Bumblefoot Housing Help

[teambayern]

I just got back from the vet, and Chip, a 10 year old male, has bumblefoot. It's particularly bad in his right foot, which the vet had to bandage, and which I'll be changing at a weekly vet appointment for the foreseeable future. Now I have to figure out how to make his cage as safe and comfortable as possible.

He has a Chin Condo (Quality Cage) I believe, which has a metal bottom and wood shelving, and I use Carefresh bedding (he doesn't eat it, and it's usually dryer than aspen I've noticed).

After talking to the vet, my plan is to (1) remove his wheel, (2) use even more carefresh than normal and change it every other day and/or as needed in certain spots, (3) thoroughly clean the ledge and line them with fleece, (4) replace his wooden house with a fleece bed to encourage him to stay on that, since it's soft..

Is this a good plan? One thing I'm curious about in particular is whether I should use a fleece bottom instead of or in addition to the carefresh, or whether I should be switching to aspen or any other kind of bedding.

Any advice/comments greatly appreciated.

 

[Amethyst]

I would switch to fleece bedding, even carefresh would probably stick to any wounds. Also fleece might make it easier to see if there is a problem quicker a blood stain can't get lost in the litter. Carefresh also worries me, even if you don't see him eat it he could be just nibbling on a piece here and there when you aren't looking which can add up to a blockage if he eats too much of it at one time.

Also you might want to look into getting perches in the cage if you don't already have them. Flat surfaces are not natural for a chin's feet and put pressure over the whole foot all the time, chins evolved to be hopping on sand, rocks, and logs. Wood perches like what you'd buy for birds work well to give the chins more of a rolling pressure over the foot which is better. Think of perches like of like those wooden foot rollers people use to help circulation and massage their feet. I have about a dozen plus perches in my chins' cage, of various sizes and wood and they don't seem to be getting those widened flat heels on their feet anymore. I had a problem in the past of their heels cracking, and this seems to have solved the problem.

Another thing to mention, you don't want everything soft and cushy, once he heals. Chins need to form callouses on their feet it's what protects the feet, which wont form if everything in the cage is all fleece covered. Padding every surface would be like someone wearing socks and slippers all the time then going barefoot. The chin will be fine in the cage but soft non-calloused feet are more likely to get hurt when the chin goes out to play.

 

[Minccino]

Amethyst has really covered everything! But just remember that if purchasing perches, they are normally meant for birds; so they may not be chin-safe wood/materials!
Two really good/safe ones available at Petsmart are the Grape wood and Manzanita wood perches. (I linked them for you!)

I hope your little guy's feet are feeling better soon :heart:

 

[Cass C]

My chinchillas love their grape and manzanita perches I set them up like stairs in their triple critter nation to replace the scary ramps. They also double as safe chews.

 

[teambayern]

Thanks guys, great info! I'll get some perches