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Specialist Swollen Front Feet, Not Sore Though

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Gdpuppywalker

Gdpuppywalker

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our large piggie Snowy has swollen front foot pads. They are not sore. The vet gave us anti inflammatory es and anti biotics but did say they may not work . She implied that if they weren't sore, don't worry . Has anyone any experience of this and any idea if I need to worry. She is 5 years old, weighs 1.4 kg. her mate Caramel is much smaller and 6 years 3 months old, 0.8 kg, her feet are fine. They live indoors, pampered, fed twice a day with a wide variety of food and nuggets and hay, with lawn time in the summer and fresh grass picked once it starts to grow.

Karin
 
Gdpuppywalker said:
our large piggie Snowy has swollen front foot pads. They are not sore. The vet gave us anti inflammatory es and anti biotics but did say they may not work . She implied that if they weren't sore, don't worry . Has anyone any experience of this and any idea if I need to worry. She is 5 years old, weighs 1.4 kg. her mate Caramel is much smaller and 6 years 3 months old, 0.8 kg, her feet are fine. They live indoors, pampered, fed twice a day with a wide variety of food and nuggets and hay, with lawn time in the summer and fresh grass picked once it starts to grow.

Karin
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May be bumblefoot?
 
Had a look and it looks a serious illness , but her feet are not sore, will keep an eye on her though and make sure she is walking okay each day. Perhaps that will help. Many thanks

Karin
 
Can you please post a picture and also add your country, state or (for the UK_ your county or city to your details by clicking on your sername on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. That will help with what advice we can give, as we are dealing with people from all over the world.

From what you have told us, it is definitely a job to see a vet - which you have done. How old is your guinea pig? Has your vet checked for arthritis?
If your guinea pig is older and not moving around a lot, you may need to use absorbent vet bed or fleece cosies and change them frequently.

I am also moving your thread to the Health/illness section so that our medical heavy guns can have a look at it.
 
She is five years one month and quite happy to move around, her feet are not sore, you can press them and she doesn't flinch at all. I will try and get a photo of her feet and upload it so you can see. The vet didn't seem concerned either but I can take her back for a check
 
bumblefoot.jpg
This is from the thread about bumble fooot http://www.guinealynx.info/pododermatitis.html looks similar to your piggys foot.
 
Wiebke said:
It looks slightly redder and a touch puffed up, but not worryingly so. when did you see the vet and have her meds worked or not?

@Pebble @Elwickcavies
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Saw the vet last Friday, she has just finished meds , anti biotic and anti inflammatory but no difference has been made. I will take her back and mention bumble foot and see what they say. Appt tomorrow me thinks. Many thanks

Who would have thought a rescue piggie would be so lucky as to be cared for this much. Rescued both in March 2010
 
The swollen front paws have not responded to metacam (anti-inflammatory) or antibiotics This would indicate there is more going on than just arthritis or infection. Also please be careful about "tagging" symptoms with a condition off the internet (ie bumblefoot) as it could send your vet off in the wrong direction.

Your piggie is 5 year old and weighs 1.4kg - which compared to her cage mate is quite a hefty weight. Given the swollen paws have not responded to metacam and abx, I would suggest that the fluid accumulation could be coming from a different source - i.e. a developing heart/kidney condition.
It is not unusual for a heart pig to show fluid accumulation (oedema) in forepaws and also in the abdomen/around the heart - which would also account for her 1.4kg weight.
You may also want the vet to look for signs of abdominal breathing (as opposed to just chest movement) She may also have a transient blue-grey tinge to her lips (if pink) and her ears may be dark at the edges (again indicative of circulatory/heart issues). There are other signs including periodic/spasmodic respiratory "hooting" , lots of time spent asleep etc etc

Bumblefoot (infection and swelling of paws) is also indicative of a heart and circulatory issue.It is a symptom which some vets try to treat "in it's own right" as a condition without idenitifying and treating the underlying cause..

If your vet is not that cavy savvy - they will listen to her heart with a stethoscope and in all likelihood say there isn't a problem. Heart pigs can only be diagnosed by XRay (to look for fluid and see if the heart is enlarged or there are problems with the kidneys). .The vet may want to take bloods for a definitive diagnosis - but given her age and the fact she may be a heart pig - I would opt for the Xray first. You will also need to go armed with the following info printed out from guinea lynx to persuade your vet....the links in the case histories contain Xray images of heart pigs to show the vet what to look for.

. http://www.guinealynx.info/heart.html

The good news is that heart conditions are treatable and the link above gives meds and dosages (which may need adjustment over the first few weesk to get the right coursxe of meds)

The most important thing at the moment is that you need to have complete confidence that you are seeing an open-,mnded vet who, even if not experienced with heart piggirs is willing to learn and perform the required diagnostics to rule this condition in or out and prescribe any necessary treatment.

HTH
x
 
Says bacterial infection which could also be in bone. Long term antibiotics, which she loves luckily. Deep bedding which she has. Back in four weeks
 
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