First ever vet trip :(

[lizzie_71]

Tomorrow morning I have to take one of my boys to the vet :{

When I was cutting their nails on Friday I noticed that Jack had what looked like a piece of dry skin or a callous on one of his paws. It doesn't seem to hurt him or be infected, and he is still walking around fine, but it looks as if this piece of dry skin is hanging off and could get caught on something or cause problems at some stage. So it's off to the vets for us

I have had the boys for over two years and they have never been to the vets, or indeed anywhere before, so I am wondering how to get them there safely.

Can anyone help with these questions:

1. How do I transport them? I have no carrier or anything like that. I thought of using a plastic crate with a towel in the bottom. I don't have a cardboard box, I used them all for posting Xmas presents out!

2. Do I take both boys or just Jack? They have never been separated before and I don't want to distress them. I thought I'd probably take both.

3. Will they be OK in the car (in a box obviously, not running loose!). If the car would scare them, I could walk there but it would be cold.

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

Don't worry!

A plastic crate with a towel on the bottom will be fine - but put something over the top in case they try to leap for freedom!

I'd take both... for company.

They'll be fine in the car - how far is it to vets? Try to keep them at a regular temperature, and put a bit of cucumber in to keep them hydrated.

The thing on the foot sounds like quite a common thing, like a callous / growth?

Sophie
x

 

[lizzie_71]

Don't worry!

A plastic crate with a towel on the bottom will be fine - but put something over the top in case they try to leap for freedom!

I'd take both... for company.

They'll be fine in the car - how far is it to vets? Try to keep them at a regular temperature, and put a bit of cucumber in to keep them hydrated.

The thing on the foot sounds like quite a common thing, like a callous / growth?

Sophie
x

Yes, it's like a growth. Probably nothing important, but worth checking. Thanks for the tips. I have a crate with a lid that the kids keep lego in, I can borrow that for the morning! Doubt they'd jump though, they are very fat and lazy!

It is literally 2 minutes by car or 10 minutes on foot to the vet, so not a long journey for them.

 

[Goldie]

Good luck at the vets.

I have had piggies with this type of thing. It is a weird kinda toe nail, kinda skin flap thing that grows over, like an extra toe but moveable yet hard.

 

[lizzie_71]

Good luck at the vets.

I have had piggies with this type of thing. It is a weird kinda toe nail, kinda skin flap thing that grows over, like an extra toe but moveable yet hard.

That sounds like exactly the same thing. What did the vet do? Cut it off or leave it?

 

[Millie's-Mummy]

Hope all goes well for you & Jack tomorrow.
Try not to worry as they will feel your stressed and worry them.
Let us know how Jack get's on.
Thinking of all 3 of you.

Louise & Chestnut

xxxxx

 

[Glynis]

Good luck at the vets love i'm sure all will be ok xx>>>xx>>>
Just give them lots of loves and talk soothingly to them and when you get home extra treats and cuddles xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[frank]

try a blanket to keep them warm too

 

[zigzag]

One of my piggies has a little bit of hanging skin, I just got some Bepanthen (nappy rash cream) which I rubbed into her feet for a few days. Trimmed the edge of the skin each day to stop it catching (didn't seem to hurt, only cut the very edges). Eventually the bit of skin just dropped off by itself! She's been fine ever since.

 

[Vikki]

Skin spurs on the feet are very common. Gorgeous guineas do an ointment called perfect paws which helps soften them up I just carefully clip them when I am doing the guineas nails. If you are unsure you are doing the right thnig by going to the vet, he/she will probably just trim it. If the pur becomes too long it can rip off which would affect the pad by removing some of the healthy tissue. It is very manageable they just need to be kept short by trimming and Ontment will help soften the skin. Good luck

 

[lizzie_71]

Thanks everyone. Vikki was quite right, it was just a skin spur. The vet trimmed it off and Jack didn't even squeak so it obviously didn't hurt. Even better, the vet didn't even charge me!

He said if it grows back, just trim it with the nail clippers.

He also said that the boys were 'big healthy beasts' - they are very large boys, with good healthy appetites!