How do I safely use Betadine to treat my guinea pig's bumblefoot?

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

Most of the oral meds are on prescription and should be discussed with your local veterinarian. Disinfection of the skin may be achieved at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

I am sorry that this is happening to Lucy. Pododermatitis (foot inflammation) can be very serious in rabbits, so I am glad that you are planning to get Lucy to the vet as soon as possible. Until her visit, I would recommend that you house Lucy on towels, fleeces, or something that can be easily cleaned and will not stick to her feet. For cleaning, I would recommend using saline solution without any additives. This will help to remove any debris that may be present on the area, but won't hurt any of the tissue underneath. You should be able to purchase saline at a drug store. I hope that helps, and I hope that Lucy feels better soon!

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!

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!

I am so sorry for the delay in answering your question. The best thing you can do for a wound at home is to keep it clean. Clean the cage out completely. Make sure there is soft, clean bedding in the cage at all times, which means you need to replace the bedding material daily while the sore is present. Most pharmacies will have Betadine. Get some water and add a few drops of butadiene so that it looks like tea. Then submerge the affected foot into the liquid. Try to keep it wet for a minute or so if he will tolerate it. Then gently pat it dry with a clean towel. You can take a picture and submit it with a question to the forum, and one of us can try to further advise you. Again the best thing you can do at this point is to be sure to keep it clean. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for reaching out about Henry. Bumblefoot is not common in hamsters unless severely overweight. Provide soft substrate, reduce weight if obese through proper nutrition and exercise. Hydrogen peroxide should not be continued as it indiscriminately kills cells, bacteria but also healing cells. Topical 100% aloe vera has anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties and should not be harmful if ingested. A veterinary visit can assist with assessment and prescription of proper medications. Good luck.