Possible fractured nail or broken toe

[hipslikecinders]

Hi everyone.

I have a 2 year old guinea pig called 'Pig' and a couple of days ago I noticed his toe was bleeding, and it looked as though he had tore his nail slightly at the top of the nail. I took him to the vets on Saturday and they have given him a weeks course of antibiotics and painkillers because they think the actual toe might be broken. They have said if the swelling goes down with the antibiotics, its probably just a nail fracture, in which case they will remove the nail. If the swelling doesn't go down it may be a break in the toe bone and possible bone infection. If this is the case they have said they will need to amputate his toe

I'm a bit worried about this diagnosis as they said they wouldn't put him to sleep to remove the toe, they'd use special 'scissors' to clip it off. I'm sure they would numb the toe first but I'm very concerned that this procedure could make Pig go into shock and worse.

I'm concerned as the Vet said to me he was not an 'expert' on guinea pigs (I assume he is a cat and dog man) and that I can also see an exotic pet specialist if I choose to. I have to go back on Saturday and I'm hoping and praying the swelling will have gone down! As the vet has said himself he's no expert on pigs I just wanted to get a 2nd opinion from other guinea pig owners who may have experienced similar situations?

Pig has been taking antibiotics and painkillers well by syringe and so far I have not noticed any difference in swelling I have him on vetbed and am keeping everything clean for him in the hope that he will not have to have a toe removed!

Any advice would greatly, greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Worried owner

 

[first_time_piggie_mum]

Poor pig

Where do you live?

 

[hipslikecinders]

I live in Muswell Hill, North London x

 

[first_time_piggie_mum]

I'm not sure if any of our London members could recommend another vet, but up here in Northampton we have a fabulous vet called Simon.

if you were willing to travel up here, I'm sure he would have a look at the toe for you?

 

[Katie Krafter]

My advice - get a cavy savvy vet. You might have to travel though.

My boar Stripe has a possible broken bone in his foot, and there is nothing that can really be done. You can't put a piggie in plaster. The vet (who knows piggies) has given him a month's course of anti inflammatories, to help with the swelling until the bone naturally calcifies over. Stripe is a hopalong at the moment not putting any weight on the foot. We are definitely NOT going to amputate! He has had two lots of abs, one septrin, and now baytril (plus probiotic to sort out resulting gut issues) to deal with any infection.

There may be others who can recommend a good London vet, or who have had pigs with broken bones but I h ope this helps.

 

[hipslikecinders]

Thanks for all your help and advice. I am off to the vets again at 2 today and I'll see what he says. The toe looks less swollen (but still not back to normal) and Pig seems back to his normal self and is racing around everywhere and popcorning so I'm taking that as a good sign that the bone is not broken.

If the vet says to amputate with no anaesthetic I'm going to refuse and seek a specialist advice. I'm hoping the vet will see improvement today and I can get another weeks worth of antibiotics.

x

 

[Abi_nurse]

How did the vets go?

Fractured toes do not need to be taken off. Infections can be got rid of by a number of different antibiotics, so not just Baytril.

x.

 

[Katie Krafter]

Stripe is doing really well now. Finished his baytril+ probiotics and now just on metacam. Still limping but not hopping so really hope year vet didn't suggest amputation. He's quite back to his old self, though not popcorning or jumping off his house just yet.

 

[hipslikecinders]

Went to vets and had a different vet see Pig who seemed to know more about guinea pigs and she said compared to last week's description of Pig's toe (grossly swollen and inflamed) it looked miles better, and she had a good feel and prod of the toe without Pig squeaking or showing it was painful. She thinks it was just a tear of the nail from the skin/toe and was bruised and as nail not loose best to let it grow out. She said to continue with antibiotics until there finished and see how he goes. Mega relieved! Thanks everybody for your help x

 

[Wiggie]

toe nail missing

When I first got my GP's one had a toe nail missing, it looked like it was ripped off to the toe and was scabbed over. I thought she would never grow a nail, she did over months. She has a normal nail albeit a touch thicker. She was never bothered by her toe nail being missing. I had a (human) friend break her toe and it was left to heal, although she had crutches for a while, she was ok. I would not have my GP's toe touched unless she was in ongoing pain, it could give larger risk of infection? Hope all heals naturally.