extra claw?

[gingersusie]

Hi there everyone
i noticed my piggies foot last night has grown an extra claw !
It seems to come from under her foot on an extra pad ?
The nail that comes out of it has grown up to the outer side of her foot?
She's walking fine but we are off to the vets tomorrow as i don't know whether i can cut the nail or not? the other foot is the same. my other pig hasn't got this but then again they are not sisters. i do cut their nails myself & haven't noticed it until last night
any idea what it might be anyon8)e?
Thanks
8)

 

[torieraa]

Is there actually a nail on the growth?

If not my initial reaction would be that it is a spur. Completely harmless if it is a spur, just one of those things guinea pigs get

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

please use the link for reference if it is a spur you can cut them down regularly. 2 of my piggies get them and I just trim them back

 

[gingersusie]

Yes its like a extra claw that has grown around the outer side of her foot but hasnt grown into her foot. if i cut it how far down do i go? it's not the same colour as her nails its like a rhinos horn type colour lol.
Thanks for replying

 

[torieraa]

Unless you are absolutely certain it is a spur I would not advise cutting it yourself.

Could you upload a picture of the foot?

If you are uncertain I would advise you take you piggy to the vet, if it is a spur they can show you how to trim it as spurs do grow back.

 

[gingersusie]

I am taking her to the vets tomorrow anyway so just see what they say i will take a photo just to show you but that's if she keeps still !

 

[torieraa]

good stuff - if in doubt always take them to a vet as they know best.

Hopefully its just a spur and the vet can show you how to safely cut them back, if you are already confident cutting their nails then the spur wont be a problem for you.

if it is an extra claw then they will probably need to remove it to avoid it tearing.

 

[gingersusie]

 

[gingersusie]

ive managed 2 photos ! can you see what they are like? do they look like spurs to you?

 

[Shellza]

They look like spurs to me to be honest. Best to get the vet to look though as they will tell you for definite and show you how to clip them back properly.

 

[gingersusie]

will do , i was taking her anyway , they can show me how to clip them then, why do they get these spur thingys lol & are they harmful?

 

[torieraa]

yep thats a spur - nothing too much to worry about. just give it a little trim.

just trim it back a little bit with a nail clipper - if you are nervous about cutting it though take her to the vet so they can show you how to cut it

 

[gingersusie]

thank you so much for your help , i thought it was bumblefoot but thank goodness theres no scabs or sores just these weird looking claws! so will they grow back? why do they have them i wonder?

 

[Lady Kelly]

I recently found spurs on one of mine, wasn't confident so went to the vet who was very helpful at showing me how to do it. Sometimes its from piggy being a little overweight and more pressure on the paws, sometimes its from hard surfaces/bedding or in Bumbles case anyone knows cos its certainly neither of those two lol

 

[gingersusie]

lol well mine is probably a tiny bit fatter than her friend but i only use dust extracted sawdust & hay in her cage & she has a fleece blanket down when she has floor time so could it be the sawdust?

 

[Lady Kelly]

I don't think so, maybe it will remain a mystery, my vet suggest Bumble probably puts more weight than normal on her front paws as thats where the spurs are. She does seem to be a special needs pig who likes to sit in her own filth so quite possible lol

 

[gingersusie]

aaaw bless her , its a mystery then? will take her to the vets tomorrow just for a check up , she doesn't seem to be bothered by them anyway, do * use sawdust for you piggies?

 

[torieraa]

I have used, sawdust, carefresh and fleece and they still have them.

I've recently switched back to sawdust from fleece as my washing machine broke and I'm thinking of sticking with the sawdust as its going so well.

I have been told that spurs are just one of those things that guinea pigs can get and no one really knows why. They will grow back, i tend to give them a trim every few months.

 

[gingersusie]

i will stick to the sawdust i think because i have enough washing as it is now! i wash their fleece blanket every day once they have had floor time and they have cosies that i wash too
many thanks for you reply i feel more at ease now knowing that there's nothing major wrong with madam susie lol
she's a aye she hates being picked up but enjoys a cuddle once she's out, but her cage friend is so laid back it's unreal

 

[Freela]

From the photos, I would say spurs- they are basically like calluses, just a thickened section of skin. Some pigs get them and some don't. I have two pigs living in the same cage (same bedding, same environment entirely) and one gets them and one doesn't. They aren't harmful, though.

 

[gingersusie]

thanks all , you put my mind at ease
i went back to the pet shop where i had them and spoke to the guy there he said they were def spurs when i showed him the pic on my phone , he told me to clip them off half way first time to see how they go
i went home & it did the trick! i trimmed it half way down & its fine, no bleeding :<> so they must be spurs
i will keep an eye on susie's feet now & just trim them when they grow a bit more,
this forum is great for all sorts of advice :-)
i am a new piggy owner so its reassuring to know there is lots of help out there
thanks all
much appreciated
here they are enjoying some grass