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Guinea Pigs ... Feet problems

21 14:23:56

Question

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The text above is a follow-up to ...
sulfur based drugs:  do you have a name and can I get it at a drugstore.  
-----Question-----
Good Morning and I hope you can help me (her).  My daughter had this guinea pig who is about four years old.  I call her momma san.  The other day while cleaning her cage we noticed that she seemed to be limping so we took her out and checked her.  I pulled off her foot what appeared to be one of her droppings (dried) and she bled like crazy (which we stopped).  Both her front feet seem to be swollen with what looks like dried feces but isn't.  What can I do for her?  Can I use peroxide, tee tree oil, neosporin or some other form of cleaner/antibiotic?  Thank you.  Kim
-----Answer-----
She most likely has a severe infection of the foot pads, you can use iodine to clean it off, but the best thing to do would be take her to the vet to get antibiotics, when the skin is not broken you can use triple antibiotic ointment, but otherwise sulfur based drugs will need to be used to avoid toxicity to the guinea pig. Is she kept on metal bars? Often metal bars in rabbit-like cages can cause a condition called bubble foot, in which the feet get swollen and infected. She could have also got something lodged in her feet if sharp bedding is used. The best thing to do would be take her to the vet to get antibiotics, but until then clean her feet with iodine, and do not force any material off the pads, just clean it. Let me know if you have  any more questions.
Brittany

Answer
Topical antibiotics used on Guinea Pigs can only be obtained through a vet, unless you have a prescription for it and have some at home. Dermisol could be used, it will remove any dead tissue and promote healing of the skin. Panolog cream can also be used, it contains steriods, neomycin, thiostrepton, and an anti-fungal medication, it treats inflammation and dry skin areas. Vetsovate can also be used, it also contains steriods and antibiotic to help reduce inflammation and cure infection. You can try to use hydrocortisone and neomycin (triple antibiotic cream), but it really sounds like seriod preparations would be helpful in her case.
Brittany