening) in her condition. This time, we were instructed to try her off the medication, to see if that was simply holding it off from getting worse. So far, no change. I think even this vet is at a loss as to what to do next! She is not on fleece and has been for 3 weeks to hopefully help her heal.

Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what we could try? (please note she does not seem in any pain, is fully weight bearing and is eating/drinking and maintaining weight...our only issue is the swelling in her toe)
 
@slizzie91 Has a different antibiotic been tried yet? Baytril is the standard medication but it's also not the best when there is a stubborn infection to shift.
 
Well you certainly havin some trouble with your piggie. You had many suggestions what it is and thankfully not what it could be.
Winnie is very brave and she is battling this with your help. Keep up the meds and hope this last toe get better soon. x
 
The only thing I can think of is a change to vetbed, unless you have already done that? Did the vet rule out a heart issue?
 
Aww is she ok? Does she feel sore anywhere? If you have took her to the vet and they prescribed medication she will be fine. I will pray for you and your guinea pig. God bless you!
 
I have had a few piggies that have come in with bumblefoot . The main things that help are regular metacam, daily soaks in dilute hibiscrub, use of gorgeous guinea foot ointment and soft bedding such as fleece and vet bed . One piggy has had problems for all the 3 years she has been with me but is currently symptom free apart from a patch of hard skin. I continue foot ointment and metacam however to avoid recurrence. Front feet are more difficult to heal in my experience
 
pig in the city said:
I have had a few piggies that have come in with bumblefoot . The main things that help are regular metacam, daily soaks in dilute hibiscrub, use of gorgeous guinea foot ointment and soft bedding such as fleece and vet bed . One piggy has had problems for all the 3 years she has been with me but is currently symptom free apart from a patch of hard skin. I continue foot ointment and metacam however to avoid recurrence. Front feet are more difficult to heal in my experience
Click to expand...

Hi Pig in the City - thanks for your advice, all very helpful - can you let me know which ointment you use from Gorgours Guineas so that I can order some please? We already have her on fleece to try and help her and has been on Metacam for a while now, our vet suggested to trial a couple of weeks off to see if that has an adverse affect.
 
slizzie91 said:
Hi Pig in the City - thanks for your advice, all very helpful - can you let me know which ointment you use from Gorgours Guineas so that I can order some please? We already have her on fleece to try and help her and has been on Metacam for a while now, our vet suggested to trial a couple of weeks off to see if that has an adverse affect.
Click to expand...
slizzie91 said:
Hi Pig in the City - thanks for your advice, all very helpful - can you let me know which ointment you use from Gorgours Guineas so that I can order some please? We already have her on fleece to try and help her and has been on Metacam for a while now, our vet suggested to trial a couple of weeks off to see if that has an adverse affect.
Click to expand...
Hi. I use the perfect paws as l find the F&M a bit too greasy but that's the one recommended for bumblefoot.
I personally would keep up with the metacam as it has an antiinflammatory effect but obviously be guided by your vet. I have had piggies on metacam for years with no adverse effects.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top