[Gpdd] [Health] Red Feet

[Cazza177]

Dear Evelyn

I don't know if the following from Peter Gurney's website may be of use to
you and Phoebe:-

BUMBLEFOOT  
As one of my first guinea pigs died because it was given a drug which was
toxic to the species when I took it to a vet for treatment for this
condition, I have very strong feelings about it. I have yet to come across a
single case of Bumblefoot which has caused a serious hazard to the overall
health of a guinea pig.
The symptoms are swelling of the footpad, with causes the skin to break and
over which scabs are formed. The owner is usually alerted to this by the
guinea pig limping. A great deal of research has gone into trying to uncover
the cause of this condition but I have yet to read any veterinary medical
book which has come up with a convincing answer.
Sometimes Bumblefoot can occur when there is an overall mycotic problem and
the use of the prescription only drug, GRISEOFULVIN seems to clear this up
in tandem with curing the mycosis However it is unclear whether this is a
result of the anti-fungal properties of the drug or the anti-inflammatory
ones.
In the main I leave well alone, for after a while the swollen tissue in the
foot will calcify, the limping will cease and the animal will carry on as
though there were no problem at all.
As there are other causes for swollen foot pads, obviously the guinea pig
should be checked out by an expert before deciding what, if any, action is
to be taken.  

There's also: http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/bumblefoot.htm

Good luck  Carole
----------
From: Evelyn Baker <ebak at ca.inter.net>
Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2006 13:06:26 -0400
To: gpdd at gpdd.org
Subject: [Gpdd] [Health] Red Feet

Hello everyone at GPDD. Yes it's me again with another health problem
for poor Phoebe. I can't believe I've been writing to you about
Phoebe for over six years now. I have adjusted to her age. To me
she'll always be my little piglet.

We're not sure if the bladder infection has gone away. The last dose
of antibiotics didn't work but she's not suffering and we thought
we'd give her a rest from them. She hasn't noticed, other than she's
not being syringe feed stuff she doesn't want twice a day. Her eating
is good. She was at the vets for the day and she is likely blind but
that doesnt' stop her and she's happy as long as she gets her treats.

But of course there's always something else. I noticed last week that
her feet were very pink and pointed it out at her last visit. The vet
wasn't to concerned but I was told to bring her in should it change
or she gets scabs. Of course, now it's the weekend and I see they are
more red and what I thought was dirt may be a scab. I will bring her
in to the vet again at the begininning of the week but until than
does anyone have any ideas? I've washed her feet with Spectrogel and
put on HIbitaine. Her feet aren't sore.

I've had her on towels for a a week or two and I thought it may be a
kind of diaper rash because she sits in the same place all day until
I change towels or it could have been from the soap I was using on
them. I've changed that and put her back on Carefresh.


Maybe it's another old age ailment.

Evelyn