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Smudge Has A Broken Foot.

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Bless her she looks like a choir girl - very seasonal. Come on Smudgie leave that foot alone and get better soon.
 
I'm probably going to take it off and just keep up the dressing. It's dangerous. She keeps flipping herself onto her back and getting caught. Last thing I want is for her to get stuck overnight.

And she beat me too it and ripped it off. We're just going to dress it instead and wait for it to heal.
 
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oh sorry she's being a pickle & pulling off the scab :td:

good idea to stay off of the sawdust - have you thought about puppy pads or bed incontinence pads for her flooring until the scab is more healed? I'm just thinking she is less likely to step in wee if its all soaked up & locked away in the pads & it's less likely to get dirty or infected which will slow down the healing process too.

Also it will be better generally for her feet to have more cushioning so its not pressing so hard on her pads when she walks, definitely get some more painkiller for the holiday period (insist on it) from the vet if you dont have any already.

it's a bit like us having a broken blister & it feels painful / itchy as its healing, this is probably encouraging her to pull it off.

have you tried using "micropore" tape & ask for some dressing pads to cut into squares like they use for leg ulcers/burns at the pharmacy, they have a shiny type breathable covering to a lint free base (the cotton type base soaks up any discharge & the shiny covering stops the dressing base sticking to the wound.
this is similar to what i'm thinking of but i'm not sure if this is the name of it
Melolin Dressing Pads 5 Dressings (5cm x 5cm) - Other Dressings | Front Door Pharmacy
the non adhesive variety anyway


the micropore tape (sold at the pharmacy) is just a light sticky breathable paper type tape that will come off of her foot more easily but can still be used effectively for sticking the cut squares to the base of her foot
boots equivalent
Boots Pharmaceuticals Microporous Surgical Tape 1.25cm x 5m - Boots
just found this & cheaper
Value Health Microprous Tape - 2.5cm x 5m - Boots

just be careful that you dont stick any dressings on too tight as this will cut off the circulation & cause more damage to the foot (&worsen the bumblefoot at best)

healing vibes & fingers crossed for a speedy recover for your GORGEOUS smudge :wub::luv: xx
 
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Update on Smudge - Sorry it's been a while! Not been in the best place mentally:

Finally, we're having some luck! I started applying the GG Bumblefoot Cream, simply to keep that scab nice and moist to prevent scratching and her biting it off - Smudge often comes running up to me with a rather orange chin where she's washed herself - but it worked! That scab has slowly, (painfully slow!) been getting smaller, and it's finally had enough days to heal that it doesn't bleed everywhere when you or Smudge touches it!

The baytril had a lovely effect too - some more swelling has gone down from the toe she broke - but I'm certain, nearly a month on from the injury now, that that paw is never going to be the same again - I think it might be forever...let's call it her special foot! But I'm also certain that Smudge isn't bothered by it in the slightest - her popcorns have been the same height, if not bigger, since the injury and she still LOVES to jump up silly places with it!

Her appetite is always rapidly improving - but with her being alone, I didn't realize how much of a picky eater she is! She will refuse celery if it's not the leafy bits, she won't eat cabbage (only give them small amounts only, and it's like once a month at best) only nibbles at carrots - she'll eat cucumber and pepper though - not that I need to worry about her ever getting enough water as she drinks an average of 150ml daily. Might seem excessive, but then again, she's always been that way!

I'm just so happy this hasn't ended in another tragedy. I was sure that we'd end up in a similar position like we did with Cookie back in May. (And with parents doing my Car MOT as a birthday present for my 19th on Monday, that is a massive worry out of my head and I can afford all the medicine again!) Of course, I think the road to recovery is going to be slow, but we're making very steady progress!
 
Oh Smudge! Let it heal my furry friend! Eddie had an itchy patch on his back that we could not get to heal and nothing would stay on so he couldn't chew it. We ended up having to put a very sticky tape bandage thing on it that he just couldn't pull off. We had to cut the fur away to get it off again. Not ideal, but it did the trick and healed up the area nicely.
 
I wish I could work out out to update the title of this thing, since the foot is actually broken and not Bumblefoot, but hey ho-

Smudge is doing well! We have had two steps forward, one step back kinda process going on with her - the scab began getting smaller, she left it alone for two weeks, we all went "hurrah!" and then...she pulled it off. Darnit.

Mum's getting *cough* stealing *cough* one of the tiny premature baby socks from work. We reckon, if we tape that to her foot, and make a soft cast that goes around her body, they'll be no way she can bite the scab off! ..That's the theory, anyway.

Been struggling recently with the thought of what Smudge's quality of life is at the moment - bless her, she's well in herself, great appetite, popcorning up and down on her little foot...but since she's alone and may continue to be alone for a while, as well as being on the Metacam long-term to try and keep her from biting the foot... as well as the foot has never really gone down, swelling wise. I don't think that's going to go down well. But since she's still well in herself (maybe a tiny bit fat as I've been sneaking her extra treats - shush!) I'm just keeping up her medication.

Here, have a recent photo (you can just see the injured foot). I was guilt-tripping people to sign a petition for my friend for a physical copy of Fatal Frame 5 with Smudge's cute little face.
IMG_0039.webp
 
Title Changed..

Hope Smudge gets better soon.. x
 
Hi guys! I just wanted to ask you guys a quick question.

So Smudge is FINALLY (touch wood!) Leaving that foot alone! However, where she's ripped it open quite a few times, the wound has gotten bigger. But, the scan itself has nicely dried up and surfaced, so I'm hoping that's meaning that she's on her way to heal.

Anyway, the scab is looking...very itchy. Luckily she's finally got the message and is leaving it alone, and the pain meds have finally been stopped.I was planning on taking her for a check-up this week, anyway - but I wanted your opinion, please!

I was wondering if I should start soaking her foot to encourage that scab to come off? Or at least reduce how itchy it must be for her? I mean, I don't want to "rock the boat" as the expression goes. I'm just wondering if it would help it heal a little quicker, or at least make it easier on her. Her foot is...probably always going to be swelled, since it hasn't gone down and I think it must have re-fused funny. It doesn't hinder her at all though, as it's just the one foot! However, I need to talk to the vet about her nail on the toe that's swelled - it's constantly pushing into the foot, even if I manage to cut it down to literally the edge of the quick. Was wondering if it's worth getting the vet to remove the nail or cut it down stupidly far to stop it hurting that toe, or something. Not trying anything myself though until the vet sees her.
 
Sometimes wounds are a bit itchy when they are healing up . Personally , I would leave things well alone until her vet check up.
 
.... sounds like it would be a good idea to get that nail checked ASAP
 
Yeah, I was looking at that nail today - it's always tricky trimming her nails anyway, and looking at it made me think it might be worth asking about! It's not pushing into the wound, but I'm worried it's going to be painful. Booking her in for either Wednesday or Thursday.
 
image.webp Taking her back to the vet soon to check this scab over... But can anyone give me some piece of mind? I'm just so worried it's going over tons of her poor little foot! I mean, I know it's good as she hasn't been chewing at it, but still.... It's so big.
 
DoragonHinansho said:
I know it's not Bumblefoot - it's a wound from where Smudge broke it and her foot got trapped x
Click to expand...

I'm no expert but it does look like bumble foot has developed from the wound in her foot.. Bacteria could have gotten in and infection has set in the tissue, sometimes spreading to the bone.

I would definately get her assesed for bumble foot.
 
In all honesty, this is becoming way too much.

First I've been told it's Bumblefoot, then it's not, then it might be again, the vet keeps flipping well not returning my calls, we go forward and then back...honestly, I feel like the worst owner in the whole darn world right now. :( had no pain meds since last week, been trying to get hold of the vet every darn day to talk to her and she hasn't been returning any of my calls and then getting moody when I didn't answer cause I'm at work!
 
Damn you're really going through the mill with this, poor little Smudge. I hope you get somewhere with the vet very soon xx
 
DoragonHinansho said:
In all honesty, this is becoming way too much.

First I've been told it's Bumblefoot, then it's not, then it might be again, the vet keeps flipping well not returning my calls, we go forward and then back...honestly, I feel like the worst owner in the whole darn world right now. :( had no pain meds since last week, been trying to get hold of the vet every darn day to talk to her and she hasn't been returning any of my calls and then getting moody when I didn't answer cause I'm at work!
Click to expand...

You are NOT a bad owner. You had the sense to ask and the sense to post a picture .

It can be difficult to get to speak to a vet sometimes . As long as you make an appointment ASAP - you can't say fairer than that.
 
Thank you, guys. It's just tough, it really is. I thought we were getting somewhere. And every other vet I've tried locally have just said "take her back to the first one, it's better and we'll have to do everything again."

Anyway, calling first thing in the morning. I'm not sure if I'm going to college or not yet, honestly, I really don't feel up to it...but two more days till half term, I guess.

Just...thanks. You guys are absolutely amazing for support. Truly.
 
I've just read this whole thread with my heart in my mouth. Honestly, the lengths you have gone to to look after her is truly exceptional. I really can't see how you could even think about being a bad owner, she might have a sore foot, but my word, she really did get lucky when she chose you to look after her!

I haven't seen the preceding thread, so I don't know what the background to the injury is. One of my piggies had a broken leg at some point. It feels different to the others but you wouldn't know to look at him although the rescue did tell us that we weren't to let him use a ramp as the risk of further injury was too high.

Keep on swimming, sounds like you are doing an awesome job x
 
Your giving her lots of care, don't worry.

Sometimes calling to speak to the actual vet is difficult as they are usually very busy and getting hold of them is difficult. I can't call the doctor and ask to speak to the doctor so I wouldn't assume I can do so with a vet. Not being funny with you, just sort of letting you know that it is often difficult to speak to them over the phone. I would suggest booking an appointment so you can discuss the case fully and your little one can have another check over.

Bumble foot can certainly be extremely difficult to get on top of when it gets to a more advanced stage. The key is the following:
- strong antibiotics (not baytril) sometimes even in injectable forms to kick the infection better than oral drugs
- a light and soft bandage to remove any excess pressure on the bottom of the foot. These can be difficult to place and maintain
- changing the substrate in your piggies house to something very soft, such as vetbed
- cleaning the area regurarly with saltwater or a mild disinfectant

Hope you get your little one sorted soon.

x
 
Just got out of the vets -

She's happy that her foot isn't infected; but she IS concerned that the swelling hasn't gone down. She didn't exactly want to take the scab off and make it bleed again since Smudge is finally leaving it alone!

She did suggest it things don't improve over the next couple of months, surgery may start to have to become an option - Smudge may have to have a portion of her little foot removed. But since it's so swollen, she's worried that a lot of foot may be missing - and she's not keen on the idea herself, since Smudge is using her foot normally and it doesn't seem to bother her anymore. She also trimmed the nail I was concerned about (it's a two person job with Smudge!) and it's not pushing in anymore.

Back on Metacam for long term - both just to make sure that she's not in pain and also as it has some anti-inflammatory parts in it. Re-check is now happening on a monthly basis, unless anything changes. But overall she's happy that it isn't infected, and Smudge is doing really well overall. She did agree that it does seem to be healing - minus the swelling, still think it's set funny - just...very slowly.
 
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