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Bumblefoot

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Emmavb19

Emmavb19

Junior Guinea Pig
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On Aptil 11th, 2014, my two guinea pigs Honey and Cocoa were outside. I was outside with them just watching them eat. I was petting Honey, when she stuck her left foot out, I noticed that it was very big and swollen it almost looked like a tumor. I then checked Cocoa and noticed she had the exact same thing. I then did some research and it was terrifying to se that everyone was saying that the guinea pig needed amputation to the leg or worse death:soz: I instantly got really upset. Somebody then said put the infected area in Epson Salts with warm water. I did that and then I decided to wrap their feet with a comfy makeup pad and some wrap. Please I really need some help... If anything were to happen to them I would be devastated, they are my world:ple::help:
 
Is newspaper their only bedding? That is not a suitable bedding as it gets very wet. I would switch to fleece or vetbed. Vetbed is hypoallergenic and very soft which is what your poor little ones need. I got mine from dog products direct.
 
I just realised you are in Canada. I do not know if you can get vetbed there. If you cannot then use a layer of towels and two of fleece. In the meantime you will need to change the newspaper every time it is wet.
 
Yes as they will need treatment. Antibiotics will help. I would take them right away and get the vetbed as soon as possible to help cushion their feet.
 
Okay. They currently have a little cushioned cast type thing that is helping them walk around. Is this fine till I get to the vet's?
 
I wrote too her but she hasn't replied yet. Does it usually take her long reply?
 
She is offline and will be able to reply once she is online. In the meantime you could get vetbed ordered and make a vet appointment if you like.
 
Emmavb19 said:
Thank you:)
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No problem. Their piggy bedspreads are good. I had one when I lived in Ohio. When they pee it is soaked away from the top layer and into the core. It keeps the top layer dry and your piggies dry :) they can be spot cleaned every day and then washed in the machine twice a week. Intially exspensive bit overall will save money on other bedding and def better than just newspaper :) your piggies will love you for it. If you don't have a c&c cahe email Martha the owner and ask for her to make you some fleece liners to fit their habitat. :)
 
I don't have any photos right now, because I have their feet wrapped up so it's comfortable to walk. When I take the wraps off I'll definitely load them
 
Hi, sorry been at the opticians so not online. Will reply to your message in a moment. It sounds like it could be bumblefoot especially as they are likely to have been sitting in their own wee. I agree with the recommendations for vet bed and if not, fleece. Both need an absorbent layer underneath to wick away urine. Both girls need to see the vet as soon as you can as it is possible they may need antibitotics if it is infected. My late Nigel had bumblefoot but his was due to his heart issue, I used to bathe his feet daily in Hibiscrub. My current pig Fuzzy also has it every so often and again this is linked to her heart condition and she has a lotion called Zymox applied which is a hydrocortisone lotion but your vet should be able to prescribe what is the appropriate medication for your pig. It does sound like this is more related to the fact that the newspaper will have been damp.
 
The other thing that you will need to ask the vet for his pain relief as they are likely to be very sore.

The little cast you have made will help protect their feet and stop any further dirt getting to any wounds but you should remove it every so often so their feet can breathe. A vet visit is key right now though I appreciate that not all vets in Canada will see small animals.
 
Thank you so much. I am pretty sure that they have bumblefoot since their feet look like tumors. I would like to know two things: is puttig their feet in Epson Salts good or bad for them? And can bumblefoot go away? Becuase I was looking up online and they said it could lead to amputation or death, and I really don't want either. I know my guonea pigs vet will take them in, because my other guinea pig cudddlesmhad this unknown disease and they tried to help her but she ended up dying of few months later. Do you know where I can get the Hibiscrub or will my vet prescribe them for me?
 
First of all - please don;t panic. There is an awful lot of stuff on-line that is totally incorrect. Bumblefoot is manageable if not curable (depending upon the cause)......without the need for amputation - .

Second - without a picture, we do not know whether or not your piggies actually have bumblefoot - which is a bacterial infection of the paws and can be accompanied by scabs/open wounds. You describe the feet as "looking like tumours" but some piggies do have very fleshy paws....and what do you mean anyway by "looking like tumours?" Please upload photos as soon as you can.

Thirdly - IF it is bumblefoot - it would point towards a heart problem or diabetes - infections in the extremities normally only appear if the circulation is compromised by an underlying condition.

Fourthly the only other ways infection sets up in the paws is by
a) repeated and constant exposure to harsh conditions/chemicals such as urine
b) by trauma - open wound

The most important thing is to determine whether they have bumblefoot or something else....then what may have caused it (e.g. urine or heart condition) - you can instigate treatment in the form of antibiotics but without determining the cause this condition will just repeat.

In the meantime espom salts or diluted hibiscrub bathing may help.....or application of a barrier cream (nappy rash) such as sudocream may help protect providing there are no open wounds/breaks to the skin. Most importantly however they need to be checked by a vet pronto and, if necessary, anitbiotics prescribed.

Hibiscrub can be bought from an on-line chemist - I notice you are in Ontario canada - so google your on-line suppliers. Failing that Amazon.com (prob more expensive) have a supplier who would appear to ship overseas.

http://www.amazon.com/Scrub-Chlorhexidine-Antimicrobial-Cleanser-500ml/dp/B00A4BSQ2Y

HTH
x
 
I did get an appointment for my guinea pigs. And I know it is bumblefoot, because I looked up pictures and everything, and they all looked liked what my guinea pigs have. Looking like tumors means that their feet are swollen and that are choosing to lie down instead of walking are like they normally do. They also have blooed scabs on their feet. But thanks anyways
 
helen105281 said:
Do Amazon.com ship to Canada? If so, here is the link you need:

http://www.amazon.com/Pharmacyplace-HIBI500-Hibiscrub-Antiseptic-Handwash/dp/B001AV4C20

One link I have found makes me think that HIbiscrub may be called Hibitane in Canada. Both have the same active ingredient of Chlorhexidine.

Guinea Lynx does seem to recommend Epsom salts as being more effective:

http://www.guinealynx.info/pododermatitis.html

However, I would be a bit worried about it stinging open wounds.
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Yes amazon does ship to Canada. So thank you for giving me the link to it:) Would blood scabs be consider open wounds? If so should I stop using the Epson Salts?
 
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