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Crusty Nipples

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scpiggy

scpiggy

Teenage Guinea Pig
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My 3 year old Rio has developed some dry crusty bumpy bits of skin on her nipples. I'm a little worried because I think I heard that crusty nipples are a sign of ovarian cysts. However when I bathed her a few weeks ago I felt something like what she has now on her nipples come off in the bath, I didn't think anything of it at the time thought she'd got a bit of dried poo or something stuck on there, but now it's very obvious that it is something else.
She's always been very hormonal, got very bad seasons where she will hump everything in sight, so it's hard to say really if there has been any change in her behaviour there and I can't notice any hair loss on her sides. She seems her happy healthy self doesn't seem to be in any pain and certainly no loss in appetite.
Going to get her checked out at the vets as soon as possible, they must be getting sick of the sight of me by now, but until then anyone got any advice? Is there anything other than ovarian cysts that can cause crusty nipples? And if it is ovarian cysts, what sort of treatments would I be looking at?
 
I think it is only really a sign of ovarian cysts. You're right to get her checked. The most effective treatment is having her spayed but Chorulon injections are also effective.
 
helen105281 said:
I think it is only really a sign of ovarian cysts. You're right to get her checked. The most effective treatment is having her spayed but Chorulon injections are also effective.
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Not the answer I was hoping for, but thanks.
 
Crusty nip nips are a sign of ovarian cysts - Pecan has just finished her hormone treatment. The last injection I watched and she didn't even flinch! With my treatment I had to sign forms agreeing to treatment as they had to use stuff for dogs and cats as there is nothing for guinea pigs.

Just check your piggies sides too - hair loss is another symptom. Have a chat with your vet :)
 
maisie gets crusty nipples sometimes. we were told to put vaseline on them twice a day for 4-5 days, to soften the crust and make sure they don't become cracked and sore. maisie does have ovarian cysts, which the vet could feel and she was diagnosed with them in jan 2013 and has just recently started hcg injections for them recently, so over a year later, because she wasn't having any other symptoms. it does just depend on how big the cysts are, when they might begin to cause issues etc. we used vaseline and cotton buds to gently remove the crust on her nipples and that worked really well. :)
 
Jess said:
Crusty nip nips are a sign of ovarian cysts - Pecan has just finished her hormone treatment. The last injection I watched and she didn't even flinch! With my treatment I had to sign forms agreeing to treatment as they had to use stuff for dogs and cats as there is nothing for guinea pigs.

Just check your piggies sides too - hair loss is another symptom. Have a chat with your vet :)
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Great that she has finished her hormone treatment. How many times and how often did she need to have it?
 
biscandmatt said:
maisie gets crusty nipples sometimes. we were told to put vaseline on them twice a day for 4-5 days, to soften the crust and make sure they don't become cracked and sore. maisie does have ovarian cysts, which the vet could feel and she was diagnosed with them in jan 2013 and has just recently started hcg injections for them recently, so over a year later, because she wasn't having any other symptoms. it does just depend on how big the cysts are, when they might begin to cause issues etc. we used vaseline and cotton buds to gently remove the crust on her nipples and that worked really well. :)
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Thanks, I'll definitely keep the vaseline trick in mind. I'm hoping Rio hasn't had them for long, she's always been such a moody hormonal girl but I thought with her not showing any other symptoms of ovarian cysts she must not have them.
 
She had three injections all together one injection every two weeks - straight into the muscle of her leg
It's worked pretty well as her hair has finally grown back on her sides and belly - just a bit bald where they shaved her for the ultra sound. She's still as grumpy as ever though! But I think thats just her personality. Constant angry eyes :P

plus the quote thing doesn't seem to work anymore @scpiggy
 
Thanks Jess. My 2 girls are some of the biggest drama queens ever, my other girl Sherbet had an injection of antibiotics a couple weeks back squeeked so loud you'd think she was being tortured and I can imagine Rio being even less impressed with getting injections so that's something to look forward to. :P Great that she's had such a good recovery. Do they have to diagnose with an ultrasound or can they be diagnosed by just feeling for them?
 
They did an ultra sound which concluded that she had a full belly of food :')
Another option would have been X-ray but I refused because I didn't want to put her through the stress of being put under but it was pretty conclusive what she had because of the crusty nips and the hair loss on her side and her snappiness. The vet did feel little lumps though which have shrunk. Pecan is thankfully not a fuss pot but she's like a slough sometimes - always seems like everything is hard work for her.
Put food out and she's like 'Oh… do I have to move… sigh… fine human i'll move...'
 
She sounds a lot like my girl Sookie who I lost recently. They have a furplast cage with little levels in it where I put all their food and Sookie could never be bothered to jump on the platform she'd just stretch her neck out as far as she could reach the food without actually having to move.
 
Well at least it's not unusual for piggies to be divas and not actually want to move even when there is food involved :D
 
I always thought Sookie was the most unusual of pigs to choose laziness over food. :P
 
Little update on Rio, I took her to the vets a few days ago and they had a good feel around and couldn't find any sign of any cysts. Been told to keep a good eye on her and going to take her back if any more symptoms pop up. She was surprisingly good at the vets didn't cause any fuss while the vet was poking and prodding her but the second I picked her up she scurried up into my neck and the vet had to untangle her paws from my hair. :))
I was sort of expecting the worst when I took her in and it's a relief she's not got any cysts but I kind of wish I had an answer either way rather than just having to wait and see.
 
scpiggy said:
Little update on Rio, I took her to the vets a few days ago and they had a good feel around and couldn't find any sign of any cysts. Been told to keep a good eye on her and going to take her back if any more symptoms pop up. She was surprisingly good at the vets didn't cause any fuss while the vet was poking and prodding her but the second I picked her up she scurried up into my neck and the vet had to untangle her paws from my hair. :))
I was sort of expecting the worst when I took her in and it's a relief she's not got any cysts but I kind of wish I had an answer either way rather than just having to wait and see.
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:)) love this.

good news they couldn't feel any cysts. what did they say about the crusty nipples? my vet did say that sometimes they are just dry and crusty, same as they could get on any part of their skin, so it could be that. hope she keeps well and her usual fiesty self. :))
 
My vet said the same, that it could just be a bit of dry skin, and that they weren't as crusty as most guinea pigs he sees with ovarian cysts. Thanks, she's currently squeaking at me to get her tea
a21_zps4ca2dbe0.gif
so definitely still feisty.
 
scpiggy said:
My vet said the same, that it could just be a bit of dry skin, and that they weren't as crusty as most guinea pigs he sees with ovarian cysts. Thanks, she's currently squeaking at me to get her tea
a21_zps4ca2dbe0.gif
so definitely still feisty.
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got to love a pig who squeaks orders at you :))
 
They put me to shame a bit when they go and stay at my sisters, she has two pigs who are quiet as mice and never make any mess and she always complains about how noisy mine are compared to hers. :))
 
scpiggy said:
They put me to shame a bit when they go and stay at my sisters, she has two pigs who are quiet as mice and never make any mess and she always complains about how noisy mine are compared to hers. :))
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Didn't know they were available in a silent version too.... or unmessy come to think of it! are you sure your sister's piggies are real? :lol!:

xx
 
Lol They don't hump each other or spray each other with wee either. I think you might be right about them being robots. :))
 
My pigs don't squeak much either. They have the odd moment when their veggies are being chopped but it's nothing like the ones I've had in the past. I reckon I'm feeding them too much :D

They will be having a piggy holiday soon around others so hopefully they will learn the ropes!
 
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