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Need Help Asap

Julia Rafferty

Julia Rafferty

Junior Guinea Pig
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Dec 27, 2017
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ok so I just got a new piggie and he kind of chose me. He wouldn’t let go of me, so I got him and when he got home I noticed a fourth toe on both of his back feet. Now these toes are pretty much hanging off of his feet! I am really scared for him and that if I touch him I may accidentally rip one off. My mother doesn’t think he needs to got the vet and maybe he doesn’t, but I feel like I am doing something wrong. I looked it up and it said it was polydactyly. Some sort of inbreed situation. Please help. Does he need to go to the vet? Do the toes have to be removed? Could he die from this? Should I put him in a cage with my other piggie? I am not willing to bring him back because I am his home now and I highly doubt that Petco can do anything about it
 
Kiya-Piggy said:
Nothing much to worry about. I just becareful of any infections. If it help try doing some research.
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Do you know if there is anyway to get rid of them because I am scared he will bite them if or they will get caught. It just kind of hangs and he seems to be stepping on the nail
 
Hi, I had a piggy for around a year who had an extra toe from inbreeding. It was kind of like a skin tag off to one side with a nail on it and everything but smaller than the other toes. She did pull off the nail once but there was no blood or anything but apart from that lived a normal life with no problems with the toe at all.
 
Julia Rafferty said:
ok so I just got a new piggie and he kind of chose me. He wouldn’t let go of me, so I got him and when he got home I noticed a fourth toe on both of his back feet. Now these toes are pretty much hanging off of his feet! I am really scared for him and that if I touch him I may accidentally rip one off. My mother doesn’t think he needs to got the vet and maybe he doesn’t, but I feel like I am doing something wrong. I looked it up and it said it was polydactyly. Some sort of inbreed situation. Please help. Does he need to go to the vet? Do the toes have to be removed? Could he die from this? Should I put him in a cage with my other piggie? I am not willing to bring him back because I am his home now and I highly doubt that Petco can do anything about it
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Hi! Please take a deep breath!

It would be good to see a vet over the extra toes during regular opening hours if the toes are only loosely attached. It is a very small job for a vet to take them off, but not one that should be done at home. Until then your baby will keep - it has done that until now, hasn't it?

It is not an indicator that your piggy cannot live a healthy and happy normal life span; just one of those things that happen occasionally. ;)
 
Before you put your new Piggy in with the other one you need to quarantine him/her for a bit ( can't remember exactly how long ) and then bond them as according to the guides at the top of the page. Someone will be along in a mo to let you know how long to quarantine your piggy for.
 
Lady Kelly said:
Hi, I had a piggy for around a year who had an extra toe from inbreeding. It was kind of like a skin tag off to one side with a nail on it and everything but smaller than the other toes. She did pull off the nail once but there was no blood or anything but apart from that lived a normal life with no problems with the toe at all.
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Ok thank you mine sounds a bit like yours
 
Wiebke said:
Hi! Please take a deep breath!

It would be good to see a vet over the extra toes during regular opening hours if thetoes are only loosely attached. It is a very small job for a vet to take them off, but not one that should be done at home. Until then your baby will keep - it has done so that far, hasn't it?

It is not an indicator that your piggy cannot live a healthy and happy normal life span; just one of those things that happen occasionally. ;)
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Thank you I will make sure to bring him to the vet
 
Gem789 said:
My Georgie has an extra toe on each back foot and it’s never caused him any problems.Ive had him 4 years xx
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That just mad me feel so much better because in the back of my mind all I could think was that I was failing him somehow. Knowing they can can live happily with it for four years just made my day☺️
 
I’d get a Cavy savvy Vet to check and see whether it would be better to remove them. It can be done very easily and quickly by a competent vet.
 
Gem789 said:
My Georgie has an extra toe on each back foot and it’s never caused him any problems.Ive had him 4 years xx
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Has Georgie ever lived with a friend because I don’t want something that makes him unique to be chopped off for no reason but at the same time I would like to have him bonded with my other piggies
 
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Julia Rafferty said:
Has Georgie ever lived with a friend because I don’t want something that makes him unique to be chopped off for no reason but at the same time I would like to have him bonded with my other piggies
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Yes he lived with Sam for 3 years and currently lives with Guiseppe.Here is a pic, he is the black coloured piggie x
 
Julia Rafferty said:
Okay that is a great thing to know and I think I am gonna keep his extra toes
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Whether a piggy with polydactyly can keep its toes or should better have them removed depends on how loosely or firmly they are attached to the foot. This varies a lot. Some extra toes are quite firmly attached, other are only connected by little bit of skin and can easily be ripped off.

That is the reason why we recommend a vet visit; your vet will be able to judge whether the extra toes can be left or not and can easily remove any that are not safe in the long term. ;)
 
Wiebke said:
Whether a piggy with polydactyly can keep its toes or should better have them removed depends on how loosely or firmly they are attached to the foot. This varies a lot. Some extra toes are quite firmly attached, other are only connected by little bit of skin and can easily be ripped off.

That is the reason why we recommend a vet visit; your vet will be able to judge whether the extra toes can be left or not and can easily remove any that are not safe in the long term. ;)
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Thank you we have already contacted an exotic animal savvy vet who is willing to help. She says that she is definitely going to be amputate the one tomorrow and that the other can stay
 
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