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Cut behind eye :(

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Ginger&Nutmeg

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Hello, I've just got my lovely nutmeg piggy out and found a cut behind his eye. It looks fairly deep
IMAG0454_zps17dae830.jpg


I'm not sure at all how he got it. He is housed with another boy and I was just thinking how well they've been getting on lately so I'll be really disappointed if they fought.

One thing I've noticed in nutmeg is that he doesn't seem to like his ears being touched and keeps shaking his head like a wet dog. Ginger has started doing this but not as much. Nutmeg does seem to scratch his eyes sometimes and since I've had him he's had a little hairless strip on one eye, I've never seen him cut though.

I was wondering if this sounds like mites or ear mites? And what I should do about the cut? I've got work tomorrow and Saturday but if it's urgent I'll see if my mum will take him to the vets. Never had a cut on one so not sure what to do :(
 
Hi, it is most likely he has cut himself scratching. both mites and a fungal are possibilities. fungal infections in young pigs often start on the face and can spread very quickly so i would advice you get your mum to take him to the vets, as if left his condition could become much worse. ask her to take both the pigs along so Ginger can be checked out too.
with prompt treatment he should heal quickly :)
 
Pound Shilling & Pig said:
Hi, it is most likely he has cut himself scratching. both mites and a fungal are possibilities. fungal infections in young pigs often start on the face and can spread very quickly so i would advice you get your mum to take him to the vets, as if left his condition could become much worse. ask her to take both the pigs along so Ginger can be checked out too.
with prompt treatment he should heal quickly :)
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Thank you! I took him to the vet after seeing your reply and the vet said that it looks like it is from a fight :( and has given him some antibiotics.

I'm not too sure what to think, he said he didn't think head shaking is anything to worry about and said if they keep fighting get them neutered. I've read that neutering makes no difference to boar behaviour yet two different vets (at different practices) so it makes me think that maybe it wasn't the best.

Hopefully It's not mites or a fungal infection :(
 
Sorry to post on this again.
I just noticed nutmeg scratching and now the scab has fallen off and it looks bloody again. He's still on antibioticsbuyt do you think it will heal if he keeps scratching the scab off?
 
Please gently disinfect the scabby area with saline solution. (1 tsp of salt on 1 pint of boiled and cooled water)

If the area is becoming larger, it could be most likely fungal, which often starts around the eyes, so keep an open mind.

The key to a successful boar bond is character compatibility. Unlike with rabbits, neutering won't change that!
We have tips about boar problems on our boar guide: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?76162-Boars-A-guide-to-successful-companionship
 
Beautiful looking pig. I would bathe the area gently to keep it clean. We've had rescue pigs before who have been covered with cuts and open wounds and it is very difficult to stop them scratching but eventually they healed. Just keep a close eye on it.
 
Thank you for all of the advice :) it is looking much better now, there is no scab or anything left. There's a bigger patch of hair loss but I'll keep an eye on it.
I really need to find a vet that's experienced with guinea pigs.
 
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