Pododermatitis is a life-threatening ulcerative infection affecting the paws and / or toes of guinea pigs. It can be caused by several factors, including being overweight, nails that are too long, poor hygiene, or a wire cage floor. Once affected by the disease, the guinea pig must be examined by the vet. However, there are also some treatments you can do at home to manage the problem.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Treating Pododermatitis with Thorough Cage Management
Step 1. Create a soft base
Since rough surfaces can cause injury, you should set up a smooth floor to help your little rodent get over the infection. Wire mesh or plastic based cages that have protruding elements and other rough floors are all dangerous to your pet's paws. In particular, those of wire mesh are the main culprits of this disease.
- The best floor is the solid one, made up of a single piece. Look for a new cage that has an appropriate floor, or find a base or board that you can fit into the one you already have.
- The best materials are canvas, plastic or even a metal plate. You can also find a specifically designated base for your guinea pig's cage.
Step 2. Clean the cage more frequently
The proliferation of bacteria can cause more infections. Therefore, cleaning your little friend's house more often can reduce the chances of him getting pododermatitis, as well as helping him heal if he's already sick. Try to sanitize the cage at least once a week. To proceed accurately you must remove the animal.
- Remove the guinea pig and dispose of the old substrate in a bag. Have a small pet-safe disinfectant handy, which you can find for sale in specialty stores. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water.
- Wash thoroughly with soap and water. You can use dish soap, but you should keep a bottle dedicated specifically for this purpose. You can leave particularly difficult areas to soak in vinegar and scrub them with a toothbrush.
- Disinfects. Spray a disinfectant product, making sure to treat the entire cage. Leave it to act to optimize the sanitizing effect. When finished, rinse well, making sure to remove all the disinfectant.
- Use a very diluted solution of bleach to disinfect the cage once a month (one part bleach and twenty parts water). Make sure you always rinse with great care, so as not to leave any trace of chemical product.
Step 3. Choose a softer substrate
Sometimes, pododermatitis can be caused by too hard a material. One option is VetBed, which you can find online or at top pet stores.
- It may happen that the guinea pig does not appreciate a softer substrate; for this reason you should first put some in a corner of the cage, to see if they like it.
- Try to arrange it in a slightly thicker layer than usual.
Step 4. Keep the floor dry
If the substrate is wet, the paws become wet, the skin becomes soft and the risk of injury increases. Cuts on the skin are an open door to infection.
- You should change the substrate more often, especially where the animal fulfills its physiological needs and under the bowl or water bottle.
- Check wet areas once a day. Remove the damp material, blot the base underneath with paper towels and add more clean substrate.
Part 2 of 3: Treating Pododermatitis with Home Remedies
Step 1. Trim the guinea pig's nails
Although this is a basic procedure to be done once a month, it is even more important when the animal is sick. Long nails can sometimes cause infection.
- You can use regular human nail clippers, although you should get a specific pair for your little friend. If you wish, you can also use the animal-specific guillotine model. However, since these types of nail clippers are suitable for dogs and cats, those for human use remain perhaps the most suitable models for the nails of small rodents.
- To make the procedure easier, ask someone to hold the animal still while you trim its nails. If you can't find anyone, you can distract the guinea pig with a carrot or some other treat.
- Another option is to hold the pet against your chest with its chest facing out. Put one hand under his stomach, while using the other to immobilize one leg at a time.
- Trim your nails vertically, rather than horizontally. Pay attention to the live dermis present, which supplies blood to the nail. You should be able to see this easily when your specimen's nails are light in color; if they are dark, aim the light of a flashlight. Make sure there is no live dermis. If your nails do bleed by mistake, use a hemostat to stop the bleeding. Corn starch, flour and talc are also good to stop the blood.
Step 2. Increase your vitamin C intake
In some cases, the small rodent's diet is deficient in this precious vitamin. In turn, the body does not produce enough collagen, thus aggravating the problem of pododermatitis. Supplementing your diet with more vitamin C can help eradicate the infection.
- Check her food. You should provide him with at least 10 mg of vitamin C per day.
- Supplement your diet with fresh fruit and vegetables. You should add these foods to your food, including vegetables like turnip greens, parsley, and kale, as well as other vegetables like green peppers, broccoli, and cabbage. You can also feed him fruit that is rich in vitamin C, such as oranges or strawberries.
- If your guinea pig is deficient in vitamin C, you can give them a quarter of a chewable, flavored vitamin C tablet. Choose the 100mg supplements, which you can break into four 25mg portions. Give him a 25 mg dose twice a day for one week.
Step 3. Put the little rodent on a diet
Overweight can be a factor responsible for pododermatitis. If your little friend is too fat, you need to cut back on his meals a bit. By decreasing your calorie intake, you should be able to lose weight.
Step 4. Consider giving him home "foot baths"
Some people claim that soaking the guinea pig's paws in an emollient solution can alleviate the problem. You must monitor the animal during treatment, as the medicinal solution may get into its eyes. Ask the vet who prescribes a protective eye ointment.
- To prepare the foot bath, pour the soothing solution into a small cup and hold the guinea pig as you soak its paws.
- Make a mixture with 120ml of water and a pinch of Epsom salt. Pour a small amount into a cup and proceed with the treatment two or three times a day.
- Try a povidone iodine solution, such as Betadine. Your vet can provide you with this medication, indicating the correct dilution percentage for the rodent.
Part 3 of 3: Go to the vet
Step 1. Take your pet to the vet
He is able to better diagnose the problem afflicting your little friend and can help you choose the best treatment.
Choose a doctor who is experienced in small animals such as the guinea pig
Step 2. Be prepared for the medical examination
The vet will carefully examine the little patient and for this purpose he will have to perform some procedures, such as cutting his hair; he will probably treat any injuries and cut his nails.
You may also have him perform some laboratory tests to determine the type of infection
Step 3. Ask your vet about antibiotic treatment
The doctor can choose one of the different treatments. For example, he can wash the lesions with an antibiotic solution or he can inject an antibiotic directly into the infected site.
In addition to these drugs, you can also administer an anti-inflammatory
Step 4. Soak the small rodent's legs in an antibiotic solution
This is another option for treating your friend's infection. Although your vet knows which treatment is best for the rodent, you can usually use a small container, such as the lid of a vial of tablets, and soak the guinea pig's paws in the solution several times a day.
- Always watch your pet during treatment to make sure it is the most suitable remedy and to prevent it from accidentally putting the medicine in your eyes or mouth.
- Ask your vet for some advice on how to do the "foot bath".
Step 5. Apply topical antibiotic ointment and bandage
An antibiotic medication may need to be applied, just like you would a cut on your skin. Your vet will show you the best way to proceed.
- Remember that the guinea pig should not ingest the drug; you must therefore use a minimal amount and then cover the wound. Remove excess medicine by cleaning the skin around the wound.
- Your doctor may also recommend that you bandage your pet's paws to help it heal. Ask me to show you the procedure before you leave the office.
Step 6. Give him an oral antibiotic or pain reliever
Your little friend may need these medications, although they are typically only used when pododermatitis is particularly severe or advanced. In conjunction with the antibiotic treatment, you should also give him probiotics. The easiest way to give him the medication orally is to use a syringe to insert the liquid solution. However, keep in mind that it is never a simple procedure.
- Try holding the guinea pig on its legs, wrapping your hand around its stomach. With the other hand, take his jaw quite firmly and firmly. The hand must be under his eyes.
- Push the syringe behind your front teeth. To succeed, you will need to access from the sides of the mouth and continue to insert the instrument into the mouth.
- You will understand when to stop because the guinea pig will start chewing the syringe. At that point, you can press the plunger, slowly releasing the contents and checking that the pet continues to chew. If not, move the syringe a little to get him to chew again. Chewing motion is important, because it means that you are ingesting the drug.
- You can also use the same technique to give him a pill. However, instead of using a syringe, get a hemostat, which you can easily find at medical supply stores. Place the tablet in the vascular clamp, so that it pushes the drug down your throat, a bit like when you insert the syringe.
Step 7. Be aware of the last possible treatment
If the pododermatitis has gotten much worse, your vet may recommend amputating the paw. Although this is an extreme procedure, it can still save your pet's life.
