How to Treat Bumblefoot in Hamsters?
Bumblefoot, which is called Pododermatitis. Bumblefoot is inflammation of the foot. This disease is most common in hamsters. In this disease, the footpad turns red and sore. These inflamed bumps often start with scrapes and cuts in footpads.
The bacterial infection in these scrapes and cuts cause severe inflammation and infection. This bumblefoot overgrows on the whole foot spreading severe disease. This situation, if left untreated, can be fatal to hamsters.
You can use Epsom salt, vitamin C, antibiotics, bandages, and surgical methods to treat bumblefoot in hamsters. It is recommended to visit a Vet clinic if the situation persists.
Many factors cause Bumblefoot. Firstly, if the hamster is overweight; he can get this problem because the mass on the foot produces pressure, which can cause pain and inflammation in the feet. An unhygienic living environment also leads to this situation. Hamster cages with wire floors often cause cuts and scrapes in the feet of hamsters. These cuts lead to bumblefoot in hamsters. Overgrown nails can cause bumblefoot in hamsters.
The symptoms of bumblefoot include red and swollen feet pain in feet or sometimes ulcer of feet. The bumblefoot can be very dangerous if not treated properly. This inflammation in feet can lead to serious problems in hamsters like swollen lymph nodes and Arthritis and, in severe cases, can lead to amputation. In this article, I am going to discuss some treatments for bumblefoot in hamsters.
Stages of bumblefoot in hamsters
Bumblefoot has three steps.
Stage 1
This stage has slight swelling and redness in the feet. This stage is not critical and can be resolved quickly. This stage may have some patchy red area on the feet.
Stage 2
In this stage, there is increased inflammation and redness in the footpad. At this stage, the protective layer of the foot is compromised, and the foot is prone to bacterial infection.
Stage 3
This stage has severe infection and inflammation in the foot. This stage involves foot pain in hamsters, and he is unable to move its paw. This stage needs special attention and treatment. The inflamed area can turn brownish-red. The bacterial infection produces pus in infected areas.
How to Treat Bumblefoot in Hamsters?
Bumblefoot can be treated easily at home in their early stages. This home treatment requires an early diagnosis of bumblefoot. The home treatment includes some simple ingredients to treat bumblefoot in hamsters. Home treatment works best in the early stages of bumblefoot.
Use Epsom salt to treat bumblefoot in hamsters
Epsom salt is an excellent antibacterial ingredient. It is very beneficial in treating soreness and inflammation in hamsters. For treating bumblefoot in the hamster, firstly prepare an Epsom salt bath. This bath is made with a sufficient quantity of water and adds a small quantity of Epsom salt.
The water should be lukewarm. Then hold your hamster in a clean towel and soak its feet in an Epsom salt bath. The soaking period should not be less than ten to twenty minutes.
This Epsom salt soothes swell feet and reduces redness and inflammation. This bath also helps in removing dead scales on feet and exudates from wounds. The Epsom salt, through its bacterial action, efficiently treats infection in the hamster foot. This should be repeated twice a day. When the wound starts healing, it should be reduced to once daily until healed completely.
Disinfectant and bandages
Treating bumblefoot in the early stages at home can also be done by using disinfectant and bandages. Firstly clean the wound with any disinfectant like iodine. You can also use any OTC disinfectant for treating bumblefoot. Then bandage the wound to protect it from further infections. First of all, place some medicated wrap on the wound then cover it with some gauze.
Then wrap a bandage around hamster’s foot. This bandage will help to keep the medicated wrap to keep at its place. This bandage should not be too tight. The bandage should be changed at regular intervals for rapid healing.
Manuka honey
Manuka honey is also another home treatment for treating bumblefoot in hamsters. This manuka honey has excellent antibacterial and antiseptic properties. You can apply this directly to bumblefoot, or you can prepare a manuka honey bath. Apply a small quantity of manuka honey to the wound daily. Soak hamster foot in manuka honey bath twice daily.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C can also be used as a home remedy to treat bumblefoot in hamsters. Give a small quantity of vitamin C via some dropper to a hamster. Vitamin C helps in the fast healing of wounds. This also reduces inflammation. Vitamin C also important in the production of collagen.
Pain medications for hamsters?
Bumblefoot in its second and third stage causes serious infection in the hamster foot. This infection is so severe that it causes intense pain in the hamster’s feet. This pain is sometimes so severe that the hamster cannot even move its paw. At this stage, you should consult a veterinary doctor for proper treatment. The V will prescribe some good pain killers to relieve the pain. You can also treat this pain with some OTC pain medicines.
Use Antibiotics to cure bumblefoot
Bacteria cause infection in cuts and cause pus formation. This infection is treated with some good antibiotics. You can consult a veterinary doctor to get some antibiotics to treat the infection. Usually, antibiotics are taken twice daily or as prescribed You can also use some antibiotic ointments or cream. These creams or lotions can be applied easily to wounds.
Surgical treatment
This treatment can only be done by some professional doctors. This treatment is needed when the infection is severe, and the infected area has to turn reddish-brown. This treatment involves the surgical removal of a scab from the infected area.
Firstly the doctor will examine the whole foot. Then some antiseptic is applied to clean the wound. The scab is cut by a sharp knife, and it is removed completely with tweezers. The wound inside is a hole full of pus and exudates. The discharge and exudate are removed with tissue paper.
After this, the wound is flushed completely with lukewarm or saline water. At the last, the bandage is applied to the wound. For better and fast recovery, the doctor will prescribe some medicines. The dressing should be changed regularly.
How to prevent bumblefoot in hamsters?
For preventing bumblefoot in hamsters, some precautionary measures should be followed. This measure helps in reducing the risk of bumblefoot in hamsters. The following are the preventive measure.
Proper sanitation and housing are necessary for a healthy foot in hamsters. The cage of the hamsters should be clean, and the bedding of the floor should be soft. Avoid harsh wire floors in cages of a hamster because they cause cuts in hamsters. The bedding of the floor should be of some smooth paper or grass. This flooring also should be neat, clean, and does not contain any harmful content. Regular cleaning of the cage also helps in reducing the risk of bumblefoot in hamsters.
The weight of the hamster should be controlled, and he should be on a proper diet. Obesity exerts pressure on the foot, which then results in bumblefoot in hamsters. Regular trimming of toenails also prevents bumblefoot in hamsters. Overgrown toenails in hamsters cause cuts in hamsters. These cuts then turn into bumblefoot. You should regularly trim your hamster nails. Regular foot inspection can also prevent the occurrence of bumblefoot in hamsters.
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