My pig's got blisters! :( Please help me.

[Alyse]

*waves* Hello there. My name is Alyse and I live in sunny Florida.

I'm having a huge problem with my littlest pig. She used to just be a joy and so happy all the time. And she used to just sit still and let me clip her toenails so she could go on her way. Now it's a fight every time, and I never get them clipped. She will not hold still and she seems to be in pain.

I haven't been able to clip her nails in over two months! She's barely able to use her ramp any more. Also, keeping the longer nails clean of dirt and poo is difficult! The only thing I can think of that's causing her this pain are these weird blisters on her feet.

Here is a picture, and some repetitiveness to go along.

What should I do?

:Ayociexp118:

\\EDIT:

I think I should add, that her back feetsies are fine. But she still doesn't allow me to trim those. Every time I get ready to clip she freaks out and wheezes and shakes her little foot.

 

[MemberX]

Hiya and welcome to the forum.

I would take her to a vet for claw clipping. The vet will do it no problem. But for future reference wrap her in a blanket or towel and put her spine to your stomach and allow someone else to cut. You can shine a torch below the foot to see where the vein is. Talk soothingly to her to keep her calm.

I'm not sure about the pad underneath the foot, there is such a thing as bumblefoot, but that usually extends to the who leg and I think has open sores with it too, it could be the start of it but I haven't come across it as yet within my pigs.

I have some pigs here who aren't keen on having their claws cut either. You've just got to show them who is boss. |)

 

[Alyse]

Thanks for the advice. I think I might be overreacting about the feet. She It was never like her to be such a baby. She used to never ever care about clippings. She's still completely docile during baths. I'm just worried that there's something wrong with her feetsies. D: She's my baby. xD Maybe the problem is she knows she's the boss. She's so cute. She'll move the house in their cage so the door is up against the wall whenever her bigger sister is trying to get into the little house. She's also never lets her older sister eat while she's eating. Such a funny pig. She'll push the fat pig out of the way. rolleyes

 

[Laura-CCC4]

Welcome to the forum Alysse.

I believe I see foot spurs in the photo. Little flaps of excess skin on the paws. These can be trimmed off easily, however they would not be causing the problems you describe. Her foot does look a little puffy in the photo, but whether that is swelling or not is hard to say.

Have both your piggies been treated for skin problems lately? Discomfort and pain when being handled is a common sign of mites and/or fungal skin infection. Treating for mites at least may be worthwhile to ensure that it's not the problem.

What bedding is she on? What kind of cage and ramp does she have?

 

[rainbow]

Ive googled footspurs and thats what my guineas got, should i take him to the vet to be removed? or am I ok just leaving it? x

 

[Niki]

Ive googled footspurs and thats what my guineas got, should i take him to the vet to be removed? or am I ok just leaving it? x

You can clip them off yourself with normal nail clippers just be careful not to get too close to the foot itself or you may nip a bit of skin. It's much easier if you wrap the piggy & get someone else to hold whilst you clip

 

[Alyse]

Thank you so much for all your help. I think I just worry too easily. I'm not sure why she's gotten so fidgety over the nail clippings, but she's still docile whenever I'm handling her unless I'm touching her feet. I'm going to commission my fiance to help out with her right now and see how it goes. I'll let you know.

By the way, I'm known for worrying too much about my animals. x) It happened when I got my first two pigs. They had scurvy straight from the pet store. The store never gave them any oranges or anything with Vitamin C! :O I'm not 100% sure of that, but that's what was told to me.

 

[crazylady_012]

Hi, I can't see the picture (technical problems) but if it is bumble foot it is like a hard lump on their foot, usually caused by standing in their own urine. Its kinda a burn if i remember correclty what the vet said when one of mine got it. If it is it can be treated with antibiotics and soaking, but just try to clean where they go to the toilet more regularly. However it could be flaps like everyone else says. I would probably take her to the vet just to be sure.

 

[rainbow]

You can clip them off yourself with normal nail clippers just be careful not to get too close to the foot itself or you may nip a bit of skin. It's much easier if you wrap the piggy & get someone else to hold whilst you clip

I chickened out of doing it myself, and phoned the vet for an appointment, made the appointment, got guinea out bout half an hour later and the spur had fallen off! but thanks anyway x

 

[Alyse]

Well I held her down and cooed at her while my fiance clipped away all the flaps and he even clipped and filed her toes. She finally calmed down and was back to herself on the last foot we were working on. Every single time he clipped a flap though, she would squeal. No bleeding or any thing, but I imagine it must've hurt her a little.

What causes the foot spurs? Could it be the plastic ramp?

The litter I use is actually cat litter. It's called Yesterday's News... It's little paper pelets. I tried to use a softer cotton-like bedding, but she the spurs kept getting longer and never went away. But she's okay now. Thanks for the help.