Meet the gang that started it all! Desiree and Alison's guinea pigs! The Gallery Meet Our Piggies! Befores & Afters Before King After King Before King 1/2 Before Piggy Smalls After Piggy Smalls Before Piggy Smalls 1/2 Spring Photoshoot To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Meet Our Piggy Clients

The Piggy Place: Guinea pig mobile services including nail trims, boarding, pet sitting, and baths in the Los Angeles surrounding area. Mobile Grooming & Pet Sitting Welcome to The Piggy Place, we are so excited that you found us! Guinea Pig Grooming, Boarding & Pet Sitting in Los Angeles The Piggy Place provides gentle, personalized care for guinea pigs throughout Burbank, the San Fernando Valley, and the greater Los Angeles area. We understand taking your piggy to the vet can be a stressful task and there are many factors to consider. They are sensitive little ones that can easily heat stroke, or get too stressed and become ill. We can make nail trims and baths a smoother process for you and your fur babies without going to the vet! We are experienced in handling a variety of guinea pigs, whether they are confident or skittish, and offer grooming services that will work around you and your piggy's individual needs. We aim to provide a gentle, calm grooming session that gets your piggy looking, feeling, and smelling great Remember: Adopt, Don't Shop!! OUR SERVICES Meet Our Piggy Clients

Personalized, 24/7 guinea pig boarding in Los Angeles, CA. Quiet, comfortable care with experienced monitoring, medication support, daily updates, and lots of piggy love. A Home Away From Home for Your Piggies (Pictured is Goya & Worf - two of our beloved boarding regulars) Our boarding is designed to feel less like a traditional boarding facility and more like a little home away from home. Your guinea pig will stay in Desiree’s apartment, where they receive quiet, personalized, around-the-clock care alongside our own herd of 12 guinea pigs. Guinea pig care is already a huge part of our everyday life, so your piggy isn’t just being checked on once or twice a day. There are always eyes and ears nearby. This is especially helpful for guinea pigs who need medications, extra monitoring, or have a history of health concerns. We have years of hands-on experience caring for our own guinea pigs through a variety of health and dietary issues, and we’re comfortable providing medication and attentive care when needed. Boarding rates: $10 per piggy per night. This price includes everything listed below :) Ready to book? Email us at thepiggyplace23@gmail.com or reach out through our contact page! What’s Included Each stay includes a 4x2 C&C cage for up to two guinea pigs, with larger accommodations available for bigger groups. We provide water bottles, pellets, fleece bedding, hideys, and a well-rounded vegetable diet. Our vegetables are carefully researched and fed in appropriate amounts. After dealing with our own fair share of diet-related health issues, we take nutrition very seriously and are mindful about what, how much, and how often our piggies are fed. We’re also happy to accommodate your piggy’s usual setup. Some families prefer to bring their own fleece, hideys, or bedding to help their piggy feel even more at home. Shavings and other bedding preferences can be accommodated as well. Lots of Love & Lots of Check-Ins We know how hard it can be to leave your piggy in someone else’s care. That’s why we’re happy to provide as many updates as you’d like - including daily photos and videos! Whether you want a quick “they’re doing great” update or want to see every little thing they’re up to, we’re happy to keep you in the loop. We place a pet cam on their cage in the event anything pops up, we can pull the footage. And yes, there are plenty of daily snuggles… if your piggy consents, of course. Your piggy will also stay in a separate space from our own guinea pigs. This allows them to have their own comfortable space without the risk of their bond breaking being near our herd. Why Boarding With Us Is Different With a traditional pet sitter, your piggy may only be seen for a short visit once or twice a day. Here, they’re part of our day-to-day life. Because we have our own guinea pigs, we’re already tuned into the little things - appetite changes, behavior changes, unusual noises, bathroom habits, and all the other small details that can sometimes be easy to miss. We’re not just providing a place for your piggy to stay. We’re providing 24/7 care, attention, cuddles, monitoring, and a whole lot of guinea pig love. And because caring for guinea pigs is what we do every day, we’re often able to offer flexible availability when other boarding options may not. Our home is basically consumed by piggy care anyway… so we might as well have a few more little potatoes joining the party. Most importantly, we want you to feel completely comfortable leaving your piggy with us. We know they’re family, and we’ll treat them that way. Goya & Worf - two of our beloved boarding regulars There is no one I trust more with my guinea pigs! Desiree is a true expert & you can tell she cares about every pig as if they were her own. She goes so incredibly above and beyond, has even escorted our guinea pig to a successful emergency bladder stone surgery while we were out of town! Always top notch communication & sends the cutest photos/videos. Desiree’s has become our pigs’ second home & I know I never have to worry about them on her watch! Anna, Goya & Worf's Human

A place to gather more information about guinea pigs Looking to Adopt? There are so many great shelters and rescues with guinea pigs that need homes... Below is a list of a few rescues in California as well as other great rescues around the US! You can also google some rescues and shelters near you! Why adopt, and no t shop? Do you know about the current guinea pig crisis? There are guinea pigs flooding the shelters and rescues. Shelters are being forced to euthanize perfectly healthy pigs, or at least pigs with minor health concerns that can be easily treated but simply cannot be because of being understaffed, not having the resources or space, not having the finances, and even because of a lack of knowledge. There are many reasons for this. To list a few: ○ The Pandemic. During this time many people got pets because of the extra time they had to stay at home. However, not everyone does their research or considers what they will do if they aren't able to keep the pets, go back to work, or decide guinea pigs aren't for them. They are definitely NOT just easy, low maintenance, starter pets for kids. Now that the pandemic is over, an increase of abandonments and surrenders are occurring as people no longer can or want to care for their pets. ○ Lack of research. There is a dangerous misconception that guinea pigs are easy, low maintenance starter pets. The truth is, they can take a lot of work, just like any other pet, if not more. It takes patience to form a bond with them. Sometimes people don't realize that they have allergies to the hay or the piggies themselves. Many people impulse buy from pet stores with little to no research and do not consider the consequences. Pet stores often do not take returns and people are forced to abandon them. ○ Pet Stores. Pet stores are a big contributor to the current guinea pig crisis because of their lack of knowledge. We have seen and heard of SO many cases where people think they're buying 2 same-sex pigs from a pet store, and end up getting a male and female instead. Pet stores simply don't know what they are doing!!! This leads to them accidently breeding, and yes they will BREED continuously until they are separated! Many people don't realize this, keep them together, then end up with 10, 20, 30, 40+ guinea pigs, many of which are inbred, sick, and have other health concerns. Pet stores also provide a lot of misinformation and do not usually provide proper cages. Many pet store guinea pigs are also sick, due to mass breeding in inproper conditions. Pet stores have a small return window and will refuse to take back any babies that are accidently bred. Many first time owners get their first pig from a pet store before realizing the importance of rescuing, and that's okay! The important thing is that we all learn, grow, and help each other in order to help these little guys! Please help be a part of the solution and consider rescuing your next guinea pigs, or share this information with friends and family who are thinking about getting piggies themselves! Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue Los Angeles, CA Wee Companions San Diego, CA Southern CA Guinea Pig Rescue California Above & Beyond Buena Park, CA Wheek Care Guinea Pig Rescue New Kensington, PA Grandma's Animals Pulaski County, AR Little Buddies Refuge Philadelphia, PA Connecticut Humane Society Connecticut Guinea Pig Sanctuary Sailsbury, MA

We offer mobile grooming services for guinea pigs. Guinea pig nail trims, baths, and boarding/pet sitting. A list of our prices on each service that we offer in the Los Angeles area. Mobile Services Basic Wellness Check Pricing: ○ $30 flat rat e for one pig + $10 for each additional pig ○ Takes about 15 minutes (per pig) Inclu des: ○ Nail trim ○ Boar cleaning ○ Ear cleaning ○ Teeth check ○ Full body check (looking for any signs of odd lumps, ringworm, fungal feet, bumblefoot, mites, lice, or other health concerns that might require veterinary attention) . BOOK NOW Full Bath & Groom Pricing: ○ $50 flat rat e for one pig + $20 for each a dditional pig ○ Takes about 30 to 40 minutes (per pig) ○ + $5 Haircut *Please note: We prefer to use the sink in your home whenever possible, as guinea pigs tend to feel more comfortable and secure in their familiar surroundings. This helps make their experience safer, calmer, and a little less stressful. Inclu des: ○ A free post bath photo! (digital copy) ○ Full Wash (Shampoo & C onditioner) + Blow Dry ○ Wellness Check ○ P at Dry + Moisturizer (hairless) This service greatly depends on how dirty, hair y, and skittish your piggy is. For a full list of products we use and a detailed explanation of our process, please email us! BOOK NOW Pet Sitting Pricing: ○ 30 min Check-In: $30 ○ Whole day: Priced on a case by case basis. Additional fees may apply depending on intensity of care and attention needed. Add-Ons: ○ Spot Cleaning Cage: $10 ○ Full cage clean: $15 Inclu des: ○ Check-in: feeding hay, water, makin g sure piggy is doing well. ○ Whole Day Care: case by case basis. (Examples: around the clock care, administering meds, syringe feeding, wound care, etc.) ○ Spot Cleaning: Removing poops and old hay + refresh hay. ○ Full Clean: Full sanitization of cage, changing bedding/fleece, clean water, sanitize hides & removing wet/soiled hides. (Owner must provide fresh bedding/fleece) BOOK NOW DISCLAIMER: We are NOT veterinarians and do NOT provide medical care. We have experience in a variety of health concerns that affect guinea pigs after working in a rescue environment. We are able to refer you to a variety of resources and medical professionals that can help if we spot an issue you may not be aware of!

Learn a little bit about the owners of The Piggy Place! We offer personalized guinea pig care such as nail trims, wellness checks, baths, pet sitting, and boarding in the Los Angeles area. About Us Our Start Our Goal Our Dream Desiree Overton Co-Owner Hi, I'm Desiree. I’m the co-owner and co-founder of The Piggy Place, but my journey here started a little differently, in my hometown of Toledo, Ohio. Before guinea pigs completely took over my life, I was a full-time dance teacher and freelance photographer/videographer. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Film & Video and have always loved finding ways to combine my passion for photography and video with whatever I’m doing. In 2016, my husband and I moved to the City of Angels, and we’ve loved building our home and life here ever since. With Los Angeles having so much to offer, I tried my hand at a few different things, including traveling the country photographing dance competitions and even doing some background acting in television and movies, when in Rome, right? Then COVID hit, and like so many people, my life was suddenly filled with uncertainty. I decided to look for something a little more stable and began working at a pet store. After working my way into a management position, my attention turned toward the pet care department - and more specifically, the guinea pigs. That’s when my whole world changed. Although I had a guinea pig as a child, I didn’t remember nearly as much about their care as I thought I did. I just knew that something didn’t feel quite right about the way they were being cared for. So, I started researching. Then I researched some more. And then somehow, I became the person teaching my coworkers about guinea pigs. Before long, I had earned the nickname “the crazy guinea pig lady”, all in good fun, of course! And then there was Piggy Smalls. A customer returned him because he was supposedly “TOO LOUD.” Naturally, it was love at first sight. That little guy was the beginning of my deep dive into guinea pig care. I discovered my local guinea pig rescue and began learning even more through them. When a guinea pig arrived at the pet store in grave condition, I knew I couldn't just stand by and watch. I took him to the rescue, where they helped bring him back to health. That experience was a complete game changer for me. One thing led to another, and I eventually became the Operations Manager of that same rescue. Between my time working in pet care and my experience with the rescue, I gained an incredible amount of hands-on knowledge about guinea pig health, nutrition, rehabilitation, medications, behavior, and everyday care. I also started building my own little herd. Today, I have 11 guinea pigs of my own, and several of them have needed significant rehabilitation and extra medical care along the way. Helping them through those difficult periods and watching them become happy, healthy piggies has taught me more than I ever could have learned from a book. And somehow, what started with one “TOO LOUD” little guinea pig turned into an entire life centered around these tiny potatoes. That journey eventually led to The Piggy Place. Today, I get to combine everything I’ve learned with the things I’ve always loved, caring for animals, educating others, creating meaningful connections, and of course, taking approximately 4,000 photos and videos of guinea pigs. Through The Piggy Place, I’m able to provide personalized grooming, wellness care, pet sitting, and boarding for guinea pigs throughout our community. Our goal is to make every piggy feel safe, comfortable, and cared for while giving their humans the peace of mind that comes from knowing they’re in experienced hands. I know firsthand that guinea pigs aren't “just pets.” They have personalities, routines, preferences, and very strong opinions about vegetables. They’re family. And that’s exactly how we treat them here. Alison Klink Co-Owner Hi ya'll I'm Alison, the co-owner and co-founder of The Piggy Place. I grew up in Los Angeles, CA and spent some time in Lake Havasu, AZ. I have always been very drawn towards animals despite being raised in a Chilean household with my grandparents who didn't really care for them. Although I have a huge passion for animals, growing up my focus was on art and my education. At first I took some pre-vet classes but eventually decided to commit myself to one major, completely unrelated to animal care. I received a Bachelor's in Deaf Studies at CSUN and hope to go back to school become an interpreter, while working on animal rescue and care. I decided to pursue a job in animal rescue after hearing about my local guinea pig rescue needing help. I just showed up one day and asked for a job or to at least volunteer. Next thing I know I'm working with all kinds of animals, meeting amazing new people, and gaining so much knowledge and experience. I did not have much experience with guinea pigs until I started working at the guinea pig rescue. I learned SO much about so many different animals, including pigs, horses, and chickens! I quickly fell in love with guinea pigs and did everything I could to learn about their care and absorb as much information as possible. Having the opportunity to work so closely with other guinea pig experts and having access to hundreds of guinea pigs, I realized that there is so much misinformation out there and there is still so much to be learned about these little guys. I'm committed to researching more about guinea pigs and helping others learn about proper care. I'm grateful to now be a part of the guinea pig community and be a part of the much needed change! DISCLAIMER: We are NOT veterinarians and do NOT provide medical care. We have experience in a variety of health concerns that affect guinea pigs after working in a rescue environment. We are able to refer you to a variety of resources and medical professionals that can help if we spot an issue you may not be aware of! Our Start After working at our local rescue, we realized how much we truly loved working with guinea pigs and how important rescuing was to us. It's difficult seeing all the misinformation out there. Many people get their information from pet stores who often don't know the first thing about piggies, which leads to new owners providing improper care. It really motivated us to try and help do something about it by creating another resource for guinea pig owners to use. We started off making cute, fun Youtube videos of our own piggies and soon became inspired to think bigger. We've decided to create our own business and resources by providing grooming and pet sitting services. Our Goal Grooming your own piggy can be scary, especially for those not used to handling their piggies. We aim to rescue more guinea pigs, help teach people about proper guinea pig care, and share the valuable resources that we depend on for our own piggies! Currently, our goal is to provide grooming and pet sitting services in a way that makes the experience as pleasant and as stress-free as possible for owners and their piggies. Cutting nails, grooming, boar cleaning, even handling these little guys can be intimidating, especially for first time piggy owners. We don't want people to feel overwhelmed and give up, because so many of these little guys need loving families and homes right now. We hope to find a way to bring people a sense of comfort and confidence when caring for their piggy by sharing our experiences, research, past mistakes, and current knowledge, which is growing every da y. Our Dream Our goal doesn't stop at baths and nail clippings...We hope to eventually open our own boarding facility and rescue. As the popularity of guinea pigs continues to incr ease, so does the amount of guinea pigs being abandoned. So many rescues and shelters are struggling to keep up, and we want to aide in getting these piggies, especially those who were once given up on, a chance. We hope more and more people will continue to look to shelters and rescues when adopting guinea pigs, rather than relying on the "convenience" of pet stores who often give out sick piggies and are a major contributor to the problems guinea pigs are facing today. We take a lot of inspiration from others in the guinea pig community and are forever grateful for the resources and experience given to us by the rescue we worked at. They do their best to save as many lives as possible, and we want to help save even more!

Email us and book a service today! If you'd like to book a guinea pig nail trim or have any questions, reach out to us! Contact Us! E-mail thepiggyplace23@gmail.com Social Media: Email us or submit a form to book an appointment! First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

Learn what cages are best for guinea pigs and also what to avoid! Cages & Bedding Cages • Bedding • Hay Racks • Hidey/Houses • Water Bottles • Temperature Cage Standards Guinea pigs require a minimum of 8 sq ft. Most pet stores do not provide adequate starter cages, despite claiming that they do. Lofts can be a great addition, but do not count towards the required minimum sq footage. If you're planning to expand, it's often better to go out rather than up. Guinea pigs are not climbers like rabbits, hamsters, and mice. It is important they have plenty of room to run around and that they are not able to fall off any tall surfaces if they do have some sort of loft. Good Starter Cages Midwest cages: We recommend removing the middle divider, as it takes away from the already limited space they have. Piggies get zoomies too, and you want to give them as much space as possible to run around . Pros: ○ Cheaper than most cages on the market. ○ Provides minimum 8 sq ft. ○ Easy to clean bottom. Some are machine washable. ○ Can add a lid or buy multiple cages and connect them. ○ Collapsible and easy to put together. Cons: ○ Doesn't leave much room for houses, hay, and other cage accessories. Should have some play time outside the cage if possible. ○ Can't have more than 2 pigs in this cage. ○ Dividers should be avoided. ○ Sometimes poop and urine can stain canvas bottom. C&C Cages (cubes & coroplast): These are some of the most popular type of cage for guinea pigs. They can make great starter cages and can easily be turned into mini piggy mansions ! They are made of a coroplast (corrugated plastic) base and 14 inch metal cube grids. The grids are usually attached with connectors and zip ties. There are many videos online that go into detail on how to build c&c cages if you want to avoid buying one. We'll link some helpful tips down below! Pros: ○ Much easier to keep clean which helps keep away odors. ○ Much more room = happier piggies! ○ Customizable and easy to expand. ○ Can be a great DIY project. Instead of buying the cage pre-made, you can buy the parts and make it yourself. There's many tutorials and tips online! ○ Can easily add a lift, loft, and other cage accessories. ○ Can use the grids to make storage space. Cons: ○ P re-made cages can be kind of pricy, although cheaper to expand than a Midwest. ○ More permanent setup, not as easy to take a part and move. Custom Built Cages What requirements should be met? - whatever the cage is made of is safe to chew on. Don't have exposed tape, glue, wires, and other things that can be dangerous to chew on. -Make sure the cage has good ventillation! They need more thanjust a few air holes... If you're building it out of wood, glass, or other materials without gaps then consider having lots of openings around the cage as well as the top so they can get plenty of air. -high enough that they wont jump over. C&C grids are usually 14 inches tall, but you can always go higher if you want! I would avoid going below this as some pigs can be quite the escape artists. -Adding a loft? make sure the ramp is not steep, and that there is plenty of protection against falling off other floors or the ramp even. They can easily break limbs and teeth. -Even with a loft, it is crucial that the bottom floor be a minimum for 8 sq ft (for a maximum of 2 pigs). -Make sure the base material of the cage can be properly wiped down and sanitized. Even with bedding and fleece, sometimes urine can make it's way down to the base of the cage. If the base just aborbs all their urine and can't be wiped down, it is going to get gross and smelly real quickly. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Signs, symptoms, and treatment plans for fungal infections on guinea pigs. Feet Related Issues: Fungal Feet • Bumblefoot • Spurs/Callous/Corns • Arthritis Foot Fungus Infections AKA "Fungal Feet" Guinea pigs are prone to fungal infections such as ringworm, but those fungal infections can also present themselves in other ways and in other areas, such as on their paw pads/feet. Fungal infections on the feet are much more common in guinea pigs than people realize, but if caught & treated early, they can be easy to clear up! What is "Fungal Feet?" Fungus on guinea pig feet commonly presents itself as dry, flaky, irritated skin. It usually starts out in the nails and spreads to the rest of the paw pad and foot. The nails can become chunky, yellow, flaky, and brittle. As it becomes more severe, more severe symptoms occur such as hair loss on the paws and cracking. This exposure and cracking can easily become a doorway for more serious issues such as bumblefoot, which is a painful bacterial infection that affects their paw pads. Typically your piggy’s feet should be soft, smooth, and a healthy light pink or black color (depending on their paw pad color), not red or inflamed. Below are some examples of fungal infections, some turning into bumblefoot: Common Causes & Prevention ○ Fungus ○ Improper bedding/wet and dirty bedding ○ Lack of activity, arthritis, obesity, & senior pigs that sit in their urine for long periods of time as a result. Preventions: Keep the cage clean, dry, and use proper bedding. Treatments Of course, always consult your vet if you suspect your piggy's condition is severe and needs veterinary attention. However, i f your piggy has a mild fungal infection, such as dry, flakiness on the paw pads or around the toenails, you can easily treat it at home with over the counter antifungal creams. Since the fungus that causes these issues is the same as the fungus that causes athlete’s feet in humans, you can use pretty much any athlete’s foot cream. These are the product's we trust when treating fungal related infections, including ringworm (linked below): ○ Tolnaftate Antifungal Cream ○ Miconazole Nitrate 2% Antifungal Cream ○ Clotrimazole Antifungal Cream ○ Blis-to-Sol Antifungal Liqui d ○ Miconazole Shampoo (good preventative treatment) To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Bumblefoot AKA Ulcerative Pododermatitis What's the Difference between "Fungal Feet" & Bumblefoot? What is Bumblefoot? Bumblefoot is a very painful bacterial infection that affects the paw pads, often presenting as ulcerated wounds on the bottom of the feet. The paw pads become red, swollen, and inflamed. Bumblefoot does not go away on its own, and if left untreated the infection can spread to other parts of the body such as the bone (aka Osteomyelitis), which might require amputation and can even cause death. There are many causes of bumblefoot, so it's important to check your piggies feet regularly and to start treatment as soon as you see any signs of it, as well as determine the cause so it does not continue to happen. For those interested in more of the science aspect, bumblefoot is often caused by different enteric bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile and most commonly Staphylococcus aureus. Unlike fungal feet, bumblefoot is caused by a bacterial infection, and cannot be treated by antifungal products. If you suspect your piggy has bumblefoot, it is crucial you get them seen by a vet to get on antibiotics as soon as possible. If the infection is not treated, it can spread farther into your piggy’s system and can even be fatal. Below are some photos of bumblefoot, ranging from mild to severe cases: Common Causes & Prevention ○ Fungal infections left untreated. Can cause cracks/ open s ores on t heir paw pads, allowing bacteria to enter. Prevention: Keep cage clean, dry, & use proper bedding. ○ Abrasive & rough bedding. Hard or improper surfaces can scrape against your piggy’s feet and create open sores or inflammation on their paw pads. P revention: Make sure your piggy has proper bedding. ○ Lack of activity. This can be caused from obesity, less active older piggies, and piggies with arthritis that struggle to walk around. Prevention: Proper diet, pain management (pet CBD), use soft cozies to lay in, and keep the cage dry & clean. ○ Overgrown Nails. They can grow into their pads and cause arthritis. Prevention: Regular nail trims. ○ In some cases, bumblefoot may also be a symptom of other health conditions, so it’s important to discuss with your vet especially if your piggy gets chronic infections. Prevention: Regular check-ups with your veterinarian. Treatments ○ Very mild cases of bumblefoot, or the start of bumblefoot, can often be treated by soaking your guinea pig's feet in warm water mixed with Epsom salt. (2x/day, 10min.) ○ If the sores are actively open and/or bleeding, you can soak the paws in a diluted mixture of warm water and betadine. Along with antibiotics... (2x/day, 10 min.) ○ Neosporin. Apply Neosporin onto the affected areas after the soaking treatment. ○ Antibiotics! If your piggy's bumble feet has reach the point of having open sores, they should definitely be seen by a vet and should be treated with antibiotics. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Spurs/Callous/Corns Guinea pigs are prone to fungal infections such as ringworm, but those fungal infections can also present themselves in other ways and in other areas, such as on their paw pads/feet. Fungal infections on the feet are much more common in guinea pigs than people realize, but if caught and treated early, they can be really easy to clear up! What is "Fungal Feet?" Fungus on guinea pig feet commonly presents itself as dry, flaky, irritated skin. It usually starts out in the nails and spreads to the rest of the paw pad and foot. The nails can become chunky, yellow, flaky, and brittle. As it becomes more severe, more severe symptoms occur such as hair loss on the paws and cracking. This exposure and cracking can easily become a doorway for more serious issues such as bumblefoot, which is a painful bacterial infection that affects their paw pads. What is "Fungal Feet?" Fungus on guinea pig feet commonly presents itself as dry, flaky, irritated skin. It usually starts out in the nails and spreads to the rest of the paw pad and foot. The nails can become chunky, yellow, flaky, and brittle. As it becomes more severe, more severe symptoms occur such as hair loss on the paws and cracking. This exposure and cracking can easily become a doorway for more serious issues such as bumblefoot, which is a painful bacterial infection that affects their paw pads. What's the Difference between "Fungal Feet" & Bumblefoot? What is Bumblefoot? Bumblefoot is a very painful bacterial infection that affects the paw pads, often presenting as ulcerated wounds on the bottom of the feet. The paw pads become red, swollen, and inflamed. Bumblefoot does not go away on its own, and if left untreated the infection can spread to other parts of the body such as the bone (aka Osteomyelitis), which might require amputation and can even cause death. There are many causes of bumblefoot, so it's important to check your piggies feet regularly and to start treatment as soon as you see any signs of it, as well as determine the cause so it does not continue to happen. For those interested in more of the science aspect, bumblefoot is often caused by different enteric bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile and most commonly Staphylococcus aureus. Unlike fungal feet, bumblefoot is caused by a bacterial infection, and cannot be treated by antifungal products. If you suspect your piggy has bumblefoot, it is crucial you get them seen by a vet to get on antibiotics as soon as possible. If the infection is not treated, it can spread farther into your piggy’s system and can even be fatal. Below are some photos of bumblefoot, ranging from mild to severe cases: Common Causes & Prevention ○ Fungal infections left untreated. Can cause cracks/ open s ores on t heir paw pads, allowing bacteria to enter. Prevention: Keep cage clean, dry, & use proper bedding. ○ Abrasive & rough bedding. Hard or improper surfaces can scrape against your piggy’s feet and create open sores or inflammation on their paw pads. P revention: Make sure your piggy has proper bedding. ○ Lack of activity. This can be caused from obesity, less active older piggies, and piggies with arthritis that struggle to walk around. Prevention: Proper diet, pain management (pet CBD), use soft cozies to lay in, and keep the cage dry & clean. ○ Overgrown Nails. They can grow into their pads and cause arthritis. Prevention: Regular nail trims. ○ In some cases, bumblefoot may also be a symptom of other health conditions, so it’s important to discuss with your vet especially if your piggy gets chronic infections. Prevention: Regular check-ups with your veterinarian. Treatments ○ Very mild cases of bumblefoot, or the start of bumblefoot, can often be treated by soaking your guinea pig's feet in warm water mixed with Epsom salt. (2x/day, 10min.) ○ If the sores are actively open and/or bleeding, you can soak the paws in a diluted mixture of warm water and betadine. Along with antibiotics... (2x/day, 10 min.) ○ Neosporin. Apply Neosporin onto the affected areas after the soaking treatment. ○ Antibiotics! If your piggy's bumble feet has reach the point of having open sores, they should definitely be seen by a vet and should be treated with antibiotics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780124095274000067 https://wpvet.com/guinea-pigs-care-guides/guinea-pig-diseases/ https://www.guinealynx.info/pododermatitis.html https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/skin/c_ex_gp_pododermatitis Read More