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Swollen foot

Jess565

Jess565

Junior Guinea Pig
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I know a vet is needed and I will seek one asap! But some advice in the meantime would be great! I noticed Bruno limping as I put I'm back in his house this morning he was fine when I let him out half an hour before. I was literally jacket on and out the door for work so only had a quick look but could not see anything. I've got back from work and inspected his foot and his front foot is very swollen on the pad. There is no obvious cut or anything he does have spurs but he's had them all his life plus the swollen part is away from that.
Would you guys say this would warrant an emergency appointment tomorrow? I have just put some perfect paws on his tootsie's. I don't know why though 😖 should I soak his foot in some warm water? I'm so worried for him the little guy.
 
So sorry that your boy is causing you such worry.
Personally I would go to a vet as an emergency but then I know I can be overly cautious.
I work on the basis of : anything wrong, go vet immediately.

Hope the foot is ok.
Keep us posted
 
Jess565 said:
I know a vet is needed and I will seek one asap! But some advice in the meantime would be great! I noticed Bruno limping as I put I'm back in his house this morning he was fine when I let him out half an hour before. I was literally jacket on and out the door for work so only had a quick look but could not see anything. I've got back from work and inspected his foot and his front foot is very swollen on the pad. There is no obvious cut or anything he does have spurs but he's had them all his life plus the swollen part is away from that.
Would you guys say this would warrant an emergency appointment tomorrow? I have just put some perfect paws on his tootsie's. I don't know why though 😖 should I soak his foot in some warm water? I'm so worried for him the little guy.
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HI. It sounds like bumble foot, I would treat it as such in the meantime. Get some Epson salts in some warm water and bath the foot in that for about five minutes, you will have to Google the amounts you need I can't remember now. Then get to a vet soon as, it can turn nasty very quickly.
 
Merab's Slave said:
So sorry that your boy is causing you such worry.
Personally I would go to a vet as an emergency but then I know I can be overly cautious.
I work on the basis of : anything wrong, go ve
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I am of the same mind set! But I am learning that I am a worry wort so need to check with more sensible people first! I will give it a soak tonight and call the vets in the morning. Do they give antibiotics for bumble foot? Why do they get it? I was wondering if he's done it by putting his front paws on the plastic part of the cage when he's begging because he's being doing that a lot recently
 
Jess565 said:
I am of the same mind set! But I am learning that I am a worry wort so need to check with more sensible people first! I will give it a soak tonight and call the vets in the morning. Do they give antibiotics for bumble foot? Why do they get it? I was wondering if he's done it by putting his front paws on the plastic part of the cage when he's begging because he's being doing that a lot recently
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HI

Yes some times vets give antibiotics it does depend on the vet. They will often get it by walking on bars or wet bedding which will make the foot soft then the pad will spilt open or even wood shavings will do it like pine, drys foot out and foot spilts open. It may of happened on side of plastic tray.
 
I’ve never had to deal with bumblefoot but I’m wary of self diagnosis as I’m not a vet or a vet nurse and would hate to do anything wrong.
I’m tagging some health experts for you
@Abi_nurse @Jaycey @Wiebke
 
Jess565 said:
I know a vet is needed and I will seek one asap! But some advice in the meantime would be great! I noticed Bruno limping as I put I'm back in his house this morning he was fine when I let him out half an hour before. I was literally jacket on and out the door for work so only had a quick look but could not see anything. I've got back from work and inspected his foot and his front foot is very swollen on the pad. There is no obvious cut or anything he does have spurs but he's had them all his life plus the swollen part is away from that.
Would you guys say this would warrant an emergency appointment tomorrow? I have just put some perfect paws on his tootsie's. I don't know why though 😖 should I soak his foot in some warm water? I'm so worried for him the little guy.
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I would have him seen promptly. Please keep in mind that a developing foot infection is only one possibility; it can easily be a bad sprain or a small break. For that reason, we do not recommend treatment on spec.

When treating for foot infection, it is generally with an antibiotic as long as there are no open sores. There is also not a single 'best treatment' for bumblefoot. it depends on your vet's assessment.
 
We have just been to the out of hours vet She checked his legs and feet. His foot is sore but not swollen and no sign of infection she checked his joints and he wasn't giving anything away so he's had some metacam and we are to give him it once a day for a few days and to see how he gets on. She was a guinea pig fan and very knowledgeable and so was the staff nurse on duty who sat petting both boys. I need a lie down now 😓
 
Jess565 said:
We have just been to the out of hours vet She checked his legs and feet. His foot is sore but not swollen and no sign of infection she checked his joints and he wasn't giving anything away so he's had some metacam and we are to give him it once a day for a few days and to see how he gets on. She was a guinea pig fan and very knowledgeable and so was the staff nurse on duty who sat petting both boys. I need a lie down now 😓
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Glad to hear he’s got some metacam. Hope it settles in a few days, and meanwhile you can recover from the excitement (and cost). Why do these things always happen at a weekend?
 
VickiA said:
you can recover from the excitement (and cost). Why do these things always happen at a weekend?
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I know always at the worst times 😩 I feel really bad for him because he's not his usual self, I hope he feels better soon.
 
Jess565 said:
I know always at the worst times 😩 I feel really bad for him because he's not his usual self, I hope he feels better soon.
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When you look at their anatomy those poor little feet and legs take a lot of stress. Let’s hope the metacam makes him feel better very soon.
 
Thank you! He is a lot brighter this morning and was begging to be let out. He is still keeping off the front paw but was happy to stay eating at the food bowl with Harold just keeping it raised. Last night he just went to bed and wanted food posting to him. (Yes he is spoilt and yes I sat and posted him his supper)
 
I have a feeling we will be going back to the out of hours vet again :( I've just checked on him and his nose has become very snotty! What is going on with this little guy!? I'm starting to feel very worried about him because I just feel he's not himself
 
Jess565 said:
I have a feeling we will be going back to the out of hours vet again :( I've just checked on him and his nose has become very snotty! What is going on with this little guy!? I'm starting to feel very worried about him because I just feel he's not himself
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HI sounds like a uri.

Going on to.
 
Poor boy.
Hope you can get to the bottom of everything.
It’s draining on the emotions as well as the vet fund / bank balance when they’re not well.
Hopefully because you are a very caring owner and know your piggies that you’ve picked up the problem early
 
I called the vet they didn't think he needed an emergency appointment but would open if I was very concerned. They said that the metacam would help if he has a temperature and to see how he is tomorrow. I keep popping my head in to see him and he is enjoying being hand fed by me because I'm finding him all the seed heads but he is still not putting weight on his front foot and he now has snuffles, I hate seeing him like this he's usually like a ninja.
It's nearly time for his medicine so I hope I can get him to eat it and that he will soon start to improve.
 
Don’t know if this will help but when Phoebe had her spay and needed her weight rebuilding I put a ramekin dish of Critical Care in the cage.
It’s easy to eat and mine all love it.
It might help encourage your boy to keep eating even if he’s not comfortable
 
Merab's Slave said:
It might help encourage your boy to keep eating even if he’s not
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I've not got any critical care but I mushed some pellets up before but he wouldn't eat them so I went and bought some of his favourite treats which has been getting his interest going. He is eating and drinking but he seems to not want to move much to get it but he did stand on his back legs for parsley which he got told off for.
 
Jess565 said:
I have a feeling we will be going back to the out of hours vet again :( I've just checked on him and his nose has become very snotty! What is going on with this little guy!? I'm starting to feel very worried about him because I just feel he's not himself
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HUGS!

Fingers crossed!

Please monitor his weight and food intake daily and step in with syringe feeding, whether he likes it not if he is losing weight quickly.
Ask your vet for some herbivore recovery formula.
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Emergency, Crisis and Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment
 
We have been back to the vets this afternoon, I'm only just getting a brew and some food now today has been non stop!
The vet has fully examined him and can see his foot/leg is very painful but cant see or feel any obvious injury, she feels it could even be his shoulder ligament. She has upped his metacam by quite a lot (she said she has been on a few training courses that look at dosages in small animals like guineas and rabbits and feels this is best for Bruno) and his snotty nose she feels this is something Bruno gets when stressed as he saw this same vet when Ted died and he was adjusting to a new pal. She said it's something he probably has and will get on top of him when he's down so we also have antibiotics and an appointment for Thursday. She doesn't think his leg will be better by then but would like to see improvement and see if we need to look at x-rays. However it's been over an hour since his mega 2ml metacam hit and he looks like he's feeling a load better he's out trying to climb on all his houses and begging at the bars! Which is now naughty as he should be resting his leg 🤦I feel like I need a swig of the metacam after all this!
 
Jess565 said:
We have been back to the vets this afternoon, I'm only just getting a brew and some food now today has been non stop!
The vet has fully examined him and can see his foot/leg is very painful but cant see or feel any obvious injury, she feels it could even be his shoulder ligament. She has upped his metacam by quite a lot (she said she has been on a few training courses that look at dosages in small animals like guineas and rabbits and feels this is best for Bruno) and his snotty nose she feels this is something Bruno gets when stressed as he saw this same vet when Ted died and he was adjusting to a new pal. She said it's something he probably has and will get on top of him when he's down so we also have antibiotics and an appointment for Thursday. She doesn't think his leg will be better by then but would like to see improvement and see if we need to look at x-rays. However it's been over an hour since his mega 2ml metacam hit and he looks like he's feeling a load better he's out trying to climb on all his houses and begging at the bars! Which is now naughty as he should be resting his leg 🤦I feel like I need a swig of the metacam after all this!
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Lol 😁 I didn't know Guinea pigs could Have such a huge amount of Metacam.
 
Well I hope it's right! tomorrow he's on X2 a day 0.75ml he also moved up to dog metacam. It's definitely done the trick he's out and about like he usually is but is still limping.
 
Just an update on Bruno. He's feeling alot better which I am so pleased about. He's still not 100% on his leg but using it more every day.
He had a follow up appointment yesterday and was told to finish his antibiotics and slowly decrease the metacam. The vet said that because there was improvement they felt no further investigation was required unless when he's off the metacam he starts to struggle.
We've had words with Bruno that zoomies are a young pigs game and that he needs to think about how he enjoys his free time!
1x out of hours X2 regular medicated appointments he's out done himself.
The pic was taken on Sunday when he was snotty and down in the dumps. Harold was a good nurse pig for him.
 

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Hi everyone I though I would respond to my thread so you have the background on this.

Bruno is still very lame on his front foot/leg. He in the end had two weeks of metacam that we reduced gradually. He improved just about back to normal and he finished his antibiotics for his stress snotty nose. He has since had lameness on and off since but will improve then decline. I did put him back on the metacam twice a day on the lowest dose he last had and he seems to right him self after a day.
When we last went to the vet she didn't think it would just go away overnight and was very reluctant to x-ray him as he gets snotty noses when he's stressed so they didn't think it was worth the risk for him at this stage. He was examined by three vets and all said they couldn't find the spot that was the issue but his mobility was fine and he will put weight on it just walking he's not. His foot is fine too.
Has anyone else had a guinea that has suffered with lameness? Is this a normal time scale? And should I go back to the vets for more metacam as we have run out or should this not be used this long term as it's nearly a month now (although it's only been three weeks in total he's taken it for)
I do think when he's feeling better he's been climbing on his houses and jumping off so this could be aggravating an injury? He seems happy enough and eating and drinking as normal.

Sorry for the long post 👍
 
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