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Holes

ChesterThePig

ChesterThePig

Junior Guinea Pig
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This is the second time my pig has done this! He bites himself on his lower back so aggressively and very frequently and this is the result. Does anyone have any pigs that do this as well? The first time he did it, he made a large bald spot but eventually stopped biting with and the hair grew back. This is a different spot and he made this hole just in 1 day! I’m going on vacation soon and the absolute last thing I want is for him to be on a medication while I’m gone.
 

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Ugh I cannot keep going back to vets. He’s been to 5 different vets and the bills are too much. I went to the vet for his first bald spot and she gave me this topical ointment to put on it called silver sulfadiazine. Not sure if I should put it on this affected area as well once it’s less aggravated
 
It is so strange that he always bites these perfectly symmetrical holes on his body....
 
Is there puss in it? It kinda looks like it in the picture. It might be infected.
 
He must be extremely itchy to do that to himself! Has he been checked for mites? They can cause severe itching and fur loss/skin irritation like that.
 
Please take him to see a vet. Your piggy very clearly has a serious irritation that needs professional advice and treatment. His gnawing shows that he is distressed. That now also looks infected. He needs professional examination by a vet.
 
Poor piggy. He needs treatment urgently for this. Please get him to a piggy vet asap
 
ChesterThePig said:
This is the second time my pig has done this! He bites himself on his lower back so aggressively and very frequently and this is the result. Does anyone have any pigs that do this as well? The first time he did it, he made a large bald spot but eventually stopped biting with and the hair grew back. This is a different spot and he made this hole just in 1 day! I’m going on vacation soon and the absolute last thing I want is for him to be on a medication while I’m gone.
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Hi! Please see a vet for a fungal infection (possibly ringworm) or a mange mites reservoir. The two need different treatment; but it is vital that you treat correctly and with good quality stuff (NOT the usual low dosed broad spectrum shop stuff that just temporarily suppresses the symptoms) if you want to get on top of it once and for all.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
 
Merab's Slave said:
Have you managed to get to a vet?
How is your boy?
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Thank you for asking. No I have not brought him to the vet, I just do not have the funds to be bringing him in every time there is a little problem. He is doing perfectly fine. Eating and drinking and cuddling as usual. He has not been biting himself either, so the spot has healed up a bit and scabbed over. I know everyone's 1st reaction on here is to immediately bring your pig into a vet, and I just wonder how everyone has the time and money to do it every time a little mishap happens! I check up on his wound multiple times a day and try my best to keep it clean. So far it is working fine for me. He is one happy piggy.
 
ChesterThePig said:
Thank you for asking. No I have not brought him to the vet, I just do not have the funds to be bringing him in every time there is a little problem. He is doing perfectly fine. Eating and drinking and cuddling as usual. He has not been biting himself either, so the spot has healed up a bit and scabbed over. I know everyone's 1st reaction on here is to immediately bring your pig into a vet, and I just wonder how everyone has the time and money to do it every time a little mishap happens! I check up on his wound multiple times a day and try my best to keep it clean. So far it is working fine for me. He is one happy piggy.
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It may not be a little mishap though. I would go to a vet 👍
 
Skypipdot said:
It may not be a little mishap though. I would go to a vet 👍
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Yes, thank you for your input. About 7 other people have already told me that. Again, I don't know how people on here have all this extra money laying around. I cannot afford to bring him in all the time. He has already seen 5 different exotic vets in the last 6 months.
 
No disrespect here but I wonder why you are asking us here on the forum if you have no intention of taking the piggy to the vets? This could be mites. Or ringworm. Or a secondary bacterial infection after/as well as mites or ringworm. I believe the forum has a policy to always advise people to visit the vets for medical cases. Vet bills are part of pet keeping unfortunately, although we see youngsters on here sometimes whose parents dont have the money for vet bills, which is very sad, if you are an adult with a sick pet... you need to take the sick pet to the vets.
 
The reason about 7 people have told you you need to go to the vets is down to the forum rules:
f) Make sure that in posts relating to animals that may be ill or suffering it is made clear that it is the responsibility of the owner to seek veterinary advice. At no point should any member discourage a visit to the vet if the animal may be suffering.
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Here in the UK is a legal duty to provide care for a sick pet. Having looked at the photo to me it looks more like a small abscess has burst or perhaps something more sinister if it has caused him to bite himself.

Unfortunately if you are looking for home remedy recommendations then you have come to the wrong place as these can never replace proper vetinary care. Yes it is expensive and I have had piggies cost me hundreds of pounds within a few months previously but it is necessary and if I wasn't prepared to do it then I wouldn't have pets. I appreciate that vets are more costly in the US but I would look for one knowledgeable on piggies, unfortunately it is a common misconception that exotics vets automatically know how to diagnose and treat guinea pigs
 
I know you must be very stressed especially after seeing 5 different vets and not getting the issue permanently sorted. Is there any way you can borrow the money?

I take money from my savings for my pets and put it back when i get weekend work or a long week. Its painful to dip into most the time but it is what it is.

Your in a hard place i see, you have been to the vets 5 times and have used your money up on this, which is good hearted but if you can just squeeze one more visit and see a vet thats knows about guinea pigs you should get it sorted
 
PigglePuggle said:
No disrespect here but I wonder why you are asking us here on the forum if you have no intention of taking the piggy to the vets? This could be mites. Or ringworm. Or a secondary bacterial infection after/as well as mites or ringworm. I believe the forum has a policy to always advise people to visit the vets for medical cases. Vet bills are part of pet keeping unfortunately, although we see youngsters on here sometimes whose parents dont have the money for vet bills, which is very sad, if you are an adult with a sick pet... you need to take the sick pet to the vets.
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I'm not sure I understand the whole youngsters thing.. are you saying children shouldn't have guinea pigs as pets because they aren't rich? I am a broke college kid trying to pay back tens of thousands of dollars for my education. I rescued this pig from being put down. Are you saying I should have just let him die since I cannot afford vet bills instead of taking him in as my own..?
 
Skypipdot said:
I know you must be very stressed especially after seeing 5 different vets and not getting the issue permanently sorted. Is there any way you can borrow the money?

I take money from my savings for my pets and put it back when i get weekend work or a long week. Its painful to dip into most the time but it is what it is.

Your in a hard place i see, you have been to the vets 5 times and have used your money up on this, which is good hearted but if you can just squeeze one more visit and see a vet thats knows about guinea pigs you should get it sorted
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Thanks we will see.
 
We are all saying that this is a serious skin condition which requires veterinary treatment. That is all we are saying. Pig needs vet. Owner takes pig to vet. Forum policy, UK law, basic animal welfare. Thats all we are saying. Nobody here knows you well enough to judge your personal circumstances- this is all about the piggy's health and welfare.
 
We are all saying that this is a serious skin condition which requires veterinary treatment. That is all we are saying. Pig needs vet. Owner takes pig to vet. Forum policy, UK law, basic animal welfare. Thats all we are saying. Nobody here knows you well enough to judge your personal circumstances- this is all about the piggy's health and welfare.
 
PigglePuggle said:
We are all saying that this is a serious skin condition which requires veterinary treatment. That is all we are saying. Pig needs vet. Owner takes pig to vet. Forum policy, UK law, basic animal welfare. Thats all we are saying. Nobody here knows you well enough to judge your personal circumstances- this is all about the piggy's health and welfare.
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Well I do not live in the UK. I've done everything that I can possibly do and afford. Thank you for your input.
 
I think @PigglePuggle rather meant that we get lots of kids here whose parents have brought them Guinea pigs when they didn't really want any themselves. Then when the pig gets sick the adults won't pay for a vet and as the kids obvs don't have a job they can't afford to pay themselves :)
What treatment has he already had? Or tests perhaps?
 
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