Bumblefoot?

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TorachiKatashi

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2011
Messages
181
Location
Newfoundland, Canada
Alright, so, my boys have been home with me now for five days, and they turned five weeks old today. I had them with me at my desk just now, and I noticed that Vin is getting red between his toes on one of his feet. I couldn't find any pictures online of Bumblefoot in the beginning stages, just the late-stage big sores, so I don't know if I'm just overreacting. It doesn't seem sore to the touch, and the bottoms of his feet aren't red, just between his toes. Both him and Oskar love climbing up, down, and all-around the bars of their cage (Oskar usually even just climbs the bars rather than use the ramps to get up and down), and I don't know if or how I could ever stop them from doing so, other than moving them to a tank, which I really can't afford. I know the standard answer is "go see the vet," but if a rat vet is anything like a cat or dog vet, it could easily be $80-$100 just to take him out and be told that it's nothing. Even as I'm watching them, Vin is doing this sideways climb around his cage. He isn't limping or avoiding putting pressure on that foot, so I hope maybe I'm just worrying myself for nothing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially any pictures I could use to try to compare.
 
Bumblefoot is usually a blister or a sore on the bottom of the feet, not between the toes. Are they having any trouble putting weight on their feet or balancing? I'll try to find a pic of Cloud and her Bumblefoot, but it doesn't sound like that's what you have on your hands. (I just saw their ages - it is very unlikely it is Bumblefoot unless they were kept in horrid conditions, but even then.)
 
I just took a second look at Vin (tried to get a picture, but I'm the only one home right now and it takes two hands just to convince him that sitting still in my hand a good idea...), and I didn't notice it at first, but yeah, both feet are the same. I looked at Oskar (bless his heart, probably the first time HE ever sat still in my hands!), and his are the same as well. Looking closer, it looks like it might just be the blood vessels or whatever in their toes I'm seeing. I'm a brand new rat mommy, so I saw red and immediately went "OMGNONONO. ;.;!" Porphyrin is the red stuff from myco, right? I've been watching them religiously for that since they got home - I was so worried they'd be stressed out coming to a new home - but I haven't seen any of that. They definitely weren't kept in bad conditions, either, so I must be overreacting.

So it looks like crisis averted. Is there really any risk of Bumblefoot from climbing the bars?
 
TorachiKatashi said:
So it looks like crisis averted. Is there really any risk of Bumblefoot from climbing the bars?

Not really. There's a bacterial or viral component to Bumblefoot, so even with wire shelves, if they are kept clean and the rat has somewhere to rest where it's wire free, it shouldn't be an issue. Weight, age, and overall health all play a roll as well.
 
don't worry, you'll never be harped on for being overly worried about your babies :) Better to ask and it be nothing, than not ask and it be something serious
 
TorachiKatashi said:
Porphyrin is the red stuff from myco, right? I've been watching them religiously for that since they got home - I was so worried they'd be stressed out coming to a new home - but I haven't seen any of that.

Porphyrin is rat mucus. It is red regardless of their health. Ie, its not just from Myco. Rats get porph around their nose and eyes(mucous membranes) if they are sick, in pain, get dust up their nose/in their eyes, are allergic to something, or slept on their faces for too long last night. =) You can also watch for it on the inside of their forearms, where it will build up if they are keeping their faces good and clean. No biggie.
 
Climbing on the bars in normal, rats love to do it and it wont cause bumble foot.

Tanks are a big no no for rats as they need lots of air flow.
 

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