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Specialist Please help-?Bumble foot

Shannon R

Shannon R

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all, I'm looking for advice,

We just came home to my parents for Christmas and they have been looking after our guinea pigs for the last mom. We went to cut their nails and noticed his foot was swollen with an ulceration on the pad. Is this bumble foot? We cant get to a vet until at least two days given we are in a rural area. Should I soak it and bandage it in the mean time? If so, with what, what happens if he licks his paw? What keeps them from eating/tearing off the bandage? I presume he will require antibiotics and possibly an X-ray :(

Any help in the mean time is appreciated
@Wiebke
 

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That definitely does look infected and will need a vet visit. In the meantime I’m not sure what treatment would help. Some metacam may help for pain relief (if you have some and know the correct dosage). Otherwise, just bathing it with some homemade saline may be helpful. Hopefully one of the H & I contributors will be able to advise further.
 
Shannon R said:
Hi all, I'm looking for advice,

We just came home to my parents for Christmas and they have been looking after our guinea pigs for the last mom. We went to cut their nails and noticed his foot was swollen with an ulceration on the pad. Is this bumble foot? We cant get to a vet until at least two days given we are in a rural area. Should I soak it and bandage it in the mean time? If so, with what, what happens if he licks his paw? What keeps them from eating/tearing off the bandage? I presume he will require antibiotics and possibly an X-ray :(

Any help in the mean time is appreciated
@Wiebke
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Yes, this is unfortunately bumblefoot. Please book him in as soon as you can get an appointment.

I would not bandage if you haven't got any experience with it and would discuss possible treatments with your vet.
Bathing in a mild disinfectant like saline solution won't hurt. You can get it either from a pharmacy or make your own by mixing 1 teaspoon of water into 1/2 pint/250 ml of boiled, cooled water.
 
Wiebke said:
Yes, this is unfortunately bumblefoot. Please book him in as soon as you can get an appointment.

I would not bandage if you haven't got any experience with it and would discuss possible treatments with your vet.
Bathing in a mild disinfectant like saline solution won't hurt. You can get it either from a pharmacy or make your own by mixing 1 teaspoon of water into 1/2 pint/250 ml of boiled, cooled water.
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Thanks for the help. I have bought chlorhexidine, idiodine and saline.. you think saline would be best tonight? I have booked an appointment for the vet 3 hours away tomorrow :( I dont have access to my vitamin C tabs, should I dissolve Vit C supplements in his water?
 
Shannon R said:
Thanks for the help. I have bought chlorhexidine, idiodine and saline.. you think saline would be best tonight? I have booked an appointment for the vet 3 hours away tomorrow :( I dont have access to my vitamin C tabs, should I dissolve Vit C supplements in his water?
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Please do not add vitamin C supplements to any water; your piggies will drink less. Syringe them directly dissolved in a little water for best effect.

Google for vetbed bedding; it is widely available. You may also find it in pet shops for dogs and cats. ;)
 
Yes, definitely looks like bumblefoot and will need a vet visit! Hope you are able to get in soon, I know it's hard over the holidays!
 
Wiebke said:
Please do not add vitamin C supplements to any water; your piggies will drink less. Syringe them directly dissolved in a little water for best effect.

Google for vetbed bedding; it is widely available. You may also find it in pet shops for dogs and cats. ;)
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Thanks for the help! The vet is sending off cultures but it will take a week. She wants to give him doxycycline and metcam. Does this sound okay?
 
Freela said:
Yes, definitely looks like bumblefoot and will need a vet visit! Hope you are able to get in soon, I know it's hard over the holidays!
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Thanks for the help! Travelled to the vet today. She is sending off cultures but they will take a week. She wants to start doxycycline and metcam in the meantime
 
Hi guys, me again.

Marbles has received a week of antibiotics for his bumblefoot (doxy 0.04mg twice a day) while awaiting culture results. His foot is unchanged. I am worried the dose may have been too low? Anyway just got the culture back. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on if guineas handle Doxy or Baytril better? I thought Baytril was harder on the stomach but more widely used? Also the vet only gave him a week of Metacam and we are out now. Should we continue this longer? The vet said no but they arent an exotic vet and are prb just worried about the side effects.

Thank you!
Please help-?Bumble foot
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Shannon R said:
Hi guys, me again.

Marbles has received a week of antibiotics for his bumblefoot (doxy 0.04mg twice a day) while awaiting culture results. His foot is unchanged. I am worried the dose may have been too low? Anyway just got the culture back. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on if guineas handle Doxy or Baytril better? I thought Baytril was harder on the stomach but more widely used? Also the vet only gave him a week of Metacam and we are out now. Should we continue this longer? The vet said no but they arent an exotic vet and are prb just worried about the side effects.

Thank you!
Please help-?Bumble foot
Previous post
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Metacam is tolerated much better by guinea pigs and can be taken in much higher dosages for chronic or ongoing problems without the kind of kidney problems you get in dogs or cats.

The choice of antibiotic depends on what is causing the infection and how it responds to any AB. The dose also plays a role. Guinea pigs have a much faster metabolism than cats and dogs and require generally higher dosages given twice daily.
@Jaycey

PS: I am merging your threads as it is an ongoing issue and we prefer to keep all the relevant information together to minimise the risk of repetitive, already ruled out, confusing or even contradictory advice.
 
@Wiebke is the expert, and I would support the continued use of Metacam until his feet are a lot better. I have used Metacam for several piggies long-term for ongoing conditions such as arthritis and they have been fine and it has been of great benefit.
 
Wiebke said:
Metacam is tolerated much better by guinea pigs and can be taken in much higher dosages for chronic or ongoing problems without the kind of kidney problems you get in dogs or cats.

The choice of antibiotic depends on what is causing the infection and how it responds to any AB. The dose also plays a role. Guinea pigs have a much faster metabolism than cats and dogs and require generally higher dosages given twice daily.
@Jaycey

PS: I am merging your threads as it is an ongoing issue and we prefer to keep all the relevant information together to minimise the risk of repetitive, already ruled out, confusing or even contradictory advice.
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Thanks Wiebke, Did you see the attached C&S report? The bug is sensitive to both.
 
Wiebke said:
It means that either can be used. Doxy may a bit stronger and is generally not as harsh on the guts, so I would recommend to stay on it.
Have you discussed foot baths with your vet?

Guinea Lynx :: Pododermatitis
Guinea Lynx :: Pododermatitis Links
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Yes, we have been soaking in Chlorhexdine twice a day. Still no difference in size over the last week and it started to bleed a bit :( I really feel like bandaging would help but my vet said "its too much of a hassle".... But I think its worth a try.
 
Wiebke said:
It means that either can be used. Doxy may a bit stronger and is generally not as harsh on the guts, so I would recommend to stay on it.
Have you discussed foot baths with your vet?


I was wondering- I have been rinsing the foot off after soaks cause I am so worried he is going to ingest some. Is this the right thing to do? I havent seen any notes on this part
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Hi again,

I need some more advice! His bumble foot has not been getting better with daily soaks in chlorhexidine and two weeks of doxy. We have not been wrapping it but we are going to start. It bleeds quite heavily every couple of days :(

1) at which point have those of you who have had a pig with this gotten an x-ray, have they needed to be sedated?

2) How many weeks of antibiotics have you guys done in your experience? Anyone with experience in injecting antibiotics into the bumble foot itself?

3) When you soak, do you rinse the foot in water after- I do cause I am worried about him ingesting the cleaning solution?

4) How often do you change the bandaging?

Any advice helpful!

-Worried guinea pig mom
 
Shannon R said:
@Wiebke @Jaycey
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Hi!

I am very sorry, but I have no personal experience with advanced bumblefoot and can't answer all your questions.

Some vets prefer GA for an x-ray, but generally a mild sedation to allow your vet to position the guinea pig for an ideal shot is enough.

It can take quite a long time on antibiotics when you are dealing with well advanced bumblefoot.
 
Thank Wiekbe. We are gonna try Septra (sulfa/trim) for three weeks as well as Flamazine cream on the open area.

If anyone has any advice let me know :) esp in terms of soaking and wrapping
 
Hi there,
I’m am absolutely no expert on g pigs having just rescued 2 last summer however my wee girl got bumblefoot. Her feet are dodgy to begin with due to poor conditions before the rescue centre took ownership of her then after a while I discovered a sore like your pic one day.
Her foot took about 8 to 10 weeks to heal. We started on metacam and one other antibiotic which I cannot remember. Vet x rayed and took swabs and after the swabs came back she changed antibiotics to bayril.
After the meds had finished her sore still looked open and red so we then bandaged it on her advice. We changed the dressing every 2 days for about 7-10 days, I have to say this really helped with the final healing process. She gave us healing gel and popped a bit on before bandaging it its stretchy bandage. It took us a few attempts on many occasions due to wriggly piggy. Think the bandage just kept it protected to allow it to heal completely as obv they’re on them all the time.

Again I am no expert but just wanted to share our experience as it sounds identical.
It will take a long time to heal but I’m sure you will get there x
 
if you are able to vetbed is very good for cavies with bumblefoot.i cannot comment any further as i have not experienced a cavy with advanced bumblefoot. i hope you are able to get a speedy recovery.
 
Camisla said:
Hi there,
I’m am absolutely no expert on g pigs having just rescued 2 last summer however my wee girl got bumblefoot. Her feet are dodgy to begin with due to poor conditions before the rescue centre took ownership of her then after a while I discovered a sore like your pic one day.
Her foot took about 8 to 10 weeks to heal. We started on metacam and one other antibiotic which I cannot remember. Vet x rayed and took swabs and after the swabs came back she changed antibiotics to bayril.
After the meds had finished her sore still looked open and red so we then bandaged it on her advice. We changed the dressing every 2 days for about 7-10 days, I have to say this really helped with the final healing process. She gave us healing gel and popped a bit on before bandaging it its stretchy bandage. It took us a few attempts on many occasions due to wriggly piggy. Think the bandage just kept it protected to allow it to heal completely as obv they’re on them all the time.

Again I am no expert but just wanted to share our experience as it sounds identical.
It will take a long time to heal but I’m sure you will get there x
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Thank you for sharing!
 
It looks so much better! Just wanted to send an update for those going through the same thing.
 

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