Kits with swollen toes

[Lapin]

Three of my 10 day old kits have swollen toes on their front feet. The outside toes on the front feet only. I have keep the nest very clean. Any ideas what could be causing this? What is the best treatment?

 

[Miss M]

The only kit I ever had with swollen toes was one that kept getting out of the cage before she finally got too big to fit through the wire.

She started losing the fur on her feet and legs, in addition to having the swollen toes, and the skin on the toes was dry and rough. I treated it as a fungal infection, and alternated putting athlete's foot cream and hydrocortizone on it a couple of times a day. It worked, and the swelling went away, and the fur came back.

Can't say that this is your problem, but it shouldn't hurt to give it a shot.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I think she has some kind of fungus going on.

 

[Lapin]

Here is what I'm looking at. This may not be the smartest move but I pricked it with a needle and gave it a squeeze and thick white puss came out. I started applying tinctured iodine last night and this morning. It hasn't worsened since yesterday. I had them on a card broad liner in the nest box. I changed it three time in ten days then pulled out and day 10. They started coming out of the box day 11 and are 14 days old now. Could they have been on the wire too soon?

 

[SatinsRule]

Do you have any problems with ants or mosquitos in your barn?

 

[Lapin]

Do you have any problems with ants or mosquitos in your barn?

Big yes on both. I applied ant poison just the other day. I haven't seen the ants on the cages. Whats strange is that its on the same outside toe of the front paw on all kits. To me this would point to flooring. I doubt ants or mosquitos would bite the same toe on the same foot? When they were on the card-broad I notice they scratched the floor alot maybe that separated the nail from the skin and infection set in?

 

[SatinsRule]

It could also be a reaction to the ant poison which you put down if the ants managed to somehow track that into the box.

Here's an idea. If you have a dog which is on heartworm preventative, find the ant mounds and put the dog's feces on it for a few days. I did so while living in FL, and it did wonders on wiping out ant colonies.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Is the swelling localized to the nail bed? I think it may be either a yeast or fungal infection. Nu-stock or Blu-kote (available at feed stores) would work well, or any athlete's foot medication.

 

[LauraNJ]

Is it the actual toes or on the hock? The picture almost looks like it is on the side of the hock but maybe I am not seeing the toes right or am looking at it wrong.

If white puss came out, that is usually bacterial infection. But a bacterial infection can be caused by a fungal infection. I would probably use something anti-fungal but on the open sores I would use anti-bacterial like neosporin or something similiar. Then I would watch closely, keeping it clean and readjust if it didn't improve or became worse.

 

[Lapin]

Is it the actual toes or on the hock? The picture almost looks like it is on the side of the hock but maybe I am not seeing the toes right or am looking at it wrong.

If white puss came out, that is usually bacterial infection. But a bacterial infection can be caused by a fungal infection. I would probably use something anti-fungal but on the open sores I would use anti-bacterial like neosporin or something similiar. Then I would watch closely, keeping it clean and readjust if it didn't improve or became worse.

This is a better pic its seems to be around the nail only. There was no sore just puffiness thats why I pricked it with the hopes of draining it. I will try the anti-fungal tonight.

 

[LauraNJ]

Thank you for the picture, I see where it is now. It is just odd that you pricked it and got white puss out. I would try the anti fungal but if it doesn't improve I would add an anti bacterial. I'd make sure to clean the toes really well, your iodine or a wipe with alcohol before the anti fungal may be something to try so you are hitting both possible things.

I hope the swelling goes down. Keep us updated with how the kit is doing.

 

[Lapin]

After three days of iodine treatment three times a day the swelling and redness has reduced. Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[Miss M]

Glad to hear it's getting better, Lapin!