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Can anyone give me an idea what this growth might be on my piggy’s front paw? 🥺

abrennan110

abrennan110

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Hi everyone. My piggy (Pepper, 4 1/2 year old boy) has this growth on his front left paw that kind of came out of no where one day and got significantly larger over the span of a month or so, maybe two. I asked a couple people in the guinea pig community that run a rescue that I believed would be well informed enough to tell me if it was bumblefoot or not so I could atleast rule that out. They said it didn’t seem to be any form of bumblefoot since his paw pads look fairly healthy and normal. He acts completely normal, but the larger it gets, the more I worry. He also has the type of paws where the nails curl inward at a very short length, which makes it hard to trim them, but I do it as often as I possibly can and as often as he will allow me to. I figured I’d mention that. Any information or advice would be appreciated. Thank you! I am adding the photos I have on my phone for now from about a month or so ago, and I will add the pictures of what it looks like currently when I get home.
 

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abrennan110 said:
Hi everyone. My piggy (Pepper, 4 1/2 year old boy) has this growth on his front left paw that kind of came out of no where one day and got significantly larger over the span of a month or so, maybe two. I asked a couple people in the guinea pig community that run a rescue that I believed would be well informed enough to tell me if it was bumblefoot or not so I could atleast rule that out. They said it didn’t seem to be any form of bumblefoot since his paw pads look fairly healthy and normal. He acts completely normal, but the larger it gets, the more I worry. He also has the type of paws where the nails curl inward at a very short length, which makes it hard to trim them, but I do it as often as I possibly can and as often as he will allow me to. I figured I’d mention that. Any information or advice would be appreciated. Thank you! I am adding the photos I have on my phone for now from about a month or so ago, and I will add the pictures of what it looks like currently when I get home.
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Hi

This is not a normal growth. It will need a hands-on examination by a vet as to its nature because it is in a somewhat delicate location. But is its not linked to the curly toenails, which are a genetic trait in some piggies.

PS: Spurs are common dead skin grows on the sides of the pressure pads of the front feet; about up to a quarter of piggies develop them.
Bumblefood/pododermatitis is the resulting infection of germs getting through tiny cracks on the pressure pads themselves, causing scabs and bloody sores. Your lump is on the opposite side of the foot to either condition.

Guinea Lynx :: Guinea Pig Feet and Foot Problems
 
I really hope so too. Thank you so much. It has gotten significantly larger over what feels like a short span of time. This is what it currently looks like. He’s eating, drinking, peeing, pooping ans acting completely normally.
 

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Bill & Ted said:
poor baby, hope you can see a vet soon, it will put your mind at rest once you know what it is 🤞
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For sure! Thank you so much. I honestly feel terrible for not taking him in sooner, but the couple people I mentioned in my original post that I showed and discussed it with said it didn’t seem urgent and as @Wiebke also said, that it didn’t appear to be bumblefoot. So I didn’t freak out immediately, but with the way it’s growing, I am now. I’m going to call today and make an appointment for him. 🙏🏼🥺🤞🏼
 
Hope they can see you soon.
Please don’t beat yourself up.
You sought advice and with piggies something that doesn’t appear urgent suddenly becomes so.
Hope all goes well
 
abrennan110 said:
For sure! Thank you so much. I honestly feel terrible for not taking him in sooner, but the couple people I mentioned in my original post that I showed and discussed it with said it didn’t seem urgent and as @Wiebke also said, that it didn’t appear to be bumblefoot. So I didn’t freak out immediately, but with the way it’s growing, I am now. I’m going to call today and make an appointment for him. 🙏🏼🥺🤞🏼
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All the best. It could be an abscess?
 
Is he continuing to act normally, as you said upthread? That would indicate it's not bothering him yet.
I hope the vet was able to give you an appointment ASAP and is maybe putting your mind at rest rn!
Best wishes for you and your piggy!
 
Merab said:
Hope they can see you soon.
Please don’t beat yourself up.
You sought advice and with piggies something that doesn’t appear urgent suddenly becomes so.
Hope all goes well
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Thank you so much! Isn’t that the truth 😩
 
Eriathwen said:
I hope the appointment goes well! It looks similar to a polyp/skin tag, but what an odd place to develop! Fingers crossed its just a benign bit of random weirdness and nothing sinister.
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I really hope so too! Thank you so much. I agree! 😩
 
Mrs Tiggy Winkle said:
Is he continuing to act normally, as you said upthread? That would indicate it's not bothering him yet.
I hope the vet was able to give you an appointment ASAP and is maybe putting your mind at rest rn!
Best wishes for you and your piggy!
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Yes he’s being completely himself otherwise! Eating and going to the bathroom normally as well. Thank you so much.
 
Wiebke said:
All the best. It could be an abscess?
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Thank you so much. I was hoping not, but I’m not sure what else it could be at this point besides something like that 😔 I was really praying it would start shrinking at some point, not getting larger. My poor boy.
 
Have you managed to get an appointment for your poor boy? I hope you can soon find some answers
 
@VickiA @Claire W we have an appointment for Tuesday & I will definitely update you guys! Thank you so much. I’ve unfortunately been searching for a new knowledgeable primary vet the past month or so, so I wasn’t able to get in somewhere as quickly as I would’ve liked. The doctor all of my babies used to see recently left the practice, and she was the only good exotic vet that worked there. So since then I’ve been searching for a new one, but yes he will be seen early next week, and I’m praying for the best for my boy. 🙏🏼🥺🤞🏼
 
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