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Which antibiotics for Bumblefoot please?

Toni D

Toni D

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi,
I haven't posted for years but pop on every now and then for reference or to read posts.

I took my 6½yr old piggy (Seamus) to the vets a few weeks back due to lesions on his front feet (thinking it was Bumblefoot). The vet is a piggy knowledgeable but only works 3 days per week so is not working today.

She said his feet were not infected but he has the sores/lesions due to poor stance; which is due to arthritis. He is now on 0.3ml dog Metacam daily (weight 1.14kg).
I soaked his feet in Epsom Salts daily for a while but it didn't help. He has had two sessions of laser therapy recently (will have more) to help his arthritis and help heal the lesions. His cage is kept clean but he doesn't move around much at all.

Today his feet look red and swollen and feel warmer than normal so I have booked to see the vet at 3.15pm as I think he may need antibiotics for infection. (NB The sores/ lesions are actually healing). I will bathe his feet in Epsom Salts again.

IF the vet today is not knowledgeable they will try to give me Baytril but I think I need Bactrim/Trimethroprin. Can someone 'in the know' confirm please?
 
Thank you I will mention Azithromycim to the vet, although I have caught the redness/infection early so hopefully it's not severe.
 
Hi!

Azithromycin is very strong last ditch antibiotic that should only be used for last ditch cases.

A little redness on the foot doesn't come into it. Please check whether your fleece is well rinsed and not wet in places.

If you are worried, see a vet and see what they say. Please be aware that what you are dealing with is only the pre-stage and not a fully developed infection, which can require different treatment depending on the nature of what as got into through a tiny crack in the skin and then caused open sores.
 
As I said above; Seamus has seen a vet recently for the lesions (which are due to poor stance NOT poor hygiene and are healiing slowly) and will be seeing a vet at 3.15pm today for his feet which are now swollen/ inflamed, red and warm to touch (warner than usual).

I do not think it is a severe case of anything but I appreciate the advice per chance it was. I will ask the vet about it but not all vets are piggy specialist and my usual piggy specialist vet does not work Fridays.

His bedding is kept clean but he will lay around where he wees/poops overnight as he likes to stay in his fleece pouch (also clean). Hopefully he will move more if the laser therapy helps his arthritis.

I'm setting off to the vets now but would've appreciated an answer to my initial question.
 
Toni D said:
As I said above; Seamus has seen a vet recently for the lesions (which are due to poor stance NOT poor hygiene and are healiing slowly) and will be seeing a vet at 3.15pm today for his feet which are now swollen/ inflamed, red and warm to touch (warner than usual).

I do not think it is a severe case of anything but I appreciate the advice per chance it was. I will ask the vet about it but not all vets are piggy specialist and my usual piggy specialist vet does not work Fridays.

His bedding is kept clean but he will lay around where he wees/poops overnight as he likes to stay in his fleece pouch (also clean). Hopefully he will move more if the laser therapy helps his arthritis.

I'm setting off to the vets now but would've appreciated an answer to my initial question.
Click to expand...

As stated, there is no 'ideal' antibiotic for bumblefoot that works with every case because that very much depends on the bug that has got in; but you can ask for zithromax if your vet feels that things have moved on a stage or two and that the heavy guns should be brought out.

We were not slating you for lack of hygiene in any way. Bumblefoot in older piggies is not at all uncommon because the combination of a less effective blood circulation, a frailer immune system and less mobility makes them more prone to it. It's nothing to do with your hygiene; just some additional practical tips.
Looking after guinea pigs with limited or no mobility
 
Hope he feels better soon. Honestly the best thing I have found for minor bumblefoot/sore feet is Betadine. I've never been able to find the liquid here, but I have found a cream. It kills common skin flora, it's used to wipe down skin prior to surgery.

I feel for you, my older pig has sore feet right now and I always feel terrible because I've always heard bumblefoot based on poor hygiene and I don't neglect hygiene... I've had two pigs now who developed foot problems as they got older in spite of the fact that I clean the cage regularly, spot-clean out the wet spots, etc.
 
I thought I would give an update regarding Seamus:

The vet I saw checked Seamus over and agreed that his feet were quite red and quite warm but confirmed that Seamus was otherwise fine. The vet had no piggy experience so would not prescribe anything other than Baytril for infection (if any was present). I refused the Baytril.

We discussed the possibility that the redness and heat may have been a result of the laser therapy increasing the blood circulation along with Seamus' lack of movement overnight - but neither of us knew if that was correct.

As Seamus was otherwise fine and already on Metacam; the vet suggested that I contact the piggy vet this week and comprehensive notes were added to Seamus' file for reference.

I waited until today as I was monitoring Seamus' feet for any changes (no changes). I emailed photos to the piggy vet. She has seen this sort of reaction to laser therapy before so he will have a break from it for now. She suggested putting cotton wool soaked in cooled boiled water onto his feet to cool them down and then applying Flamazine (a colloidal silver cream) as a natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory. So I'll give that a try for now and see if his feet improve.
 
Thank you for that.
Seamus doesn't fit your immobile description as such; he can move around well (he can still eat his soft poos), he mostly keeps himself clean (but does stand in the poos done in his pouch overnight), he eats/drinks fine and maintains his weight well, no wet on his legs/tummy from urine.
His problem is his stance and he does crave warmth, as detailed, by staying snuggled inside his pouch, but having read your advice I am happy that his needs are being met.
I have had two other guinea pigs in the past 18 months who began to wee down themselves & risked urine scald. One 6yrs old whose x-ray showed spondylitis of the spine and a 3½yr old whose x-ray showed arthritic knees. Daily metacam and regular bedding change has helped them both.
Thank you for your help.
 
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