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Post by teddypig on Apr 4, 2019 17:17:30 GMT
My guinea pig, Teddy, broke his toenail yesterday. I wasn't there at the time, but when I came to take him for floor time, I noticed the quick area was bleeding slightly. I applied pressure to it and removed the broken bit, and all was fine until today. I noticed it was very swollen and that he couldn't walk properly. I don't think it is an infection as it isn't hot to the touch- it is swollen and slightly slanted. I am worried he fell... Help!
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 4, 2019 19:05:34 GMT
Hello and welcome to you and Teddy  I'm sorry he hurt his toe. My advice is to soak his foot/feet in some warm water and Epsom salts for about 20 minutes, so you are sure it's clean. He may have gotten something in the wound that needs to be flushed/soaked out. Just make sure the water stays warm, not hot, for the whole 20 minutes, as guinea pigs get cold very easily. Then very, very gently press you fingers all around the swollen area. Very lite pressure. If he's in pain, he will tell you, and you will know where you were pressing when he told you, so you'll know where the pain is located. If he wheeks in pain, or is limping, contact an Exotics vet. If you're in the US, this is a directory of vets who care for guinea pigs. Just scroll down until you find your state. petcentral.chewy.com/directory-of-veterinarians-for-exotic-small-mammals/Good luck, and please let us know what happened. |
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Post by Bean on Apr 5, 2019 6:46:59 GMT
Welcome to Wheekers. I'm sorry Teddy has a sore toe - sometimes their nails do get caught on something and it can damage the nail or hurt the toe.
Bathing it is a great idea, and hopefully after a day or so, it will start to return to normal. If not, or if he seems in pain or can't move then see your vet to see if he needs any pain medication or other treatment. The main pain medication used with guinea pigs is an anti-inflammatory so is great for injuries like that.
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Post by bazookagoof on Apr 5, 2019 14:15:19 GMT
Vaguely-related story- whenever I would clean the cages, the boys would scurry up the open door like a ramp and jump inside their homes. I always put a towel on the "ramp", because I worried about one of their little toes getting stuck between the bars as they ran upwards.
But I'll say this: sometimes you can't predict where or how they'll hurt themselves, so you just do the best you can to make their homes as safe as possible. |
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Post by 3piggles on Apr 5, 2019 17:35:52 GMT
One of my pigs started limping, and I did everything, even got his leg xrayed. Nothing. He must have pulled a muscle. I soaked him several times a day, and it went away after a couple of weeks.
Another pigs pulled a muscle, too, but I located the problem area, and removed it, do she wouldn't keep hurting herself.
There really are a lot of ways for them to hurt themselves, if we, and they, aren't careful.
I hope Teddy is better, today ❤
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Post by jolovespiggies on Apr 6, 2019 17:51:16 GMT
Welcome to wheekers hunni.
hugs jo xx
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I'm sorry he hurt his toe. My advice is to soak his foot/feet in some warm water and Epsom salts for about 20 minutes, so you are sure it's clean. He may have gotten something in the wound that needs to be flushed/soaked out. Just make sure the water stays warm, not hot, for the whole 20 minutes, as guinea pigs get cold very easily.
