Bumblefoot

[Pug_in_a_bed]

My 5-6 year old ginger Joan has bumblefoot. I noticed her foot had swelled about 2 weeks ago and was scabby. Vet cleaned it up and had abs for 2 weeks which have finished.

I've been washing in salt water and hibiscrub each once a day and using germoline as per advice on other forums. The other day I cleaned it up and it burst a bit, with bloody/puss coming out, scabbed up and is much less open. She's also putting weight on it but its still nasty and the foot is still bulbous.

I'm using megazorb bedding and clean towels at night as she is terrible for peeing and sitting in it, which is where it may have come from.

Eating fine and not lost any weight which is great. She;s also having childrens ibuprofen

Back the vets for more abs I think, but anything else I can do? Would the vet normally try and drain the swollen part?

Poor Joan, she is an only pig after her cage mate died and I've resisted getting a friend until this clears up.

Photos below show before burst and how it looks at the moment.
https://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3/smam21/photo 1_zpsqoursqmo.jpg

https://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3/smam21/photo 2_zpsuwwnftjw.jpg

Sorry for links, couldnt get images to upload

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[Stewybus]

You could get some vet bed with puppy pads undeerneath for her which allows wee to go through but keeps dry on top. This would also be much softer for her too x

 

[Pug_in_a_bed]

Thats a great idea, will defo try that, She's a phenomenal pee-er and always has been!

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

What antibiotic has she been prescribed. You need to get this treated properly. How experienced is your vet with dealing with guinea pigs? I had a guinea pig come into my care with such a badly infected foot that she ended up needing part of it amputating

 

[Pug_in_a_bed]

Yes she has, she's just finished antibiotics. It looks less angry and I know bf can take ages to heal but the round bulbous swelling is bugging me and I'm sure Joan so think we will have to go back, but any tips are welcome.

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

We have found the antibiotic Zithromax very affective when dealing with bumblefoot. It can take a while for the swelling to subside.

 

[Pug_in_a_bed]

Thanks, I'll definitely raise that with the vet as she was on baytril.

 

[Pug_in_a_bed]

Can you see the pics ok, just wondering how bad you think it looks?

 

[gizzy]

hi, dos Jinger Joan limp ?

the reason l ask is l rember addopting a pig with an advanced case of b foot , much the same as in your pic. (go's right up to the knuckle joint )

he displayed no pain indecators what so ever, my vet said that it could be that the infection caused nerve damage .

anyway no pain meds were given and all l had to do was bath it in salt water daily .

he died of natural cause .

 

[Pug_in_a_bed]

She was certainly uncomfortable on it when I first noticed and then when it drained a bit, now she doesn't seem bothered and I'm happy to say it has closed over and is scabby but still very swollen. She is an older pig so I don't want to chance anything too invasive.

 

[gizzy]

l remember l did an artical in the Guinea pig Magazine, if you go on line (guinea pig mag)
you may be able to read the story

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

You may find the foot doesn't go back to looking completely normal, but as long as it heals and there is no pain then she will be fine. Definitely ask your vet if they will consider Zithromax x

 

[Pug_in_a_bed]

Thanks all, and GIzzy thanks as I think I found the article

 

[TAN]

Curtis Cavies posted a thread on saturday as they have taken in 2 pigs with a mild dose of bumblefoot (I dont know how to tag threads on here) - I posted quite a long winded account of how my specialist piggy vet treated my Bumble's severe case of bumblefoot - if you can find that thread it should be quite helpful - the trick is a very long term course of antibiotics baytril / zithromax / septrin - ( my bumble was on septrin for over 2 months as this was gentler on his stomach for him - if your vet prescribes baytril or zithromax then please also use a probiotic to avoid problems with the gut ) - combined with having a pressure pad under the pad of piggies foot - a small square of something that is called aluryn (or something similar) its pink on one side and pale yellow on this other - this is placed on the pad of the foot (ordinary wadding is not enough of a cushion)- the foot is then wrapped in gauze all the way up to the top of the leg and then sticky plaster is put all over the foot - when the sores were pussey and the foot looked burnt flamazine ointment was also put on the foot (used for burns victims) as the feet improved they were just wiped with hibiscrub when the dressings were changed - to start with his dressings were changed every two days ,building up to every 5 days (but we often had to go back in between as his "socks" would come off )- it took nearly 3 months for him to get over it as his immune system was very low (2 major surgeries within 6 weeks) - but if you have someone to hold your piggy for you (I didn't) if you have a piggy savvy vet who can bind a foot properly - you will be able to do this yourself once you have seen how it is done - which will cut the cost down considerably - and just see your vet every so often to get more antibiotics and dressings and get piggy checked over - good luck.