Spurs On Little Piggie Feet?

[twiams]

I honestly don’t know why i haven’t spotted it sooner, but i’ve found a little spur on Chesters foot while i was clipping his nails and i was just wondering what the best way to get them off is?

He doesn’t seem bothered by it, but i’m surprised at how big it is, i’ve always had a bit of a problem with his feet as his nails stay quite short and just curl under rather than grow out like my other pigs, which makes it harder to clip but he’s not had spurs before. One of my foster pigs had one but it was just cut off when i went to the vet for his check up as he had them before i got him.

Do i try and soak his foot before i clip it? Do i clip the whole thing off? I could take him to work with me tomorrow to see one of the vets but then that would mean leaving him in the kennels all day which i know he wouldn’t like and i just don’t know if a vets necessary. Just not sure what the best way forward is, i’m worried he’ll catch it on something and rip it if i leave it.

Also, the skin around where it starts looks quite dry, doesn’t look red or sore though, is there anything i can use to moisturise his piggy paws a little ? It’s just the bit where the spur starts on his pad. Any ideas appreciated.

 

[Jess]

Had to Google what it looked like...

I was thinking Gorgeous Guineas foot lotion but don't quote me...

@Wiebke

 

[helen105281]

You should just be able to clip it off. For moisturising I tend to use Humilac spray which I get from VetUK but our vets stock it too.

 

[twiams]

I’ll give it a try at clipping it off, if he squeals i’ll put the blame on you

 

[Julesie]

Will it bleed or hurt if you cut it? I saw the same on Gilbert's foot earlier and half of it has come of as it is. I was going to cut it but then I was scared it'd hurt him or bleed.

 

[Wiebke]

Please don't cut too close to live skin. Spurs are very common; about a third of guinea pigs develop them under their front paws. If you are worried about cutting them back, your vet will do it for a small fee.

Here is more information on spurs: http://www.guinealynx.info/feet.html#spurs

 

[Fusion200]

I found a thread about it on this forum, here:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/foot-spurs-close-up-pictures-before-and-after.24654/

 

[Claire W]

My Eliza has a couple of foot spurs which she has had for the last four years now.

As they are only small, my vet advised me to leave them alone and just keep an eye on them as they're not bothering her. I guess it depends on the size of them though.

 

[Freela]

One of my pigs gets spurs (moisturizing seemingly has no effect on them.) I generally leave them alone if they are not bothering her. If they look large enough to catch on something and tear, I clip them back with nail clippers, not too close to the foot so I don't hit any living tissue. This doesn't bother her (at least not any more than having her nails cut generally bothers her!) I seldom have had to clip them, though. They generally do not get large enough to interfere with anything for her.