Shanjing with bumblefoot?

[ester]

Heya guys,
I managed to buy four shanjing in Hamm. At least two are LTC. The other seller I don't know as well but he also claimed that they'd been kept in captivity for at least 6 months.

One of the LTC has this problem with his feet.

All four feet are affected but not as badly as this right front paw. I am not sure yet if the other animal of this pair is affected too. The two animals that have been in captivity for 6 months seem to have normal feet (long toes!).

I think the feet problem could be bumblefoot as described on Marc Staniszewski's webpage. The probable cause are gram-negative bacteria so I've decided to start the affected animal on an antibiotics course for at least 10 days. A bath of 2000 units/ml polymyxin (brandname: Colisol) for 10 minutes twice a day.

Any suggestions, experience etc is welcome!

 

[jennifer]

It's hard to tell in the photo... does the skin over the toes look well-healed, or infected? If the skin is intact and not infected, then maybe the antibiotic baths are unnecessary.

 

[ester]

I can't see a lot of swelling but the toes do seem to be getting shorter still and the tips look black/dark.

 

[frank]

HI Ester,

Keep on giving these baths now but keep your animals strictly separated from each other and the rest of your collection. Actually, it is preferable first to try to obtain a bacteriological culture so you can treat accordingly.

Good luck!

Frank