5th Shrivelled Toe With Nail?

[LydiaMinx]

I was just clipping Badgers nails and on his front right foot he had this little brown thing poking out and I automatically assumed it was a bit of dirt or at worst a splinter.


I tried to rub it of but on closer inspection it's actually a little brown nail attached to a tiny toe! It doesn't seem to bother him but I didn't clip it just incase.

Anyone else had this and am I ok just to leave it alone?

 

[Briony_S]

A picture would be good if you can get it. What you are describing could be an extra toe or could be a foot spur.

this is extra toe / polydactyly :

or a foot spur looks something like this..

 

[Briony_S]

I got these pictures from :

http://www.guinealynx.info/feet.html

if it is a foot spur it is good practice to trim it so that it doesn't get caught and pulled off as that would hurt and damage the foot. If it is an extra toe, it may be worth going to see a vet and discuss removal based on whether it is causing a problem or it's position would mean it has a chance of being pulled off and causing injury to the guinea pig.

 

[LydiaMinx]

Oh it looks exactly like a spur! Thanks, I was beginning to panic thinking he had a deformed little stump

 

[LeahsPiggies]

I'm not sure what it could be, sorry, but I absolutely love the name Badger!

 

[LydiaMinx]

I'm not sure what it could be, sorry, but I absolutely love the name Badger!

Thank you! I think it suits him very well

 

[ASTRID]

wow that is odd never had that before interesting pics x

 

[A&T]

I find the best thing to do with spurs is to give them a bath let them soak for abit and then like human skin, gently remove it with you nail close to the skin, or cut it off if it's big but not too close to the skin in case they flinch and you accidently cut them!
But yeah I cut off the worse then use my nail to pick it off, it doesnt hurt my girls, and with mine it curls around their foot so I have to cut it off. hope this helps you if you want to remove it.