Bumblefoot

[molzify]

I've just been doing a little MOT on Rupert (5/6 year old male neutered) and noticed he had some soft faeces stuck to his foot so used warm water to rinse it off and have found what I believe to be a bumblefoot ulcer.

He is booked to see a vet at 3pm tomorrow, but is there anything I can do to help him tonight? He's on metacam once a day for arthritis and I'm going to swap over his fleece a couple of days before clean is due just to make sure everything is as clean as possible.

The plan was to bond him to our newly adopted girls (been with us since sunday) tomorrow morning but as his appointment isn't until 3pm I'm going to push this back to Sunday. Is there any reason I should not attempt introductions at this stage, could the girls be affected by it?

Feeling like a very bad piggy slave for not checking his feet more often also to add I have now soaked his feet thoroughly to remove all traces of faeces.

 

[Wiebke]

I've just been doing a little MOT on Rupert (5/6 year old male neutered) and noticed he had some soft faeces stuck to his foot so used warm water to rinse it off and have found what I believe to be a bumblefoot ulcer.

He is booked to see a vet at 3pm tomorrow, but is there anything I can do to help him tonight? He's on metacam once a day for arthritis and I'm going to swap over his fleece a couple of days before clean is due just to make sure everything is as clean as possible.

The plan was to bond him to our newly adopted girls (been with us since sunday) tomorrow morning but as his appointment isn't until 3pm I'm going to push this back to Sunday. Is there any reason I should not attempt introductions at this stage, could the girls be affected by it?

Feeling like a very bad piggy slave for not checking his feet more often also to add I have now soaked his feet thoroughly to remove all traces of faeces.

Hi

I am very sorry. Not what you want to find on the eve of a bank holiday.

If you have a mild antiseptic at home you can use that right now.
@Viennese Furbabies and @eileen have more experience with bumblefoot care than I and can help you better with practical how-to tips.

Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility (With general practical care tips and a bumblefoot link in chapter 4)

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

I'm very sorry. Bumblefoot can be a nightmare.

Your vet will probably give you Baytril to prevent the infection from spreading.
Metacam will help with the pain.

Try to keep your boy (or the whole group) on soft bedding and keep it as dry as possible.

You can soak the foot in a solution of epsom salt or mallow tea and use Bepanthen plus or Flammazine cream afterwards.

Bumblefoot isn't something that would affect the girls and if Rupert seems fine in himself, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't try a bonding.

 

[molzify]

I'm very sorry. Bumblefoot can be a nightmare.

Your vet will probably give you Baytril to prevent the infection from spreading.
Metacam will help with the pain.

Try to keep your boy (or the whole group) on soft bedding and keep it as dry as possible.

You can soak the foot in a solution of epsom salt or mallow tea and use Bepanthen plus or Flammazine cream afterwards.

Bumblefoot isn't something that would affect the girls and if Rupert seems fine in himself, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't try a bonding.

Thank you so much!
Is sudocrem a suitable alternative for bepathen plus, I can't seem to find a reputable stockist and we didn't have any flamazine in stock. If not I can make sure flamazine is ordered in.

 

[VickiA]

I’m not sure about Sudocreme. But it’s almost as important what you put the piggy on as what you put on to the piggy. It’s so important to keep the bedding dry. Vet fleece or vet bed are the best for keeping dry. A small piece under favourite houses is always a good addition.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Sudocrem can actually be quite drying on the skin. Probably not the go to option

 

[molzify]

I’m not sure about Sudocreme. But it’s almost as important what you put the piggy on as what you put on to the piggy. It’s so important to keep the bedding dry. Vet fleece or vet bed are the best for keeping dry. A small piece under favourite houses is always a good addition.

Thank you! He is already housed on fleece but we are adding pee pads to his favourite spots

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much!
Is sudocrem a suitable alternative for bepathen plus, I can't seem to find a reputable stockist and we didn't have any flamazine in stock. If not I can make sure flamazine is ordered in.

Try for leucillin online or in pets@home shops (UK) if you cannot get hold of flamazine (which is now classed as a prescription-only medication POM).

Sudocrem tends to dry out the skin and is generally not recommended for guinea pigs - it can cause further cracks in the skin through which germs can enter, whether that is feet, grease glands or bums.

 

[molzify]

Thank you for your advice! Leucillin is ordered and will come tomorrow and since I work at the vets I got them to put flamazine on the order for me so it should be in on Tuesday. Vet was happy to prescribe it but couldn't physically give us any today.

Would oat baths be of any benefit? Epsom salts are also ordered and will be here tomorrow.

Rupert has been prescribed Baytril and to continue metacam at his usual dose (he's arthritic) and we're giving fibreplex 2 hours before antibiotics, he's already on Pro-c as a supplement anyway so hopefully I can help him keep his guts happy. And not sure if I said this but we've got more pee pads on route.

 

[Freela]

What my vet recommended and the best thing I've found so far is betadine. You can buy it over the counter in Canada where I live, not sure where you are. It worked better than flamazine when one of my elderly pigs got bumblefoot.

 

[molzify]

24 hours difference, left is yesterday and right is today. I think I can see an improvement in the redness of the skin. All of our supplies arrived today so we can get this nasty ulcer cleared up l. Rupert is being the most tolerant piggy, letting me give him foot baths and gently cleaning the area. Thanks to the girls he's now moving around a lot more instead of sitting in one spot which is really nice to see.

He still hates baytril but we're powering through

 

[VickiA]

Glad to hear things are moving in the right direction.

 

[eileen]

I agree with the above .Dakotas feet I soaked for 10 minutes in a one tablespoon of epsom salts,in an inch of warm water.
Then use a thin layer of f10 ointment,or flamazine cream from the vet.its a tedious treatment,but it can take few months to eradicate.Dakotas have nearly healed bumblefoot.
I use vetbed as bedding for Dakotas group.The vet did not prescribe antibiotics as she felt its inflammatory due to lack of movement.she was on loxicom dog strength, 0.5mls twice daily.
I hope your piggie gets better soon.

 

[molzify]

For anyone interested or for future people wanting reference pics, this is Ruperts foot today on Day 5 since starting treatments. The flamazine is helping a lot and the scabbed area is starting to contract.

I've shown the daily photos to the vet in charge of Ruperts case, since I work with him he really can't avoid me and he's very happy with the progress so far.

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

That's great.

 

[CTWC]

 

[PiggyPoo]

Glad his foot is healing nicely xx