I need advice on bumble foot.

[jessielynn]

Okay. So the breeder I buy all of my piggies off of emailed me tonight. She's in the process of a cross province move She left her guinea pigs in the care of someone who she's known forever and though she could trust. She's been gone for almost 4 months. She came back this week to discover that not only were the pigs overfed in her absence and a few are very, very overweight but some were moved to the wire bottom hutches without her consent. This has resulted in 4 of her sows, 3 boars and a litter of 5 week old babies developing bumblefoot. They aren't in a situation to take them with them to care for them. The person who was caring for them no longer is, and my sister is going out twice a day to look after them. She doesn't have time to deal with the bumble foot though. 


She's approached me about taking them until they're healed and everyone is good. While I've done my reading and think it's something I'm ready to tackle, I've enevr personally dealt with it. These are some of her best breeding stock so unless I'm sure it's something I can handle I'm not doing it. 

Has anyone ever dealt with it? If so do you have any advice or helpful hints? 

My biggest issue with it is that I don't have enough room for 4 more huge cages in my house so they would be in 48x24 inch rabbit cages temporarily until I can set up heating in my sun room and put everyone out there. 


I'm sorry if this causes a debate. She is not an irresponsible breeder in any way shape or form. She had no idea this was going on. 

[jessielynn]

It's not to the point of bone infections or the risk of losing limbs, she said she moved them out there about 6 weeks ago. But it's not pretty and needs to be dealt with asap. She has an apt with her vet to come out to the house on tuesday. She's been given baytril and advised to do epsom salts soaks 2x a day. They're also all put on fleece for the time being, being washed and every second day and making sure no debris in left for them to step on. NObody has had a fever thus far. However she's only been home for 2 days.

[Kayleigh]

Caught early its easy enough to treat.

you dont want them in huge spaces at first so dont worry about cage space.

How are the feet looking? are they just red swollen and sore?

Bathing in hibiscrub/warm water has helped pigs iv helped treat. Twice a day and on the worst ones a little sudocrem applied to the feet too.

Epsom salts iv never used but dont see why they wouldnt help either.

Lots of good veg, hay and cut back on pellets if they are overweight.

Kayleigh

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[jessielynn]

That's what I thought from reading. Sore and red some have open sores but not bad and I don't think there is any infection with the exception of one boar. The foot doesn't look too bad on him either though. She's cut them back to an eighth of a cup with the exception of one pregnant right now.

[jessielynn]

I think there is a chance that it was caused by dirty cages rather then wire as of right now. I went to take another look at them toda and I realized that the hutches are 8x4 feet but only 4x2 or 4x3 is wire. If they had somewhere to sit that wasn't wire I don't feel they would spend enough time on the wire to cause this. L

[jessielynn]

Also, I'm ordering hibiscrub. Do you think one 500ml bottle will be enough?

[jessielynn]

sorry, one 250ml bottle. It's almost $50.00 plus shipping so I really hope so lol

[Kayleigh]

Yes you water it down, its used like handsoap so not much needed at all. It should last a while.

Bumblefoot takes months and months to take hold, and is often caused by wire/harsh cage bases not generally dirty cages.

Kayleigh

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[jessielynn]

I know that it's usually wire but can happen with dirty hutches I thought.. Man, I ordered it now lets see how long it takes to come

[Kayleigh]

Ohh it probably occur with dirty cages too im sure ... but it would take months on end to cause severe bumblefoot.



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