• 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

Example of Bumblefoot - Mrs Fuzzy

Status
Not open for further replies.
helen105281

helen105281

Senior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jan 27, 2010
Messages
18,877
Reaction score
10,563
Points
2,155
Location
Herts
Fuzzy went to piggy clinic today and sadly her heart problems have got worse recently and her Benazapril has had to be tweaked upwards by our vets. She was also diagnosed at clinic with the start of Bumblefoot which is a common issue with heart pigs as their bad circulation means that the blood does not get to the extremities. Her foot is not ulcerated yet as we have caught it early but we are treating her from today with Zymox which has helped us greatly in the past when looking after a pig with Bumblefoot.

Here are some photos, the foot does not look as bad in the photo as it does in the flesh.



 
Poor baby. Nacho is really improving with baytril twice a day and FM ointment from gorgeous guineas for his bumblefoot. I hope Mrs Fuzzy gets well soon too ^_^

~ Amy
 
Thanks, it's not really bothering her, Nigel's was much worse when he had it and we didn't know about Zymox then. Sadly with her progressing heart problems this could be a common occurrence. She is Nigel but diagnosed a few months earlier if that makes sense. He came to us too late to be diagnosed in time. Fuzzy has a better chance but it is looking likely she will need Vetmedin added into her meds at some point down the line.
 
*Nibbles&Nugget* said:
Poor baby. Nacho is really improving with baytril twice a day and FM ointment from gorgeous guineas for his bumblefoot. I hope Mrs Fuzzy gets well soon too ^_^

~ Amy
Click to expand...

Thanks, Fuzzy won't need antibiotics as is not an infection in her case and I won't use essential oils on her.
 
helen105281 said:
Thanks, Fuzzy won't need antibiotics as is not an infection in her case and I won't use essential oils on her.
Click to expand...

Fair enough ^_^

I'm just going on what the vet told me to do and it seems to be working.

Also, as you have more experience than I, do you have any recommendations for preventatives or is it just something we need to keep a look out for and stay on top of? Do you have any idea what causes it? It's just so awful, I want to make sure I do everything I can to stop it from happening again!

~ Amy
 
Not saying that Nacho's isn't an infection, your vet obviously had his reasons for treating as he has. I just know this in Fuzzy's case is part of her heart condition as it was with Nigel. Frosty the other pig we looked after who had it was because his immune system was screwed from very bad systemic fungal problems mixed in with the fact his teeth were allowed to grow out of his mouth and he had not eaten properly for weeks. He was also possibly a heart pig.

Karen who runs the clinics (in conjunction with a vet) has done some research and I will refresh my memory with her findings before coming back to you.
 
The traditional thought behind Bumblefoot is that it is linked to bad or dirty living conditions but latest research is leaning more towards the ulcerative infection being a secondary symptom. Likely primary causes are heart conditions, systemic fungal problems, diet and genetic presdisposition.

Frosty was the perfect example of bad diet (too many indigestible grains and carbs which upset the natural balance and flora of the gut and lead to a weakened immune system). I would maybe look at what you are feeding, if your dry mix is full of soya meal and grains then it could be a possible cause.
 
Do you mind me asking why you would not use essential oils on a piggy? I did not even know people did.
 
I have seen examples of pigs who have had a bad reaction, skin wise. So I don't use products that contain them. Obviously it is the owners own choice but I personally would not use them on my own pigs.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top