Beth's toe in bandage

[Dawn - Admin]

Tonight Beth 2's toe is in a bandage. Last week she caught her toe nail and pulled it half off. I had to apply pressure for about 10 mins to get it to stop bleeding. There was a lot of blood.

I removed the toenail so that it didn't get caught again and left it open to dry out and heal.

Well tonight I noticed she was limping a little so I checked ity and found it was very swollen infact twice the size as usual and very red.

I thought how can I keep it clean and help the swelling go down. I decided to wrap it so I spent a good ten mins or so getting it on her foot as she kept moving and tight enough but not too tight so it didn't fall straight off.





I also started giving her some baytril just incase it had become infected.

Has anyone else ever tried to wrap a claw and if so how did they manage to keep it on?

Dawn

[rayfay]

Dawn you should definatly talk to Laura about this. She dealt with Charlie and his foot for I think it was like 3 months or something. She has a big long post about it on the cavycare forum. Poor baby. I hope her foot is better soon.

[Dawn - Admin]

Oh yes I forgot about Charlie's nurse hehe I will ask her. Thanks Rach

[gpmum2]

Aww bless - she still looks so cute even with a poorly leg.

Yes Laura nad Charlie jumped to my mind whenI read your post Dawn. She must be a dab hand at putting bandanges on the feet.

I hope Beth get's better quickly - hopefully the Baytril will sort the swelling out quickly.

Karen

[Dawn - Admin]

Thanks Karen I hope so.

[kayjay]

Aww bless her, I hope the baytril sorts out the potential infection

She's a lovely piggy, beautiful big eyes

[paulag]

Poor bubble - one of my guinea pigs, Charm, did a similar thing a few years back.

The weather was really wet and I'd just been making sure that they came out for their food everyday and looked well so I didn't notice until it looked quite sore. It resulted in me moving them indoors even in summer and taught me to pick up and check all my animals every day

The vet gave me some antibiotics and it healed up nicely, but although he lived a several more years happily in an indoor run the toenail never did grow back properly.

Paula

[ccc]

It sounds like that toe's infected Dawn. A course or Baytril should do the trick in clearing it up.

Not only have I too much experience of wrapping piggie's toes, but Charlie also ripped his front toenail off about 2 years ago! It grew back after 6 months so Beth 2's should too. Hopefully I can explain this well enough to help you out.

Ok, bandaging. Always keep it as thin and light as possible - you'll have a Thumper piggie if it's too heavy (Charlie always thumped his foot about for at least 10 minutes the first couple of months, it must feel weird to them). Keeping it thin means that it's not too constricted or airtight. If possible, go with an open-toed bandage. As she isn't attacking her toes as Charlie did, it should be fine. What you don't want is to wrap infected toes up completely unless it's really necessary.

Plenty of tape and making sure the bandage is past the 'elbow' are the two important factors to getting it to stay on. Just wrap the bandage firmly from toes to just over her elbow. Stick thin microporous tape around the bit of bandage just above her elbow - again not too tight but as firmly as possible. Securing it over the elbow stops the bandage slipping off.
Also stick tape around the middle, and around the bandage covering her toes.

If oyu do want to completely cover her toes, the best way is with a finger bandage. You know the ones oyu can get where you double it back to make an enclosed end? That worked perfectly for Charlie.
Just secure it above her elbow and that should be enough; you cna add another piece of tape aorund the middle if you want extra security. You can see how this type of bandage is like a boot:


As far as Beth 2 getting it off, you'll have to see how she goes. If she does get it off, make the tape just a little bit tighter when you re-dress her toes. When you tug the bandage it shoudl feel firm but not tight, and not get past her elbow.

[Dawn - Admin]

Awww... thanks so much Laura I will try doing ot that way. I tried tying it on but it didn't stay on very long. She didn't nibble it but it just worked it's way loose. I have put her on baytril so hopefully it will be ok in a few days.

[ccc]

How is Beth 2 doing, Dawn? Any improvement of the toe? Any luck getting the bandange to stay on?

[kallyuk]

poor Beth hope she is better soon

[Dawn - Admin]

ccc said:

How is Beth 2 doing, Dawn? Any improvement of the toe? Any luck getting the bandange to stay on?

Yes it's much better now thanks Laura, the swelling is going down and there is no redness

[Niki]

admin said:

ccc said:

How is Beth 2 doing, Dawn? Any improvement of the toe? Any luck getting the bandange to stay on?

Yes it's much better now thanks Laura, the swelling is going down and there is no redness

I'm so pleased she's getting better Dawn.

Would the finger (or fingers) from a cotton glove work as a bandage?

Niki x

[Dawn - Admin]

I suppose they would but I am leaving it open now and it has dried up a treat

[Niki]

admin said:

I suppose they would but I am leaving it open now and it has dried up a treat

Great News Dawn, i'm so pleased for you & Beth2 ;D

Niki x

[josie]

i'm glad she's better Dawn.

[gpmum2]

Dawn I am glad Beth is responding to treatment.

Karen

[rayfay]

I'm glad she's doing better Dawn!

[aimeeshannon]

Hi, my beth is doing great now Its has really healed up nicely.

Aimee
xxx

[Niki]

aimeeshannon said:

Hi, my beth is doing great now Its has really healed up nicely.

Aimee
xxx

Hi Aimee, I'm so pleased to hear she's better

Niki x

[badger]

Hi, really pleased alls well now : )

[rayfay]

I'm glad she's all better Aimee