Bumble Foot vs Urine Scalding

[Macaroon&Pete]

Hi!
I found that one of my piggies has bright red spots on his feet. We haven’t noticed much of a difference in his walking but he does seem to jump more and hop rather than walk. We recently got him and he has spent a lot of time in a little cloth hidey but does come out when we aren’t around. We are definitely taking him to the vet to get it checked out. I have a couple questions about Bumblefoot and urine scalding. How does Bumblefoot form? Does it always have scabs or start without them? Could a wet hidey cause urine scalding and how do you tell the difference between the two? Also, how urgently should we take him to the vet? Is it ok to wait a few weeks or is it more urgent? Also how do we prevent this sort of stuff? We have a C and C cage and have a fleece liner. We wash it once a week. Should we wash more often? Thanks!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Bumblefoot is a serious issue where bacteria gets into cracks in the skin and causes infection. It causes painful open wounds and serious risk to health if left untreated. It cannot wait weeks - any suspicion of bumblefoot needs immediate vet attention.

The fact he is jumping and hopping is your sign that there is a difference in his walking! Hopping is a warning sign that he is uncomfortable. Please have him seen by a vet

A wet hide and wet areas absolutely will cause a lot of health issues. They can’t be in wet bedding at all and anything wet needs to be removed every day.
Changing the liner once a week may not be enough. A fleece can need to be removed every 3 days - it’s going to depend on a few factors.

With boars, as I explained in your other thread, removing all bedding in one go can cause dominance issues so you need lots of smaller fleeces so you remove half on one day and the other half the next day.

Use smaller fleece pee pads in high traffic areas and under hides so they can be removed daily. This will also help extend the use of the main fleece and may mean it does only need to be changed once a week where the smaller pads can be removed every day.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!
I found that one of my piggies has bright red spots on his feet. We haven’t noticed much of a difference in his walking but he does seem to jump more and hop rather than walk. We recently got him and he has spent a lot of time in a little cloth hidey but does come out when we aren’t around. We are definitely taking him to the vet to get it checked out. I have a couple questions about Bumblefoot and urine scalding. How does Bumblefoot form? Does it always have scabs or start without them? Could a wet hidey cause urine scalding and how do you tell the difference between the two? Also, how urgently should we take him to the vet? Is it ok to wait a few weeks or is it more urgent? Also how do we prevent this sort of stuff? We have a C and C cage and have a fleece liner. We wash it once a week. Should we wash more often? Thanks!

Hi and welcome

Urine scald is an irritation of the skin caused by highly corrosive urine particles. It can happen during a urinary tract infection or with ill/frail/older piggy sitting/sleeping in their excrement regularly. Urine particles also tend to collect on top of fleece or mats if they are not changed regularly.
It can lead to bumblefoot infection eventually if germs get into the thick skin of soles (which are part of the immune system) and cause an infection inside the skin.

Bumblefoot (pododermatitis) is a very painful infection of the skin that causes swelling of the feet, big sores and can track into bone if left untreated. It is crippling and eventually fatal in a very slow death unless the leg is amputated as a last ditch measure.
Bumblefoot usually starts as a distinct point or as a defined area of the foot where the skin changes in texture. Please see a vet promptly (as you may need an antibiotic) and step in with treatment. Be aware that because of the wide range of germs that can cause it, there is not a single treatment that is always successful.

Guinea Lynx :: Urine Scald
Guinea Lynx :: Pododermatitis

 

[Macaroon&Pete]

Thanks for the information!

 

[Macaroon&Pete]

We just got Macaroon an appointment for tomorrow. Thanks so much for giving your suggestions!