My guinea pig has foot spurs. How can I safely remove or treat them?

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach! The first thing I see is that Ella needs her nails trimmed desperately. If you don't know how to do it yourself you will need to get her to a vet so they can do it for you and teach you how. You can also find YouTube videos on how to do this. The second thing is that her foot is very red/irritated and it looks like she has fecal material stuck to it. I suspect she has a skin infection. This should not happen unless she is sitting in a dirty cage, has incorrect bedding and/or a cage with a wire bottom. I suggest you review your husbandry carefully to make sure you are doing everything correctly. The best bedding is Care Fresh. https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=care%20fresh%20pet%20bedding&typeahead=care%20fresh While you are waiting to take her to a vet, I suggest you soak her feet in a dilute betadine solution for 5 minutes twice a day. After soaking, dry the feet very well before putting her back into a clean cage. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-First-Aid-Antiseptic-Topical-Solution-8-Oz/10324543 Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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

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!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You can try to get someone to help you clip her nails by holding her in the process. If that does not work, it would be best to have this done at your veterinarian's office as they are experts in restraining and making sure that is done appropriately. Best of luck!

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 PetCoach.

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach! This looks like a ringworm lesion to me. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1800&aid=2494 You can try using a topical anti-fungal medication like Clotrimazole to see if it helps. Apply a thin layer to the lesion twice a day. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Antifungal-1-Clotrimazole-USP-Cream-1-oz-tube/950932820 Remember two important things: 1. It can take weeks to months for ringworm to resolve. If you are not making much progress with the cream after a couple weeks I would take her to the vet. They can give you an oral medication to use that may be more effective. 2. Ringworm can be contagious to people so wash your hands thoroughly after handling her. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

It could be anything from local infection or inflammation to a benign or malignant mass. Monitor it for rapid change or growth. If necessary have Snowflake examined by your veterinarian. A fine needle aspirate can be done in the clinic to collect samples for pathology. This may provide a definitive diagnosis after which the appropriate treatment can be administered.