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Urgent! Guinea Pig Swollen Foot?

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Kirsty

Kirsty

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello
I've just let my guinea pigs out on their run and I've noticed lots of blood in their run picked up my guinea pig and it's as if he has a blister on his foot that has popped?! his foot is quite swollen and I don't no what to do because all vets closed and don't have much money for emergency vets :(
 
It could be Bumblefoot as that can blister. Even if you can't see the emergency vet could you speak to them over the phone about pain relief? Please get him seen in the morning so it can be checked properly.

How is he walking?
 
He's walking fine, eating fine, everything okay! I can't take him vet tomorrow because I'm working all day and evening :(( ahhhh! I have meloxicam at home and have gave him a little bit of that to help any pain and it's an inflammatory medication for guinea pigs
 
You don't have those runs with the mesh/cage bar type flooring do you?
If so, remove it. This is very bad and is a leading cause for bumblefoot.
 
Nope he lives in a two tier wooden guinea pig hutch which I use wood shavings from pets at home as their flooring! I feel so sorry for him I don't no what to do I'm just about to clean his cage to make it all fresh bedding :(
 
Kirsty said:
Nope he lives in a two tier wooden guinea pig hutch which I use wood shavings from pets at home as their flooring! I feel so sorry for him I don't no what to do I'm just about to clean his cage to make it all fresh bedding :(
Click to expand...
I mean the run you said you used,has it got a wire flooring?
 
I am a bit concerned about shavings on a blistered foot, keep a very close eye on it for infection. Is there any way you could keep him on fleece or vet bed?
 
Ok won't let me upload photo but it's not wired at all all flat fabric type material
 
I could probably put a towel over the wood shavings but I'll be scared they might burrow under it and get trapped
 
But what should I do about his foot? That's my main concern at the moment because I'm cleaning there beds out now so everything will be clean and fresh to minimise infection :-/
 
You could bathe it in a saline solution or Hibiscrub but be careful in case it is sore. Ideally he needs to see a vet to have it looked at properly, cleaned and pain relief given. The reason we are talking about bedding is that if he has a blister that is open then shavings are potentially painful and are not that hygenic.
 
I see, well I have placed a fleece blanket at the bottom of their hutch as that's where they stay the most so it covers the wood shavings, I don't think I'll be able to get to a vet untill Saturday or Monday! Do you think that's too late? Is there anything more I could do :(
 
That sounds good, should be softer on his sore foot.

He needs to be kept on pain relief ideally, is there any way you could talk to your vet tomorrow about this? Other than bathing it and keeping it clean there is not much else you can do. Is this the pig that was ill a little while ago? Just trying to put a history together in my head.
 
Yeah it is, he seems recovered from whatever it was that made him loose lots of weight as he went down to 1lb 15 ounces and now he weighs 2lb 5 ounce in just over a week :)

But now he has a poorly foot and I'm so confused I don't no what's up with him! Thanks for the recommendation I have lots of meloxicam left anyway so should be okay for now with that x
 
That's great he has put weight back on.

Is there any chance you could post a photo of his foot?
 
I tried to but it won't work for some reason and the photo isn't clear as my camera isn't that good! But I've managed to do it now, you can see how swollen it is but there is like a small hole in his foot defiantly looks like a blister type hole? it looks so sore but he is walking on it fine! But he is good at covering up things image.webpimage.webp
 
It's difficult to see, doesn't necessarily look like Bumblefoot though as it is not red. I would keep up with the pain relief until you can get to a vet.
 
That looks really swollen :( I would be trying to get him to the vet asap, tomorrow if you can get someone else to take him in, or could you not ring your work & try to finish early & take him then? Otherwise ring the vets tomorrow like Helen says & get an appointment on Saturday at the very latest. If he has an infection then he needs antibiotics & only a vet can prescribe those. The sooner he gets antibiotics the more quickly his foot will get better :)
 
Oh that's strange, it's like a little hole? From a blister or something! yeah I'll have to try book appointment for Saturday just so worried for him he is walking fine though, I did try clean it earlier and have laid fleece down to stop further infection..
 
He might be walking ok but now there is a hole that's where bacteria will get in & breed unfortunately :( I know vet bills aren't cheap I have spent almost £2000 on vet bills for my oldest piggy but I know that if they are ill I take them sooner rather than later as the vet bills are far bigger if they are left untreated & get more poorly. I now have my other 2 insured just in case :)
 
Bumblefoot is a chronic condition - often because of the heart not working properly so blood doesn;t get to the extremities to aid healing from what normally would be small, healable infections.

From your description - this seems like "an acute onset" (i.e. sudden and first appearance) so it might not be Bumblefoot at all...it could be an abcess from a trauma to his foot....and there is now a risk of other infection owing to the "hole"

I am very concerned at
a) the size of the swelling
b) the angle of his foot
c) the pale pink colour

I really think your piggie needs to see a CAVY-SAVVVy vet.quickly!
Instead of Bumblefoot - this could be something else - e.g. bone infection as a result of a fracture

Please can you tell us where you are located? Some vets do routine sat and sun surgery at normal (rather than out of hours) prices - but you really do need to see a very experienced guinea pig vet.
HTH
x
 
The pale pink colour is just the colour of his foot and the angle of his foot is just like that because I was trying to hold him lol but yes his foot is swollen :( I live in Dunstable in bedfordshire? How much would vets cost for his appointment with specialist cavy vet ?
 
It would probably cost you no more than other vets during normal opening hours. But we are fast approaching the weekend/out of hour..

Can you get him to Simon Maddock at Northampton tomorrow (if so, ring them first thing tomoz for appointment>)
 
I can't tomorrow as I'm working and no way of getting out of it, earliest could do is Saturday
 
How is he today? If you can get to Bedford, my vet recommended Natalie Wissinkargilaga at Scotts in Bedford if she is ever away. Could you ring today to see if she is available tomorrow? If they suggest antibiotics try to get Septrin rather than Baytril as it can be harsh on their tummies :)
 
How's he doing today?

I think work would be more important than a piggy in pain, personally!
Get this sorted out, and nip it in the bud before it's too late.
You should try and get him to the vets today, I agree with everyone else. Bacteria will grow in the wound and spread, when I have a blister and it pops, it is very sore. So I couldn't imagine the pain that little guy is going through, having it on nearly his hole foot.
 
I haven't seen him as I'm at work I'm going to get my stepdad to check on him at 3oclock when he's home from work, he wouldn't take him to vets before someone suggests that, and I no my guinea pig is more important but I cannot get out of work to take him to the vets..

I'm ringing vets for tomorrow I'm going to to to my usual vets as it's closer and he's quite good and has dealt with Darwin when he was poorly before, as you say he may only need antibiotics. I won't be home untill 8 this evening and will give him some more metacam to help any pain he may be under, other than that there isn't much I can do :( like I said he is walking fine, eating fine, just need to take him vets tomorrow I think
 
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