My guinea pig has missing toes, no injury. Is a vet visit needed?

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!

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.

I am so sorry that Marshmallow may be injured. Make sure he has soft bedding, but not too deep. Remove any climbing perches or obstacles ( if any ) that may make it difficult to maneuver around his enclosure. As long as he does not have any difficulty reaching his food

George is very cute. If he is walking abnormal it is possible he had some type of trauma in her enclosure. I have seen guinea pigs hurt themselves on toys and different things in the cage. I would recommend taking him to a vet for a good physical exam. IT is important to make sure nothing is broken or infected which might cause this type of walking hope that helps

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Honey. I see the area around the black mark has some red too, which make me wonder if he could have an injury or may have an infection causing both. I would have it checked out by a vet to be safe, as I can't say for sure without seeing him in person if it's normal or not. I hope this helps!

Thanks for reaching out about Chloe and including photos. A trauma (fracture, dislocation) would still be primary concerns and a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Even though using the leg to scratch, this does not rule out a fracture, as could be the metatarsals and still allow the upper leg to move. A warm compress can be applied for several minutes to see if that improves the swelling. Scurvy typically affects older animals and multiple joints. Good luck.

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