HELP! FOOT PROBLEM

[bonnieandpoppy]

i need help! my guinea pigs feet are pink but there are now squashy brown pads on her foot?! she is kept on mesh floors unfortunately but please help!

 

[Abi_nurse]

Hello there.

Firstly please try to get her off the mesh flooring as this is only going to exacerbate the issues and cause more trauma.

Do you have a picture of the foot so we can see what you mean? If you are concerned I would look at consulting a vet for medical advice.

 

[bonnieandpoppy]

sorry for blurry pic

 

[bonnieandpoppy]

i’ve just checked my other pig and she seems to have red feet too

 

[Gem789]

i’ve just checked my other pig and she seems to have red feet too

Can I ask why they are on mesh flooring? What do you use as bedding?

 

[bonnieandpoppy]

i’ll post a pic of cage, it’s quite hard to explain it. i got it when i first got my pigs but my parents won’t let me get a new one

 

[Wiebke]

i’ve just checked my other pig and she seems to have red feet too

It can be simply stuck poo, which you can gently soak off, but it would be good if you please switched to a normal cage as soon as possible or - in case you need underfloor ventilation in a tropical climate - to plastic insets.

Metal wires cripple the feet of species that are not suited for gripping wires. Guinea pigs have soft pads, so they are they are very prone to bumblefoot (pododermatitis = foot infection) from grids, which can be very hard or in advanced cases impossible to get on top of and which can cause the need to euthanise a guinea pig if it gets into the bone.
Please show your parents this post and the following links. Treating bumblefoot can be prolonged and very costly; even euthanasia because of bumblefoot or bone infection (which is very painful) will cost more than a new cage that is suitable for guinea pigs!

You can always look on the free-ad sites for second-hand rabbit cages in your area and get a second-hand one cheaply. With some good disinfectant, a good soak of warm white vinegar for the stains and some scrubbing, you can quite easily bring it up to scratch again. But getting s suitable cage is vital, especially if your parents are not prepared to shell out for vet cost, yet force your pets to live in surroundings that will make them ill.

PS: Please save up on vet care on a weekly basis as part of their regular maintenance cost. Illness and emergencies NEVER happen at a good time and guinea pigs are too small to wait for days on end before your parents give in; by then it is often too late.
Guinea Lynx :: Pododermatitis
Guinea Lynx :: Pododermatitis Links
Children And Guinea Pigs - A Guide For Parents

 

[bonnieandpoppy]

 

[bonnieandpoppy]

It can be simply stuck poo, which you can gently soak off, but it would be good if you please switched to a normal cage as soon as possible or - in case you need underfloor ventilation in a tropical climate - to plastic insets.

Metal wires cripple the feet of species that are not suited for gripping wires. Guinea pigs have soft pads, so they are they are very prone to bumblefoot (pododermatitis = foot infection) from grids, which can be very hard or in advanced cases impossible to get on top of and which can cause the need to euthanise a guinea pig if it gets into the bone.
Guinea Lynx :: Pododermatitis
Guinea Lynx :: Pododermatitis Links

i gave the guinea pig a bath today so it wouldn’t be poo, i’m going to line all of the cage with fleece and monitor her foot, do i need to go to the vet ?

 

[Wiebke]

i gave the guinea pig a bath today so it wouldn’t be poo, i’m going to line all of the cage with fleece and monitor her foot, do i need to go to the vet ?

if the brown bits have not disappeared, then I would have the feet checked. Have a look at the links I have given you so you can see what you need to look out for. Bumblefoot usually starts with localised red spots. If the pads are all read, it is either warm feet or slightly sore feet.

You could look for second-hand rabbit cages on your local free-ads. They should be much cheaper and definitely cheaper than any vet care for bumblefoot! You can bring a second-hand cage back to a good state with a disinfectant and or or two soaks of warm white vinegar for the stains, plus some energetic scrubbing. Perhaps you parents are more accessible to that idea?

 

[Gem789]

View attachment 88089

I’m afraid that cage really isn’t suitable, as weibke said have you looked on any sites for 2nd hand cages.The minimum for 2 girls is 120cm or 140cm for 2 boys.

 

[bonnieandpoppy]

if the brown bits have not disappeared, then I would have the feet checked. Have a look at the links I have given you so you can see what you need to look out for. Bumblefoot usually starts with localised red spots. If the pads are all read, it is either warm feet or slightly sore feet.

You could look for second-hand rabbit cages on your local free-ads. They should be much cheaper and definitely cheaper than any vet care for bumblefoot! You can bring a second-hand cage back to a good state with a disinfectant and or or two soaks of warm white vinegar for the stains, plus some energetic scrubbing. Perhaps you parents are more accessible to that idea?

thanks for the advice and links. i will try to convince them that the wire cage isn’t suitable- i might sell the current cage and use that money for a second hand one. thanks so much !

 

[Wiebke]

thanks for the advice and links. i will try to convince them that the wire cage isn’t suitable- i might sell the current cage and use that money for a second hand one. thanks so much !

That is a good idea. Please do not sell it for guinea pigs, though!

 

[bonnieandpoppy]

That is a good idea. Please do not sell it for guinea pigs, though!

i won’t, i may even just throw it out or sell it cheap and warn people that whatever they’re buying it for it’s not suitable for guinea pigs

 

[bonnieandpoppy]

hi everyone, update for you all- i’m going to ask my parents soon about a new cage, for now i have modified the current one( see pic). i have also checked both their feet and soaked them with epsom salts (i saw it in one of the links @Wiebke lunked) and their feet look a lot better! thanks for all your help x

 

[Claire W]

I agree about the cage. Please tell your parents that that is a small rodent cage not suitable for guinea pigs. I used to have the exact same one for my degu but we modified it and removed the wire bottoms. You can take the wire bottom out of the bottom tray and as for the white wire bottom, you could cover it with newspapers. We removed it entirely for our degu and provided him with lots of ropes but obviously you can’t do that for piggies.

It would be great if you could get a new cage

 

[bonnieandpoppy]

I agree about the cage. Please tell your parents that that is a small rodent cage not suitable for guinea pigs. I used to have the exact same one for my degu but we modified it and removed the wire bottoms. You can take the wire bottom out of the bottom tray and as for the white wire bottom, you could cover it with newspapers. We removed it entirely for our degu and provided him with lots of ropes but obviously you can’t do that for piggies.

It would be great if you could get a new cage

yes i would love to get a new cage, althogh i don’t think my parents will let me i will try persuade them but if i can’t i will probably buy a run or something so they can spend most of the day not in that cage.

 

[Claire W]

yes i would love to get a new cage, althogh i don’t think my parents will let me i will try persuade them but if i can’t i will probably buy a run or something so they can spend most of the day not in that cage.

That sounds better than nothing. Just a thought but could you move the foodbowls on to the bottom level so they’re not forced to use the ramps?

Sorry, I hope you don’t think I’m having a go.

 

[bonnieandpoppy]

That sounds better than nothing. Just a thought but could you move the foodbowls on to the bottom level so they’re not forced to use the ramps?

Sorry, I hope you don’t think I’m having a go.

good idea about the food bowls! it’s ok, i really appreciate your help and constructive criticism is what i need lol