Sore Paws - Possible Thistle spike

[Augustus]

I'm having problems with Miss Teasel - on Friday morning, she was hobbling round with her front paw tucked up. She was having trouble putting weight on that foot and is generally not moving much.

A visit to the vet didn't help much, other than to confirm that she hadn't broken anything. The pad is slightly inflamed. The vet gave her a pain killer and anti inflammatory.

Teasel was in quite some discomfort, when you pick her up, so I'm giving her 0.15ml Calpol (which was suggested on another forum) until I can get my paws on some metacam.

She is eating like a horse and I'm making her greens quite wet, so if she can't manage the bottle, she is getting moisture. She seems bight enough, just a bit uncomfortable.

I looked at her pad this morning and there is a small, red puncture-type wound, one of my friends has suggested it might be a thistle spike, which does seem possible - one of this week's haybags was a bit thistly, despite me weeding out as much as poss.

I'm pleased to say Teasel is up and about and using that foot again today. She's still limping, but she is moving about. She was at the door of her box for brekkie this morning. Perhaps the bath she had last night (cos she was rather piddly) dislodged what was in there. We actually thought she might be dying on Friday and she was still rather limp yesterday. So when I rang mum this morning, her first thought was "oh sh.., now what?"

Is there anything else it could be and if it is a thistle, what's to be done about that (so I can tell the vet)?

Samantha

 

[alcesterpigs]

(It could be "bumblefoot" but that tends to develop gradually.)
If it is a puncture wound then, provided the thistle has not remained in the foot, it should heal without further attention. Unless there is a definite need, antibiotics should not be necessary.
If the thistle thorn is still in the foot: An abscess may develop, characterised by swelling of the affected part with, possibly, pus visible through the skin. Treatment, difficult to give a definitive answer. The thorn needs to be removed. Either by human intervention or by the body rejecting it. The pig may then need antibiotics, the problem is that systemic antibiotics are not, sometimes, particularly effective on the extremities. There are so many variables it is impossible to give an absolute answer.

 

[Sue G]

Samantha, I'm sorry about little Miss Teasel; afraid I don't have any ideas, just hope she's feeling better today. As Alcesterpigs suggests, keep a close eye on it to make sure there isn't any infection, and hopefully if it was a puncture (and the thorn is out) it will get better soon.

 

[madmush]

Hi,
the other thing I can suggest is contact gorgeous guineas or visit their website. They have various ointments which are designed for keeping feet nice & smooth at all times. I have some & they are fab for looking after your precious piggies paws

Michele
xx

 

[Stinklepig]

I'd go very much with the bumblefoot thoughts. A small puncture could cause a local infection, and it certainly sounds like there's a level of infection causing pain and some swelling.

Lethargy will be as a result of feeling generally low from the infection and a bit miffed at not being able to wander around as comfortably due to the sensitive foot.

Systemic antibiotics simpyl aren't highly effective in this kind of thing in my opinion, but regular bathing of the foot with dilute Hibiscrub would be (alternately Savlon spray will do, but it works out more expensive and is *very* dilute compared to Hibi). If her foot gets more swollen then eventually it will hopefully burst (or in the case of Freakle Treacle she just sat and chewed her feet open one day) and you'll be able to treat it as any other abscess in terms of flushing etc.

Not sure what type of bedding she's on, but if there's broken skin and/ or scabbing I'd very much want to have her on fleece, towels (if she doesn't eat them!), vetbed, etc. And change it 3 or 4 times daily. Piggies can't help walking through their own mess, and the cleaner you can keep the floor for her, the cleaner her poorly foot will be

 

[madmush]

My oldest pig has bumblefoot & I had a long chat with the lady at Gorgeous Guineas & posted here too. It was suggested that I nursed him without bandages on his feet (Jerry's feet bleed), & on vet bed or something similar.

GG suggested washing his feet with an iodine solution - 1ml iodine & 9ml water. (Iodine can be bought from pharmacies). Then apply 'Happy Soles' ointment. It is great for softening the skin & has helped Jerry's feet. (It does have nut oil in)

As I said before, they also have other foot ointments, so do give them a ring & if there is no answer do leave a message & contact number as they will get back in touch with you!

All the best & I hope his feet get better soon

Jerry & his brothers are sending healing squeaks & hugs your way xx>>>x)x>>

Michele
xxxxx

 

[rw3399]

You could bathe the paw in some pre-boiled, cooled salty water to keep the wound clean and avoid infection.

 

[Augustus]

Thanks All

Yes, I have Hibiscrub and I am giving her regular dilute dabs to fend off infection. The red patch is getting smaller, so I think she's healing nicely. I think it was a case of something going in and out. I trod on a nail when I was little and it didn't break the skin, but eeeek! It hurt SO much.

She is moving about now and is not so generally cheesed off, her eyes are bright again. She doesn't need the Calpol any more.

She's on hay and paper at the mo, but I have an old sweatshirt that I can chop up for her.

Samantha

 

[Sue G]

Glad to hear Teasel is doing well - next time she goes out she must remember to put her shoes on!