Black crusty 5th toe

[SpiritedAway]

I have a 4 year old Aby/Peruvian mix. She has 5 toes on her front feet her 5th 'toe' never had a nail and resembled more of a tag and was always a bit discoloured. In the summer she hurt her foot whilst outdoors. She likes digging and I think she cought it on a rock. We kept it clean and dry but it started to go harder and crustier and darkening. I emailed her breeder with a photo who told me not to worry, totally normal and nothing concerning, just continue to treat. But it's continued to go darker and scabbier and that 5th toe is now completely black. The breeder is telling me it's just from the injury in the summer and it'll be fine. Her other feet are completely healthy and she lives with her sisters whose feet are also completely fine (but all of them only have 4 toes on the front). She doesn't seem bothered by it and still digs but I'm wondering if it could be an infection/bumblefoot/gone necrotic and to ignore the breeder or if anyone has any experience with a guinea with 5 toes and has seen this before?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Guinea pigs do only have four toes on their front feet and have three on their back feet.

If your piggy has an extra toe it is not normally anjything to worry about but if it doesn’t look right then it is best to consult a vet, not the breeder.

 

[VickiA]

Polydactyly is not uncommon with inbreeding. I’d speak to the vet if you are at all concerned. Often the extra digit is removed in a simple procedure.

 

[ScrufflesRules]

Could you upload a photo?
I agree with the advice given above

 

[SpiritedAway]

Thank you. I have an appointment booked for this evening. I've attached a photo but she's wriggly so it's not amazing

 

[SpiritedAway]

Also just to note, this picture was taken after a bath, so unlikely to be poo

 

[Freela]

That looks like a foot spur, which is kind of like a hangnail/callus in humans. It's unlikely to be an actual toe, it's more likely a horn of hardened skin. They're not harmful in and of themselves, although they can be trimmed back if they get overly long and in danger of catching on things. Some pigs grow them and some pigs never do, even living in the same bedding/housing.

 

[Wheekallweek]

I agree, looks like a spur to me as opposed to an extra toe
@Piggies&buns and @VickiA are also correct in that if anything is concerning you please speak to a vet, not a breeder

 

[Piggies&buns]

It does look like a harmless foot spur but always best to get a vet to check it as we can’t have that essential hands on to know

 

[SpiritedAway]

Hi everyone, you were right! Just a spur. She had another one starting on the other foot as well. I've had them removed by the vet now, followed by lots of cuddles and she doesn't seem too traumatised. Such a relief that it wasn't anything terrible.

 

[Wheekallweek]

Good stuff

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. I have an appointment booked for this evening. I've attached a photo but she's wriggly so it's not amazing

Hi

That looks rather like a foot spur to me? It is a harmless growth of dead skin that only needs attending if it sticks out to the side and poses a risk of catching on something and ripping off very painfully and crippingly at the edge of life and dead skin, causing bleeding and an added risk of infection. If you cut spur off too close to live skin, you can cause the same harm. That is why we generally recommend to leave spurs that stick close to the foot be.

Please accept that we can only guess from your picture but we cannot replace a hands-on vet examination.

Polydactyly (extra toes): Guinea Lynx :: Guinea Pig Feet and Foot Problems
Spurs: Guinea Lynx :: Guinea Pig Feet and Foot Problems