Blood inside piggies ear?

[Sodapops]

Hi there,

Wondered if someone could help.

I had my eldest sow JJ out for lap time earlier and while stroking the side of her face/ear i noticed some hard waxy stuff - i put her down to have a proper look at it appears like she has a cut or something just inside her right ear. Ive attempted to clean it using some salt water/tissue - but it doesn't look brilliant and she'd only let me clean so much as i presume it's quite un-comfortable.

Ive taken a picture - it's not brilliant as she wasn't too keen on having her photo taken - but it does look like the area most affected had formed a small lump - anyone have any idea's what this is and how she could have done it?

 

[JanexxM&L]

I'm not totally sure but maybe she has caught some sort of ear infection I'd check up by taking her to the vets, and hopefully someone will come along who knows more on this than me. XX

 

[Pebble]

There are two different issues here..

.......the first is concerning the condition that is manifesting itself now...the cut/inflammation/possible developing abcess in her ear.....


.....which could be a result of scratching......


....And therefore the original cause....infection in the ear canal, ear mites, mange mites etc etc

That's why it's really important you take her to see a cavy savvy vet wihout delay...you need treatment for the current symptoms..but you also need to diagnose the cause and get treatment for that as well

Well done for being so observant. Good luck and hope JJ makes a full recovery. If you have any problems please post back...or PM me to have a chat on the "pig and bone"

x

 

[Sodapops]

Thanks for the replies

Looking at the wound i wouldn't have said ear mites or an ear infection - ive been treating my eldest boar with Baytril for a suspected ear infection (he has swabs taken but it showed nothing) but he's got the very distinct head tilt and now he's finished his course of antibiotics is shaking his head every time you touch his one ear - so i'll be taking him back for another check up.

JJ (just like Homer) is eating and drinking normally - she's acting just as she normally would. I interact with them many times throughout the day and have never witnessed any scratching from any of my piggies.

I don't know how long the wound has been there - but it probably looks much worse than it is because of the 'dried' on blood in the ear. Obviously when cleaning it with the salt water solution i didn't clean it thoroughly as i didn't want to knock any 'scab' or re-open any healed cut that might be there (thus causing it to bleed again) - so at this moment in time i cannot fully assess exactly how bad it is.

I'm going to clean it again tomorrow morning and see if i can get a better look at it - fingers crossed it's just a little nick and all that'll be required is frequent cleaning

 

[Pebble]

The fact that you already have a piggie with a head tilt (regardless ofthe existing "can't find" diagnosis from your vets) suggests that for this new incident you now need to re-consult your vet for both piggies...or find another one.

Ear mites really needs to be ruled out by a cavy savvy vet so that other treatment can be determined and given as appropriate.


Shaking ears suggests the possibility of a low level grumbling ear infection which can manifest itself over a long period of itime in the form of pus in the ear...took my vets two months before the symptoms of ear shakng/head tilt were visible/diagnoseable
HH
x