Nibbie's Foot Problem

[catzeye21138]

I noticed just a short while ago that she has been hopping around like a rabbit, I know that in 99% of cases that means scurvy but I know for a fact she has been eating enough vegetables with Vit. C in them. I also noticed she hasn't been putting pressure on her right foot, that explains the hopping; she isn't using her right foot. I've had her for about a year and a half and havn't had trouble clipping her nails until recently, I'm not sure what her problem is. Her inside toe on the right forefoot is curled in, possibly poking into her foot pad. I've clipped a small amount off the toenail, but since she is so skittish she jerks away, and I am afraid I may cut her pad or even worse, her whole toe.

So this brings me to an uncomfortable situation... The closest vet near my residence that actually knows squat about guinea pigs is over an hour away. Due to gas prices, my mom doesn't want to make the trip to see if the vet can get that toenail.

I have tried wrapping her in a towel, feeding her, having her upside down, having someone ELSE hold her, nothing is working! I have a brick in their cage but I think her toenail is too long for it to be doing any good.

I did think that if I brought her to the general vet very close to my house, there may be a sedative that he/I could give her. That way I personally could get her toenail withought hurting her. I really don't want that toenail to penitrate the footpad! Bumblefoot/infection is not in my agenda! Are there any SAFE sedatives that could just calm her? Or does anyone else have any ideas?

Help!

[Ly&Pigs]

Have someone help you to hold her and then get the nail cut. If the entire toe is curled down it could be something a vet needs to see as it could be somehow injured.

There are no sedatives to give without a vet's permission.

I noticed just a short while ago that she has been hopping around like a rabbit, I know that in 99% of cases that means scurvy

99% of cases where a pig hopping doesn't necessarily indicate scurvy. There are several indicators other than hopping that indicate a pig has scurvy.

[catzeye21138]

I know there are other signs, but in my experience if a pig has been hopping like a rabbit it means it probably has scurvy. Then you would look for bleeding gums etc etc. Sorry if I made it unclear though, I just meant a majority. I'll be sure not to use percentages in the future.

I've tried someone holding her. It didn't work at first, but just a moment ago we got it. I used larger, human clippers and it was easier. Usually I would use the round ones but I couldn't get it with those.

For now I am watching her, her toe/nail is no longer curled under the foot pad. Just a tiny bit curved... Did that make sense? Her toes vaguely look like this: (||| The ( being the longer nail. And the | being the other 3 normal nails.

She is also still being tender on her right foot, but seems to be able to get around easier. I'm glad for that.

[catzeye21138]

UPDATE!

For a day or so thought there may be something wrong with her bone, but today she has been putting more weight on her foot and her toe is no longer turned inwards towards the rest of the foot. She is still being a little ginger on her right foot but has improved drasticly!

Hope that things keep improving like this!