My guinea pig has a foot cut. Is it bumblefoot or just an injury?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Small Animal | Guinea Pig | Male | unneutered
Hi, I cut my 1 year old Guinea pigs nails anout 2-3 weeks ago and today while I was doing another trim I noticed a cut on the side of his foot. I was just wondering if it looked like bumble foot or if it was just a simple cut from running around on the lawn.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on May 23rd, 2020
It could be the start of bumble foot. Be sure that his cage is softly bedded and he is not standing on hard surfaces. I just recommend you try this Vetericyn Spray Gel on the affected are a couple times per day until healed. https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-plus-antimicrobial-wound-and-skin-hydrogel-for-pets
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on June 3rd, 2017
If the cut is small, you can use a clean wash cloth to gentle clean the area and keep it free of any debris. Keeping an eye on the spot and keeping it clean can help it to heal up without becoming infected. If it appears infected (oozing debris, smelly, etc), doesn't heal up, or is bothersome to Luigi, then bringing him to a vet is best so it can be looked at and treated with antibiotics.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
One of the feet of my guinea pig seems to be swollen. He's walking and running but with dragging that left hind foot. The vet has prescribed to give 5 drops of Sporidex (cepholexin oral suspension), Melonex (meloxicam oral suspension) and Polybion (v
Thank you for submitting your question regarding Percy. A swollen foot in a guinea pig can be due to a condition known as bumble foot. This is a potentially serious condition that is an infection in the foot. The infection can unfortunately spread to the bone. I would continue to give the medications prescribed by your veterinarian. It should be fine to cleanse the paw with warm water as well. Make sure he is not being housed on wire flooring as this can contribute to the condition. I hope this information helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello. I think that my guinea pig has pododermatitis. What should we do about that? Is it deadly?
Pododermatitis is a condition where the skin of the paws is infected. Molly can show signs such as ulceration, bleeding, and swelling of the feet. This condition is extremely painful and can be brought on by improper cage flooring, compounded with being over weight. Molly may need oral antibiotics, which can be prescribed by her vet. In the meantime, you can make sure she has nice soft bedding, keep her cage as clean as possible, keep her feet clean, and apply SSD (silver sulfadiazene) ointment to Molly's feet. I hope this helps and that all is well!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Can we use Betadine solution to cure mild bumblefoot in Guinea pig....... If so how can it be used and how much amount should be used?
Yes you can use Betadine solution (not the scrub). You will want to mix it with tap water until it is a light iced tea color. Don't use it straight. Chlorhexidine solution would be better to use in my opinion. Be aware that this is not an easy thing to cure and it will take a long time. I recommend soaking the feet with with either chlorhexidine or betadine, drying the foot and applying Neosporin twice daily. Continue the soaks until the ulcerations are gone, but continue the ointment until completely healed. I suggest bedding on towels and changing it daily. If he is in a wire cage you need to take him out of it immediately. Hope this helps. Best wishes.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Luigi has a cut on his back foot, and I don't know what to do. He doesn't limp or show any signs of pain, but guinea pigs have a good way of hiding their pain. What should I do?
If the cut is small, you can use a clean wash cloth to gentle clean the area and keep it free of any debris. Keeping an eye on the spot and keeping it clean can help it to heal up without becoming infected. If it appears infected (oozing debris, smelly, etc), doesn't heal up, or is bothersome to Luigi, then bringing him to a vet is best so it can be looked at and treated with antibiotics.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My guinea pig is limping and carrying her front left leg, and I was wondering what it could be or what I can do at home to help? She's still walking around and she's eating and drinking like normal and everything. We don't have a vet that takes guine
Check her foot for swelling or redness. She may have an infection (bumblefoot) which would account for the symptoms you are seeing. It happens when guinea pigs are kept on a wire bottom cage. Dirty bedding can also complicate it, especially if she develops a small wound on her foot. You don't necessarily need a vet that specializes in pocket pets. A local vet should be able to diagnose and dispense antibiotics. If this is not possible, try foot soaks in a dilute chlorhexidine or Betadine solution. You don't need much, just enough for her to stand. Soak daily, dry thoroughly and keep her on paper towels until she heals. Change bedding daily or more often if necessary.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
hi I have a pet chinchilla and he has ever got really bad back feet I am not sure if it is dry skin or blisters thank you
I am sorry to hear about Herbert. He is a cutie. It looks like he could have a case of what we call "bumblefoot" or pododermatitis. This can be a result of living on a hard flooring surface (such as wire floor) or dirty substrate. He will need a visit with a vet to assess the severity of the infection in the skin. Some cases can be treated topically or with bandaging but some cases need oral antibiotics for treatment as well. Until you are able to get an appointment, he should be placed on soft substrate such as Carefresh paper bedding and it should be kept very clean to decrease chance of the condition worsening.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My guinea pig isn’t getting up to walk around or eat or drink water. When he does walk he lifts one of his feet weird like a limp.
If Nibbles will allow, look at the affected foot. Check for redness, swelling or bruising. This can be an indication of 'bumble foot' which is a serious infection. Check for overgrown toenails as well.
Keep the cage clean, changing the bedding daily if needed.
Check his teeth as well for overgrowth or misalignment. If everything appears "normal" , have him physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose illness or injury.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Just adopted a Guinea pig, was told he had a "bad toe" , nails were never trimmed. I trimmed all the nails with no problem, but after that he bumped that bad area and it opened up . This happened last night and so far I am soaking in hibiclens and E
Hi. First, thanks for taking such good care of Ralph! It sounds like you’re doing a great job trying to fix a problem you were handed. The soaking and topical dressing sounds good and should help. However, the hanging scab of tissue there is likely to get caught on things again or trap debris in the wound. It needs to be removed. It would be best to remove it with some local anesthetic for pain reliever and also in a controlled environment where it can be cleaned and bleeding can be well controlled. Also, pododermatitis (infection and inflammation of the feet) can extend into the bones and can be hard to control without interventions like surgery and medications like antibiotics and pain medication. Therefore, a trip to the veterinarian is really the best thing for Ralph at this stage. Check AEMV.org to find an exotic mammal vet near you. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Dr. Mariya Gugel replied to my last question and I'm hoping she answers this too. I am not able to take Dobby to the vet right now, the closest vet to me that will take a rat is hours away. I am looking for advice/help/ideas i could do at home for hi
From these photos, there is definitely some swelling, and possible ulceration. These are definitely signs consistent with bumblefoot, also known as pododermatitis. This is typically caused by increased pressure on the feet and results in bleeding and pain. This can unfortunately spread to the tissues such as muscles and tendons below, so I still recommend having Dobby looked at by a vet, just in case surgery or pain medication is necessary. Because the condition is caused by pressure on the feet, I recommend making sure that Dobby has soft, and very clean bedding as dirty bedding can cause an infection. You should avoid scratchy materials for bedding. Vetericyin ointment is okay for cleaning the area, you can also apply SSD (silver sulfadiazene) ointment to the area after cleaning. Dobby should definitely visit a vet if the condition continues to get worse over the next few days. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
My boyfriend and I just recently adopted 2 adult male guinea pigs. Zeke and Cinnabon. We noticed while trying to trim their nails that their feet were very red and kind of puffy. We are unsure if this is a concern or of this is the way they’re suppos
Hello, Guinea pigs can develop pododermatitis, or infections on the bottom of the feet, from standing on hard or wire surfaces. It's difficult to tell from the picture if the feet are abnormal or not. Check all four feet on both of the pigs to check for swellings, flaking, or changes in color. These are signs they need to be seen by a vet. Guinea pigs are very skittish prey animals, and it can take some time to earn their trust. Avoid loud noises or sudden movements. Spending time near them and being still, such as when reading or watching tv, can help them get used to being around you. Here is an article on guinea pig behavior that may help you better understand their social needs: https://lafeber.com/vet/behavior-basics-guinea-pig/ I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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