guinea pig feet

Question
hi jenny,

i have 2 girl guineas approx 2.5-3 years old.  one of them, izzabella, has grown what seems to be a strange toe like thing on the edge of each front foot, but it does not have a nail on the end.  (it would be next to each pinkie finger if she was human)  it has not grown straight but each one has curled round and under each foot.  they are both brown, not like her normal skin color which is pale pink.  she is walking/running around as normal so i dont think it is causing her any pain but if i try to get a closer look she gets very annoyed with me but this may just be because she is not a very patient lady.  i took her to the vet but she barely looked at it and said it was a normal thing to happen but one foot was a little red which she said was a little infection but she insisted there was nothing to be done and all was ok.  i have tried to google it but i keep getting told about bumblefoot which is not what izzabella has so i was just wondering if it sounded familiar to you or have seen it on other guineas?

thank you,
kerri

Answer
Hi Kerri,

The only time I have noticed brown things on a piggy's foot is when he or she has trodden on a poo or pellet, which has got stuck into their skin. Try soaking the foot in warm water to see if the extra toe disappears!

Other than this, I can't really suggest anything else other than taking her to a specialist small animal or exotic pet vet, who will be more interested and competent than the vet you've already tried.

You're right though; it doesn't sound like bumblefoot at all, so don't worry, especially if it doesn't seem to cause her any discomfort.

Good luck and if you solve the problem, please let me know.

Best wishes,
Jenny.