Is this bumblefoot? Photos included

[-Drezella-]

Hi everyone,

I took my Paddy to Ashleigh vets on Friday for a checkup on his condition, he’s still struggling to eat enough completely independently, so I’m still supporting him with syringe feeds and he’s still on painkillers which the vet upped yesterday, he’s now on 0.3 Metacam and half a tablet of Tramadol twice daily.

My concern is that the vet has missed something, when I checked him over today, I noticed he had what looks like a scab on one front foot, and both front feet look tender and swollen. Is this the beginnings of Bumblefoot? If so I’ve got Hibiscrub and Preparation H cream which I can wash and apply to his feet, but what antibiotic will he need? And do you think if I call them out about it that they wouldn’t charge me for another appointment, it’s pretty bad if it is bumble foot and they’ve missed it, because he’s in pain.

Photos below:

 

[PigglePuggle]

Poor chap those feet look very sore! I would definitely go back to the vet, though whether they charge you depends on whether they were asked to check his feet I guess... we've never had a proper case of bumblefoot but I think if the skin is broken and there are sores then that might be the case... we have a piggy with bad feet who always looks on the verge of developing bumblefoot but luckily the skin hasnt ever broken open like that so far... healing wheeks for Paddy x

 

[-Drezella-]

Yes I'll be taking him back don't worry.

 

[-Drezella-]

I should add that he has been quite inactive recently, and if it's bumblefoot, then that could be why.

 

[PigglePuggle]

I should add that he has been quite inactive recently, and if it's bumblefoot, then that could be why.

Yes that's probably why, our piggy with bad feet has never really recovered from sitting in her own wee in a hamster cage for 2 years before we got her, its difficult if they won't move out of their own wee even when you keep the cage very clean (which I'm sure you do of course, poor Paddy is just unwell, his immune system as well as his poor feet are under a lot of stress) x

 

[VickiA]

Hi Sarah, I agree he needs those sore feet looking at again. If he’s inactive he could be sitting in his own wee which might be exacerbating things. what’s he bedded on? If possible a bit of vet bed or vet fleece might help drain away moisture from his poorly feet.
I would agree with your plan to clean with hibiscrub while waiting for the appointment but I’m not at all sure about preparation h. I’d steer clear of any creams other than something like f10 ointment which is germicidal and a barrier ointment or something from Gorgeous Guineas that is piggy focussed like their f and m ointment.
Hope the vets will see you soon. My feeling is that if they are doing a check up for one condition and the feet weren’t brought to their attention during that appointment they will prob charge a further consultation fee. But I could be wrong.

 

[Lorcan]

Honestly when I brought Comet in about his teeth the first time round, the vet checked everything including his feet, which I specifically remember because she told me they were looking a little red. Now yes, I brought him in saying "look, something's wrong and I don't know what" and just that he'd had that dreaded hunched up look about him when he thought I wasn't looking, but I'd be surprised that they didn't at least take a check of them. If he'd been in pain and hasn't been moving about much I'd've thought feet would've been on a checklist somewhere?

But that's just me. I'd mention it to them because there's clearly no way that's come up in a couple of days so it would've been there on Friday.

 

[PigglePuggle]

We clean Jezzy's nasty feet with CLX wipes (they are for dog and cat paws, and contain chlorhexidine antiseptic) that the vet prescribed but you can buy them online, then use Gorgeous Guineas F&M or Perfect Paws cream. But I'd ask the vet first if there is broken skin. Poor boy, hope he gets sorted out x

 

[VickiA]

My next comment is completely irrelevant to this thread, and not meant to be frivolous, but has the vet ever commented on the polydactyly?

 

[worried val of york]

Yes those extra toes on his hind feet are worth asking the vet about unless they have already told you they are not causing any problems.

 

[PigglePuggle]

My next comment is completely irrelevant to this thread, and not meant to be frivolous, but has the vet ever commented on the polydactyly?

I thought I saw an extra toe too but my glasses are at work so I wasnt entirely sure! How individual, what a special boy

 

[-Drezella-]

The boys are on fleece bedding, and have puppy pads in their beds and hay trays for extra absorption, and they're poo picked and swept twice daily, the pads are flipped over onto a clean side if needed at every cage clean, so I'm pretty on it with the hygiene regime. I think it's more likely due to his inactivity and sitting in his own urine that his feet have become sore. He's had polydactyly ever since I got him 5 years ago, so I assume since birth, and to my knowledge the extra toes aren't causing him any issues. His brother Rohan had them too, but he also had a heart murmur I think. Paddy doesn't seem to have that, but definitely hasn't been right since Seamus passed away last month. I just want to get him right, this whole ordeal has been so emotionally, physically and financially draining. I read on GuineaLynx about using Preparation H cream to reduce swelling in bumblefoot piggies, so thought i'd give it a try. I've dug out some Baytril antibiotics that I had leftover from one of his previous vets visits, and I've started him on that again to try and nip it in the bud.