• 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

Bumblefoot...

Status
Not open for further replies.
EmmyRVN

EmmyRVN

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Mar 4, 2012
Messages
42
Reaction score
2
Points
155
Location
Kidderminster
Hi all,

I was just wondering if any of you have experience of the care or management of a guinea pig with bumblefoot?

I can't say much as it is work related and client confidentiality etc... but I was just looking for any tips on managing a severe case of this in both a piggies front legs and what you all might think is best.

Thank you :)
 
Gorgeous Guineas do a perfect paws and FM ointment which may help - we've used both on Radar my 3 footed degu's stump which can get pressure sores.

I've not had a guinea pig with bumblefoot, but with the Radar the important things are a spotlessly clean cage, having him on a soft surface (we use fleece) and keeping his weight down.

Weight management is best done with unlimited good quality hay, a range of vegetables (particularly dark green veggies which have lots of antioxidants for healing as well) and pellets limited so that they run out for half the day. I find animals living alone can get overweight.

However if there's any possibility that the piggie is underweight or malnourished then obviously restricting pellets is not a good idea. Check what the to is eating.

There are a couple of chinchilla rescuers around with a great deal of experience with bumblefoot as it is much more common in chins due to those horrible wire bottomed cages they sell for them. Try the chinsrus forum or just google chinchilla bumblefoot.

Paula
 
I dont have a huge amount of experience of bumblefoot, but i do agree. A few main things to consider are:

- Gorgeous guineas ointments (give them an email, she usually replies quickly and shes really helpful)
- a spotless cage, ideally something like vetbed
- Making sure the piggie is pain free (if there is any chance of arthiritis) which can cause them to move a lot less
- a agree a good diet too

x.
 
EmmyRVN said:
Hi all,

I was just wondering if any of you have experience of the care or management of a guinea pig with bumblefoot?

I can't say much as it is work related and client confidentiality etc... but I was just looking for any tips on managing a severe case of this in both a piggies front legs and what you all might think is best.

Thank you :)
Click to expand...

Dealt with this first hand :( Marbles had it in both her front feet and it spread across her belly.. 5 abscesses in all.. nearly lost her twice..
But she made it ;)
She'd spend her days at a friends house though whilst I was at work, her feet and belly bathed 3 times a day in a salt solution, and meds.. substituted with her fav greens to help keep her weight up.
 
Thank you for the responses all.

The client in question has decided not to go with our advice and instead is going to get one forelimb amputated at another vets - can only hope they decide to change their mind.
 
Gosh that is very drastic, I hope the other vets talks her out of it, Bumblefoot is treatable. Clairelove is treating a guinea with this condition if you wish to ask her for her opinion.
 
EmmyRVN said:
Thank you for the responses all.

The client in question has decided not to go with our advice and instead is going to get one forelimb amputated at another vets - can only hope they decide to change their mind.
Click to expand...

If I'd been offered that option for Marbles, i'd have nearly died of shock at even the thought of putting my little girlie through that, she was going through enough :( I hope the Piggy makes it, I really do xx

I've watched my piggies eat their food, and they do use the front paws to hold the veg down, or get a piece of food out of their mouth that they don't like, can't imagine how that piggy is going to cope.. I mean just because they can't hold a knife and fork, doesn't mean they don't need them:...
 
Last edited:
They can happily live with an amputated forelimb, my own piggy does as he was born with a deformity that caused him pain after a while and he is now fit, healthy and happy, my main concern is that not only are both forelimbs affected, they are very badly affected, hugely swollen and were dark purple last time I saw them. Amputating one will surely only put more pressure on the other and what happens then?

We tried giving her all the advice we could, but unfortunately the discount vets (that had already given her incorrect treatment options and medication dosages) were cheaper for the amputation she has decided she wants.

:0

Some days I struggle with my job.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top