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Piggy With 15 Toes!

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Stewybus

Stewybus

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I just gave my 2 latest additions a good check-over & discovered that Rhubarb has a 4th toe on one of her back feet. It's more like a dog's jew claw. It has a growing nail which will need cutting but it seems like it's only attached by flesh, no bone from the foot or leg to the toe. She's over 3 years old so must have had it since birth and it doesn't seem to be bothering her. I'll take a photo later & post it with other pics of the pair.

Has anyone else had a piggy with an extra toe like this & did you just leave the toe or have it removed. I would probably do this if it could be removed without her been anaesthetised.
 
Never had a pig like this before. However, it is thought to be due to some level of inbreeding, and is known as polydactyly. Guinealynx states that it can be removed by a vet and the method used to do this depends upon the toes blood supply and what is holding it on to the foot. http://www.guinealynx.info/feet.html
 
klee said:
Never had a pig like this before. However, it is thought to be due to some level of inbreeding, and is known as polydactyly. Guinealynx states that it can be removed by a vet and the method used to do this depends upon the toes blood supply and what is holding it on to the foot. http://www.guinealynx.info/feet.html
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Thanks for the link, her toe looks almost like the first picture immediately below the heading "Polydactyly". I'm taking Minky to the vets on Thursday so will take Rhubarb with her to see it it can be easily removed.
 
My old boar Joey had an extra toe... The vet tied a little string around it and it dropped off. Joey never missed it and thankfully we never found it either!
 
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I wouldn't worry I have seen it a few times some piggies are born with extra digits, if its causing no problems etc I would leave it as it is.
 
We picked up a new piggy today to live with Piglet as she has been longing for a friend since losing Butters.

To our surprise he had an extra toe on each of his back feet. We realised when we were at the rescue but chose to take him home anyway as he and Piglet were getting on. He is 9 months old and it doesn't seem to have caused him any issue - like yours it's only a piece of flesh holding it on.

We are going to talk it through with our vet next time we see her - would be interested to hear how you choose progress Stewy.
 
Update on Rhubard's extra toe. Took her to the vet's with Minky today & Dominika removed it under a small whiff of gas. Only waited 10 minutes & she was back with one stitch looking no worse for wear.
 
My friend had a piggy with an extra one on the backfoot too but ignored advice to have it safely removed. It must have gotten caught on something because it was ripped off and bled a lot. One stitch and two weeks of antibiotics later and she was fine but I think it's always better to be safe than sorry.

~ Amy
 
With this toe been on the side & only held onto foot with small piece of flesh not joined by bone it was possible that it may get caught & pulled off just like the only mentioned by *Nibbles&Nugget* above. I believe in prevention rather than cure so as it was just a quick op I decided to have it done straightaway. It was cheap too. I forgot to get itemised bill but the total bill was £43 of which more than half was for Minky inc. steroid injection & Cisapride pills.

Just checked Rhubard's foot & there is no sign of blood or swelling & the stitch is still there. So I'm really happy that it's been done.
 
Never heard of anything like it, but I guess it's bound to happen to some piggies just like humans.
 
Cavyhappy said:
Never heard of anything like it, but I guess it's bound to happen to some piggies just like humans.
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This is mainly attributed to inbreeding which unfortunately is done by unscrupulous breeders. Pet shops who get piggies in with extra toes should stop buying from those breeders & eventually the numbers would fall as the breeders started to do more responsible breeding or pack in!.
 
Stewybus said:
This is mainly attributed to inbreeding which unfortunately is done by unscrupulous breeders. Pet shops who get piggies in with extra toes should stop buying from those breeders & eventually the numbers would fall as the breeders started to do more responsible breeding or pack in!.
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I definitely agree!
 
Never seen an actual case of Poly before fascinating it is! Glad shes doing well x
 
Glad to hear it went well with Rhubarb, Stewy.

We will be off to the vets within the next couple of weeks with our new one, and I am expecting the same operation. Although he has lived with it for 9 months as it is such a relatively straightforward procedure we think it is wise to do it, just in case.
 
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