Another “is this bumblefoot”

[HannahsHerd]

I know there are sooo many posts on here asking if pigs have pedodermatitis, I promise I have looked through and tried to do my research. My 5 year old guinea pig Cornelious has small pale spots on both his back feet. There doesn’t seem to be swelling to me but I can’t determine if it’s red and inflamed since his feet are black. I’m not sure if you can tell from the photos but it seems like the pale spots have a different texture so I don’t think it’s just coloring changing with age. I called the vet when I noticed it yesterday but their all booked up for a while and an emergency visit is really expensive. If I can take care of it myself I’d really prefer to. He is still quite active and curious. He’s eating just fine and his cage is well kept fleace. Also his cage mate doesn’t seem to have any similar symptoms on any of his feet. I know he can’t be diagnosed without seeing the vet but if any of y’all have seen something similar on your pigs I would really appreciate you sharing your experiences. Secondly, I have epsom salts in my emergency first aid for them and I’m tempted to give his feet a soak just in case but I can’t find any information about if it’s harmful on the skin to soak in epsom if it’s not actually needed. Any information you have would be very much appreciated. Thanks so much

 

[sport_billy]

@Wiebke @VickiA @PigglePuggle @Piggies&buns @furryfriends (TEAS) @Freela @Siikibam

 

[Free Ranger]

You have sharp eyes! I've not seen anything like this before myself - the fact that he's an older piggy means there's been a lot of wear and tear on those lovely little footsies so it might well just be something age-related and to do with him having black feet because the base of his nails is pink too. The spot on the side doesn't look like it's on a pressure-point either. I don't know whether they lose pigment with age. It doesn't look like an 'emergency' to me, but wait for the experts.

When I soaked my last girl in Epsom salts she only had a bumble on one foot but I stood both front feet in the solution - it would have been difficult to do anything else! It didn't make any difference to the healthy foot. The biggest problem was actually that she drank a few slurps (yuk, I know) and it's a laxative so unfortunately she got diarrhoea for a day or so until it passed through. If you're going to have a go, watch out for that!

 

[VickiA]

I think it’s great that you are taking him to see the vet. I can’t tell from the photo if it is inflamed. Is the skin intact or is it broken? I don’t think it’s an emergency situation but more of a routine one that can wait for a vet appointment.
While you are waiting to see the vet I think I would just monitor it daily. If your piggy is 5 is there a chance that he is not moving around as much and may be sitting in his own wee for longer periods? If so, you could try using a bit of vet fleece or vet bed under his houses as that wicks all wee away and stays dry to the touch.

 

[HannahsHerd]

You have sharp eyes! I've not seen anything like this before myself - the fact that he's an older piggy means there's been a lot of wear and tear on those lovely little footsies so it might well just be something age-related and to do with him having black feet because the base of his nails is pink too. The spot on the side doesn't look like it's on a pressure-point either. I don't know whether they lose pigment with age. It doesn't look like an 'emergency' to me, but wait for the experts.

When I soaked my last girl in Epsom salts she only had a bumble on one foot but I stood both front feet in the solution - it would have been difficult to do anything else! It didn't make any difference to the healthy foot. The biggest problem was actually that she drank a few slurps (yuk, I know) and it's a laxative so unfortunately she got diarrhoea for a day or so until it passed through. If you're going to have a go, watch out for that!

Thank you! I appreciate you sharing all this!

 

[HannahsHerd]

I think it’s great that you are taking him to see the vet. I can’t tell from the photo if it is inflamed. Is the skin intact or is it broken? I don’t think it’s an emergency situation but more of a routine one that can wait for a vet appointment.
While you are waiting to see the vet I think I would just monitor it daily. If your piggy is 5 is there a chance that he is not moving around as much and may be sitting in his own wee for longer periods? If so, you could try using a bit of vet fleece or vet bed under his houses as that wicks all wee away and stays dry to the touch.

Yup I’m trying to take pictures everyday just to see any changes. Thanks so much

 

[Wiebke]

I know there are sooo many posts on here asking if pigs have pedodermatitis, I promise I have looked through and tried to do my research. My 5 year old guinea pig Cornelious has small pale spots on both his back feet. There doesn’t seem to be swelling to me but I can’t determine if it’s red and inflamed since his feet are black. I’m not sure if you can tell from the photos but it seems like the pale spots have a different texture so I don’t think it’s just coloring changing with age. I called the vet when I noticed it yesterday but their all booked up for a while and an emergency visit is really expensive. If I can take care of it myself I’d really prefer to. He is still quite active and curious. He’s eating just fine and his cage is well kept fleace. Also his cage mate doesn’t seem to have any similar symptoms on any of his feet. I know he can’t be diagnosed without seeing the vet but if any of y’all have seen something similar on your pigs I would really appreciate you sharing your experiences. Secondly, I have epsom salts in my emergency first aid for them and I’m tempted to give his feet a soak just in case but I can’t find any information about if it’s harmful on the skin to soak in epsom if it’s not actually needed. Any information you have would be very much appreciated. Thanks so much View attachment 171201

Hi

They look like normal skin markings to me where your piggy whould have a few white hairs if it was anywhere else on the body?

Bumblefoot (pododermatitis or 'infection of the foot skin') is initially a very localised sore red (and not pale pink) and hot feeling spot that then swells up and develops a sore that can scab over and bleed profusely. It is also much more common on the weight bearing front pads because it is usually a pressure sore that bugs have got into. Bumblefoot is very rare in well kept, regularly cleaned piggies.
The ones affected are those living on unsuitable dirty wire bottoms or in filthy conditions in their own excretement so germs can easily get through any tiny cracks in the skin. The other group are the elderly/piggies with loss of mobility that cannot take their weight off their front pads (or they would not be able to sit up again, having no strength in their back legs) and move around much; they need cleaning several times a day in the area they are sitting and also need their foot soles and bums gently wiped and checked daily.
Unfortunately, wire bottom cages are still being sold for guinea pigs in the US and in tropical countries; they are not in use in the UK.

As long as you poo patrol every day or two and clean your cage twice weekly, you do not have to worry about bumblefoot. I've only ever had to deal with it once in over 70 piggies that have come into my life so far, and that was in a nearly 8 years old lady suffering from a temporary back leg paralysis and an increasingly fragile immune system due to her age; as I spotted it quickly, it was easily cured with an antibiotic after another prompt vet trip.

Here is a link to foot problems; you will see that bumblefoot is quite distinctive: Guinea Lynx :: Guinea Pig Feet and Foot Problems

You may find these forum guides helpful in learning what is normal or not and how to health monitor/care for your piggies once weekly throughout their whole life time:
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility

If you suffer from anxiety, I would recommend that you take pictures of the various features of your piggies now so you have a reference if there are changes. Use the links above to check first whether it is something you may need to worry about.

 

[HannahsHerd]

Hi

They look like normal skin markings to me where your piggy whould have a few white hairs if it was anywhere else on the body?

Bumblefoot (pododermatitis or 'infection of the foot skin') is initially a very localised sore red (and not pale pink) and hot feeling spot that then swells up and develops a sore that can scab over and bleed profusely. It is also much more common on the weight bearing front pads because it is usually a pressure sore that bugs have got into. Bumblefoot is very rare in well kept, regularly cleaned piggies.
The ones affected are those living on unsuitable dirty wire bottoms or in filthy conditions in their own excretement so germs can easily get through any tiny cracks in the skin. The other group are the elderly/piggies with loss of mobility that cannot take their weight off their front pads (or they would not be able to sit up again, having no strength in their back legs) and move around much; they need cleaning several times a day in the area they are sitting and also need their foot soles and bums gently wiped and checked daily.
Unfortunately, wire bottom cages are still being sold for guinea pigs in the US and in tropical countries; they are not in use in the UK.

As long as you poo patrol every day or two and clean your cage twice weekly, you do not have to worry about bumblefoot. I've only ever had to deal with it once in over 70 piggies that have come into my life so far, and that was in a nearly 8 years old lady suffering from a temporary back leg paralysis and an increasingly fragile immune system due to her age; as I spotted it quickly, it was easily cured with an antibiotic after another prompt vet trip.

Here is a link to foot problems; you will see that bumblefoot is quite distinctive: Guinea Lynx :: Guinea Pig Feet and Foot Problems

You may find these forum guides helpful in learning what is normal or not and how to health monitor/care for your piggies once weekly throughout their whole life time:
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?
Weight - Monitoring and Management
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility

If you suffer from anxiety, I would recommend that you take pictures of the various features of your piggies now so you have a reference if there are changes. Use the links above to check first whether it is something you may need to worry about.

Thank you, I appreciate all the in-depth advice and information. I'll check out those forums.