Feet New nail growing?

[agemus]

Hi,

i was playing with Kai and I?ve noticed something that did not seem normal. I?ve seen this before when it was a bit smaller but it looked/felt like a nail so I wasn?t too worried. But now it seems it grew a bit and it does not look like a nail at all. It feels like one though. I?ve trimmed it down with some clippers so I know it doesn?t hurt him as he was staying still just fine not making any squeals as if he was in pain. It is as thick as a nail though so when I first saw it that was what I thought it was. I?m very worried as to what this is, it is attached to his paw bed so obviously I didn?t want to trim too close where I would feel like I would also trim his foot. Any idea on what this is or how to treat it? I?m very worried.

 

[Soecara]

That is a spur, they are relatively common in guinea pigs and are not anything to be concerned about, they are actually hard skin tissue. You just need to make sure to keep them short so they can't catch on anything and tear off, but you are right in being very careful not to cut too close. A couple of my guinea pigs have spurs on their front feet and I normally just trim them down when I trim their nails. Here is a page on guinea lynx that has some info about spurs https://guinealynx.info/feet.html#spurs

 

[agemus]

That is a spur, they are relatively common in guinea pigs and are not anything to be concerned about, they are actually hard skin tissue. You just need to make sure to keep them short so they can't catch on anything and tear off, but you are right in being very careful not to cut too close. A couple of my guinea pigs have spurs on their front feet and I normally just trim them down when I trim their nails. Here is a page on guinea lynx that has some info about spurs https://guinealynx.info/feet.html#spurs

Thank you so much! That makes me feel better that it's nothing that is harming him. Do you do anything to clean it like in the link you sent me?

 

[Soecara]

I will clean off the foot with an antiseptic solution if I accidentally cut a little too close for my liking, but most of the time I trim it a little further away and don't clean it.

 

[DeanNing]

Cleaning Regularly and saving from dirt can get back your (broken link removed) in shape and will look smart and not ugly. certain parameters you need to follow are
1) Washing and Cleaning
2) Body Lotion
3) Make sure it is not wet.