Pododermatitis commonly referred to as “Bumblefoot”, is characterized by chronic inflammation of the footpads which can progress to open wounds, bone infection, or systemic infection. Staphylococcus aureus is commonly isolated but is likely a secondary infection of the primary wound. Obesity, hard or abrasive flooring or substrates, overgrown toenails, and poor sanitation predispose animals to pododermatitis. Guinea pigs with vitamin C deficiencies are also more prone to this condition.
Common symptoms include redness, swelling, blistering, ulceration, scabbing, discharge, lameness, decreased activity, loss of appetite, depression, and weight loss. Clinical signs are classified into grades.
Grade I involves inflammation of the epidermis and superficial dermis. Grade II extends to subcutaneous tissue. While grade III extends to deep fascia and Grade IV extends into and involves underlying bone.
Your veterinarian may recommend radiographs if suspecting bone involvement and bacterial culture if it appears badly infected.
Treatment for this condition can sometimes be prolonged and it may take weeks for the patient to recover. The first step is to address any underlying causes. It is important to improve care by switching to soft or paper-cased beddings (such as Care Fresh), improving hygiene, and changing the diet to reduce obesity. Guinea pigs should be receiving proper vitamin C supplementation. Without these changes, the resolution of the problem is unlikely.
When it comes to addressing the sores themselves, the wounds need to require debridement and cleaning by your veterinarian. After this initial treatment, your veterinarian may teach you how to continue cleaning the wounds at home. After disinfection, a topical anti-bacterial cream is often prescribed for topical treatment at home. Cold laser therapy can also help these sores heal faster. Your pet will also be prescribed appropriate antibiotics and pain control medications.
While treatment is prolonged, the prognosis is fair in most cases. Lesions with bone infection have a worse prognosis. Pododermatitis may cause permanent changes in the foot and these changes can predispose to future pododermatitis and lifelong management may be necessary.
We recommend a recheck examination every 7-14 days for wound evaluation and cleansing until healed.
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