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Guinea Pig Born With Bad Foot - ADVICE PLEASE!

gpiggy1479

New Born Pup
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Good morning,

We recently got some guinea pigs off someone with an out-of-control situation where the boys kept escaping to the girls cage and the girls were getting pregnant constantly. We got some girls (obviously pregnant) off them, because they asked if anyone could take their girls to end the cycle, and we had enough room.
In one of the litters of babies that was recently born, one baby had front left foot that hadn't developed in the right way, obviously due to inbreeding. The leg in too long, and flips around fully at the joint, so that the actual foot is facing upwards.
At almost three weeks old, he is a VERY strong, healthy and lively guinea pig, and has learned to run on his three legs fairly well.
However, because the leg flips upwards, the foot is facing the sky, so the part of his leg that he uses to shuffle around on is the back of the middle of the leg, around where his elbow would be if he had one. This has resulted in a hugely painful looking lump going along the whole bottom half of the arm. It is scabby, blistered, and swollen.
I tried making him a shoe out of a padded patch for human injuries, strapping taped to his leg, but that only lasted one night. I am wondering if I should leave it be, and the skin will become tough like on the bottom of human feet. The leg does flip into the correct position, but I can't see any way of taping it there without disabling him more.
Any suggestions on how to make a guinea pig shoe or what to do for a very swollen, scabbed, and blistered leg would be largely welcomed.
Thankyou heaps in advance :D
 
Hi and welcome

Good for having taken him in.

Please see a vet if you can get to one. Which state are you in?
Without having proper vet access, please contact either Cavy Central Guinea Pig Rescue in Sydney (preferably) or Goldcoast Guinea Pig Rescue.

Your boy may likely need an amputation or somebody with proper orthopaedic knowledge to construct a shoe that doesn't transfer the problem onto his spine or other parts of his body in the longer term.
It is a similar issue to all those 'wheels chair' stunts for guinea pigs with paralysed back legs that have and are still doing far more harm than good online. :(
 
Hi welcome and well done.
Hope you can see a vet to get some advice if amputation was suggested he would adapt perfectly well from experiences I've read about on this forum 💙
 
Well done for taking this little one in. I agree that the best thing to do is to have him seen by a vet as it does sound like he needs formal assessment and a long term plan. Please keep us updated as to how you get on.
 
Welcome to the forum.
I can only echo what others have said.

They are lucky piggies to find a home with you.
They will clearly be loved and cared for.
 
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