Guinea Pig Crusty Ear

[Mellop]

Hello everyone I have a bit of an issue my guinea pig is still a baby around 4 months and she has a really bad crusty ear and unfortunately the only exotic vet in my area won't be in town until next Wednesday and I'm hoping to get an idea of what she has. But I put some Lotrimin ultra on it hoping maybe it'll help. But any ideas anyone may have on what she has will be appreciated.

 

[Claire W]

Hello and welcome. That looks like a fungal infection but only a vet can diagnose and prescribe the correct treatment.

Please do not home treat as you could make things worse.

 

[Guineautopia]

Hi and
I agree with @Claire W

 

[Wiebke]

Hello everyone I have a bit of an issue my guinea pig is still a baby around 4 months and she has a really bad crusty ear and unfortunately the only exotic vet in my area won't be in town until next Wednesday and I'm hoping to get an idea of what she has. But I put some Lotrimin ultra on it hoping maybe it'll help. But any ideas anyone may have on what she has will be appreciated.

Hi and welcome!

Please NEVER treat any skin problem on spec with some cream of yours. You do not heal but make a vet diagnosis extremely difficult by wiping the crime scene and at the worst are delaying the start of the appropriate good quality treatment. It is much better to wait until after you see a vet even if the discomfort is unpleasant.

Please have her vet checked for ringworm (the most aggressive and transmittable form of a fungal skin infection, which transmits between species, including humans). It can be a milder form of fungal as warm and humid weather is the ideal breeding ground. Treatment is the same for all forms of fungal.
We recommend to ask for oral systemic medication (UK: itrafungol, US ketoconazole is being used since this year) as that is the most effective and least stressful way to treat.

You need to be extremely careful with our own hygiene and preferably invest in a vet grade disinfectant like F10, which is proven to also kill ringworm spores.
Any companions need to be given a fungal dip or shampoo to prevent them from coming down. If you have handled your guinea pig without any precaution or hand washing, I would also strongly recommend that you give yourself an all-body nizoral/anti-dandruff wash for the same reason.
Please carefully read our guide and follow the tips in there. We have learned them the hard way; that is why they really work and allow you to get on top of ringworm once and for all!
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

You do not need to see an exotics vet for this; a general vet should be perfectly able to diagnose ringworm, too, as it affects dogs, cats and other pet species as much as guinea pigs and is not at all uncommon in any mammalian pet species.

How long have you had your guinea pig? If it is within 2-3 weeks of sale (US: 30 days) you can reclaim any vet cost from the shop you have bought your guinea pig from by presenting the vet bill/diagnosis together with the sales receipt. Since exposure and infection must have happened at the shop, this comes under being sold faulty ware.

Since we have members from all over the world and since especially available medical brands and climate can vary widely across the globe, we find it helpful if you please add your country, state/province or UK county so we can tailor any advice to what is available and relevant where you are straight away. Please click on your username, go to account details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

 

[Mellop]

Whatever it was went away but if it comes back I'll be taking her to a vet and where Iive no other doctor will see exotic pets unless they are an exotic dr

 

[Wiebke]

All the best! It still looks like fungal to me.

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
Hope the ear issue is cleared