Guinea Pig Has Sore Mouth

[Mummy86]

Hi was wondering if anyone can help me or give me advice, I got two pet guinea pigs a few weeks ago. And it's the very first time of owning them, and I've noticed my white one has developed a sore like area on her mouth. Hope she's ok any advice will be highly appreciated

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Can you please post a picture? It is likely either cheilitis or a fungal infection. https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-post-photos.112751/

Cheilitis is a lip/mouth infection that is caused by overfeeding acid fruit and tomatoes, which causes tiny cracks in the skin that are then allowing bacteria or fungal spores to get in. Please see a vet for a proper diagnosis. We have got a piggy savvy UK vet locator on the top bar, but can provide a link for recommended vets in other countries. With members from all over the world, you can really help us to ailor any advice and recommendations to what is possible/available where you are by adding your country, state or (for the UK) your county to your details. PLease click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location.

http://www.guinealynx.info/cheilitis.html
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/ringworm-hygiene-and-pictures.115402/ and http://www.guinealynx.info/fungus.html
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/

 

[Mummy86]

Pic below

 

[Mummy86]

 

[Mummy86]

 

[Wiebke]

That is cheilitis. Please see a good vet for adequate treatment.

Ideally, you stay off fruit and veg from now on; vitamin C can be got from slices of pepper of any colour or fresh herbs like coriander/cilantro or parsley, dill, mint, fennel or basil. Some guinea pigs are more sensitive to the acidity than others.

 

[Mummy86]

What causes that hun

 

[Wiebke]

What causes that hun

Cheilitis is a lip/mouth infection that is caused by overfeeding acid fruit and tomatoes, which causes tiny cracks in the skin that are then allowing bacteria or fungal spores to get in. Please see a vet for a proper diagnosis.
We have got a piggy savvy UK vet locator on the top bar, but can provide a link for recommended vets in other countries.
Here is our recommended piggy savvy UK vet locator:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/

With members from all over the world, you can really help us to ailor any advice and recommendations to what is possible/available where you are by adding your country, state or (for the UK) your county to your details. PLease click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location.
Here is information about cheilitis:http://www.guinealynx.info/cheilitis.html

Here are our diet recommendations (what you can feed how often):https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/

 

[Mummy86]

I've just been googling it and some people are saying they used canesten cream to clear the fungal infection has anyone else done that and found it has worked, along with cleaning regular, and found it worked, just trying to avoid huge vet bills

 

[Wiebke]

I've just been googling it and some people are saying they used canesten cream to clear the fungal infection has anyone else done that and found it has worked, along with cleaning regular, and found it worked, just trying to avoid huge vet bills

It would be better if a vet decided if it was rather fungal than bacterial, as it will need an antibiotic if it bacterial. We do not support home treating on spec on this forum, as we have seen too many cases where this has gone horribly wrong and at the worst ending with the death of the piggy or weeks of unnecessray suffering. there are sadly still far too many places online that do, and far too many piggies that pay a heavy price.

 

[EmJC]

I used canesten on mine but I took them to the vets to have their ring worm confirmed and then ordered the dip that the vet told me to use online as it was cheaper.

As wiebke said though definitely get them to a vet to confirm what it is and be really careful washing your hands incase it's ringworm or something similar!