Zippy Foot

[3piggles]

The last time I took the kids to the vet, he noticed the over pad on one of Zippy's paws was not right. It's on his right hand, and since the visit, has become extremely enlarged and calloused. He doesn't act as if it bothers him at all, and runs around the room and the cage. I started using Neem Rescue Stick on it at the middle of the week, and the edges are much softer and more supple. I'm going to give all three kids a bath and Neem moisturizing soak, tomorrow, which should also help. If anyone's had this problem with a piggy, and had a great solution, I'd love to try it. The vet filed it down during the last visit, and I thought it would go away. It didn't. I should have watched it much more closely. Since the stuff arrived from Gorgeous Guineas, I have moisturizing things to soften it, and hopefully keep it soft.

[cavyfan]

Hm... if it's just cracked (like a cracked heel), that isn't too bad, but if there's swelling I'd definitely recommend a vet visit. If it only started in the middle of the week and he's otherwise fine, you've probably caught it early fortunately.

[Pigjes]

Feet can swell for many different reasons: a hay splinter infecting it, a wound or scratcgh infecting it, a clumsy stumble hurting the foot, bumblefoot or spurs bothering the piggie.

Wounds can be desinfected and they should mend, otherwise a vet visit is in order. If hay is lodged in, a vet can get it out. A stumbling pain should go away in a few days or a vet needs to help. Bumblefoot needs treatment from a vet as it is a sign of a serious internal fungal, which can't go away on it's own and will kill a piggie in the end. Spurs can be clipped very carefully or filed down if you have the courage and treated with a safe moisturizer, one for babies, for example, to keep the footsies soft.

[3piggles]

The vet has seen the callous, which has been there for at least a month. Just lately it started getting dry parts that could catch, pull off and bleed. That's why I started the rescue cream. I want to keep the callous soft. If you look at a piggy hand, the heal of the hand is like an extra pad. That's what's become so calloused. I don't think it's swollen, just calloused. They got baths, today, and I washed Zippy last, so his hand got to soak. It's pretty soft, now, although he could use a hand soaking every day. He won't put up with that, so the cream is all I've got.
I forgot I also have microneem, which is to calm irritated skin. I have to read the flyer that came with that. That may be another thing to use on his hand.

[3piggles]

The vet said Zippy's foot is doing fine, and since it's a callous on the heal of his hand, I should file it down with an emery file. Zip won't stand for that, but the neem is softening the callous, and the doctor said it's looking good. No so for Little Girl.

[Pigjes]

I'm glad his foot is doing better. Now let's keep our fingers crossed for Little Girl!

[becksters]

I caught this post too late... I hope you didn't worry too much! Glad his foot is better My Clarence has that issue except it's the "cracks" of her pads, just a spur that the vet watches, recently it's grown and she's going in soon to have them clipped down. luckily it's not affecting her because it's inbetween everything but I just wanted to let you know your zippy isn't the only one with spurs/callouses!

[Merry]

My girls have little spurs too. As of yet, they haven't been long enough for me to have to clip, but my old piggy Spicy had a spur on her front foot that needed regular clipping. Just one of those annoying things that happens as piggies get older! Sounds like you've got Zippy's foot well taken care of though. If I were a piggy, I wouldn't mind having you as a Mommy!