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My Guineapig won't stop eating her foot (bumblefoot)

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I have a guinea pig, who has a swollen foot. She has had this once before, to which there was a black scab under her foot. Just having one pass away from it, we took her inside and bandaged her with antibacterial cream everyday. It healed up perfectly, with only a little bit of disfiguration on the foot.
Many many months later, she walked up to me with the same foot swollen, with the same black mark (I understand this is known as bumblefoot?). We did the same thing as last time.
During one night, the bandage came off, and she chewed of two of her toe nails and a lot of skin. That was already about 2 weeks ago.
We proceeded to continue bandaging, but she's in a lot of pain when we do, and tries to bite her foot every chance she gets.
We have been giving her plenty of vitamin A and C, and wrapping the foot up with zinc cream.
Yesterday, she pulled of the bandage, and then again this morning.
She has no remaining toe nails, and her skin is almost completely ripped off.
She's not happy, and has a bandage and a sling on to protect her foot.
She's is still eating and drinking normally.
We cannot afford another specialist (as I took my dearly loved rabbit to one-it was grueling, months of treatment and operations etc.-she is now is well and happy), and am considering taking her to my local dog and at vet to have her leg removed, as at the moment, that is as much as we can afford.
What antibiotics can I apply that may help healing or stop the infection? She is pregnant, and therefore can't go to the vet until she has had the babies, so I need a treatment now to keep her alive until we decide that we should have her leg removed. Otherwise, I would like something that may help her heal by herself.
I would appreciate so much to have a reply.
I have seen someone mention metacam as a treatment? My rabbit needed that once, but that was because she had a fever, and metacam acted as an aspirin. How will it help my piggy?

5409_123240458305_599263305_2312746_3020338_n.jpg

^This is my piggy, Stephanie, before her first case of bumblefoot.
As you can see, all my guinea pigs live in an outdoor enclosure, with plenty of space and shade, and a shed to sleep in at night. i don't understand how she could have acquired bumblefoot, we take very good care of all of our guinea pigs.

Melly x.
 
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Does the enclosure she lives in have a wire bottom?
I haven't had any personal experiences with Bumblefoot but I have learned that feet exposed to a wire floor or living in an unsanitary enclosure (hence why it happens more to animals kept in captivity, than in the wild) is usually a primary cause.

If it's swollen and full of puss she will probably need to be taken to the vet to get it drained and put on some antibiotics.

As for the whole bandaging problem, have you tried vet wrap? (stuff used on horses) I've used it with my rats who are notorious for getting out of bandages, it works well. :)

Also, soaking her foot in warm salt water (saline solution) several times a day will help keep her foot clean.

Good luck, hope she gets better soon. xx
 
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I should note that draining the puss might be a different treatment than what the normal treatment is for piggies, so best to just get some other advice from someone more experienced. :)
 
hi Melly,
I'm so sorry to hear about Stephanie's terrible problems. Poor thing. Please can you contact Laura at the guinea pig helpline asap. Do a Google search for it. I'm on my phone so can't send the link. Best wishes Alyson x x
 
Thank you for your answers.
No, she doesn't live in a cage, she roams in a large and spacious enclosure (so she's really more on dirt, concrete when she goes inside, and newspaper in her bed).
There is no pus, but I'm happy to say she has been healing! Though I know her foot will not heal to its prior condition, all the black scabbing is gone, same for all the dead and peeling skin. We have managed to keep the bandage on her very well, and were able to bathe her yesterday.
I may take her to the vet anyway, but she seems to be doing well now :) The swelling is also going down.
I may try bathing it in salt water, just to keep it clean, though :)
Thank you very much.
Melly
 
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