Post by Dawn - Admin on Sept 15, 2006 11:01:54 GMT
The feet
The guinea pig has four toes on each foreleg and three toes on each hind leg. Each toes has an associated pad. Each forefoot has a main pad and a pronounced stopper pad. Each hind foot also has a main pad and a stopper pad which extends along the volar aspect of the metacarpus to the hook joint.
Overgrown toenails
The nails of some guinea pigs never need trimming, whilst other require frequent attention, particularly on the front feet where they grow right round under and into the foot. By the very nature of the soft bedding on which they are kept, this problem is fairly common.
Treatment:
Regular nail trimming to just below the quick, which is clearly visible if the nail is white. If the quick is accidentally cut the end can be cauterized with a styptic (e.g. potassium permanganate).
If the nail has actually grown into the foot the open wound should be cleansed with a saline solution and Dermisol cream or a wound powder applied topically.
The guinea pig has four toes on each foreleg and three toes on each hind leg. Each toes has an associated pad. Each forefoot has a main pad and a pronounced stopper pad. Each hind foot also has a main pad and a stopper pad which extends along the volar aspect of the metacarpus to the hook joint.
Overgrown toenails
The nails of some guinea pigs never need trimming, whilst other require frequent attention, particularly on the front feet where they grow right round under and into the foot. By the very nature of the soft bedding on which they are kept, this problem is fairly common.
Treatment:
Regular nail trimming to just below the quick, which is clearly visible if the nail is white. If the quick is accidentally cut the end can be cauterized with a styptic (e.g. potassium permanganate).
If the nail has actually grown into the foot the open wound should be cleansed with a saline solution and Dermisol cream or a wound powder applied topically.
