How To Get The Piggy To Stop Sctratching Her Wound?

[Pand4h3ad]

Hello

I just got a new lil piggy about 8 days ago, and she has somehow got a big sore on her nose, I checked for mites but that's not it. It just looks like a bad roasty, its not deep and heals up just fine, or it would if she didn't keep scratching the scab off, how do I get her to stop scratching it. I have kept it from getting infected and have tried to alleviate the itch a healing scab creates but this only help for so long before she scratches it off again.

I have zero clue of how she got the would or why, I have hunted every inch of the internet to try and see how she could have wounded herself, all I can think of is that she maybe poked her face on a really hard piece of hay or scratched herself open by accident. I have checked her nails they are not long and don't need trimming.

I also read that some guinea pigs have a reaction to tomatoes, which I did feed her but I would think that, to be around the mouth and nose and not between her nose and eye.

mostly I just want her face to heal so, how do I get Casey to stop scratching it? (after 8 days she is not use to me, doesn't like me very much since I have been poking at her face all the time and generally tells me to go away if I go near her cage, unless I have food then she is more than willing to take it from my hand)

 

[DM030819]

It sounds like a fungal issue to me. You'll need to go to the vet for appropriate medication. That should help the itching but you could alway ask for pain relief too.

If you're reluctant to pay for a vet visit you could always take the pig back to the shop and ask them to either take her to the vet for you, or at least pay the bill as she had the infection when you got her.

@Pand4h3ad

 

[Wiebke]

Hello

I just got a new lil piggy about 8 days ago, and she has somehow got a big sore on her nose, I checked for mites but that's not it. It just looks like a bad roasty, its not deep and heals up just fine, or it would if she didn't keep scratching the scab off, how do I get her to stop scratching it. I have kept it from getting infected and have tried to alleviate the itch a healing scab creates but this only help for so long before she scratches it off again.

I have zero clue of how she got the would or why, I have hunted every inch of the internet to try and see how she could have wounded herself, all I can think of is that she maybe poked her face on a really hard piece of hay or scratched herself open by accident. I have checked her nails they are not long and don't need trimming.

I also read that some guinea pigs have a reaction to tomatoes, which I did feed her but I would think that, to be around the mouth and nose and not between her nose and eye.

mostly I just want her face to heal so, how do I get Casey to stop scratching it? (after 8 days she is not use to me, doesn't like me very much since I have been poking at her face all the time and generally tells me to go away if I go near her cage, unless I have food then she is more than willing to take it from my hand)

Hi! Please see a vet for ringworm (fungal) treatment during regular hours, ideally today or tomorrow. You can reclaim the cost from the pet shop if you present your vet bill together with the sales receipt. Do not treat on spec without a proper diagnosis, as we cannot diagnose (nor are we legally allowed or qualified to) without a hands-on consultation. All we can do is tell you when to see a vet and what most likely avenues to pursue with one.
Recommended UK vets: Guinea Pig Vet Locator
Recommended vets in some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: GL's Vet List

Ringworm is unfortunately not at all uncommon in shop guinea pigs. Exposure and infection has happened at the shop. It takes about 10-14 days between infection and outbreak. If possible, please ask your vet for oral treatment (UK: itrafungol, active substance: itraconazole), which is less stressful and more efficient than any topical (skin treatment) and you are at less risk catching it from her. Itrafungol is not licensed for guinea pigs, but has been successfully and increasingly used by piggy savvy vets or vets with online access to an exotics vet. You may need to sign a form. Please be aware that an ultraviolet light check is not necessarily conclusive for the presence of ringworm.

Because it is so infective and transmittable between all mammals (including humans!), you need to be extremely careful with your hygiene. Please follow the tips on that score in our guide; we have learned what works and what not the hard way. These tips really work!
Do not skimp on getting a good disinfectant like F10 that is anti-fungal and not just anti-bacterial like the majority. F10 is also the only disifinfectant that is proven to kill ringworm spores that are shed in their thousands and can stay live for up to 18 months. F10 is widely available online. I also use the hand gel. More detailed tips in the guide, include how to deal with fabrics.
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
How To Pick Up And Weigh Your Guinea Pig

Please be aware that an acute ringworm outbreak needs to run its due course and get worse rather than better as the affected area is much wider than you can see now, and all affected hairs need to come out first.

You can leave your piggy with its companion as it has already been exposed, but you need to give the companion an anti-fungal bath once you start treatment for the infected one to prevent any ringworm patches from appearing. You then need to give both piggies another anti-fungal bath at the end of the treatment to remove any ringworm spores from the coats and make sure that they cannot carry anything across that can cause a new outbreak.
Do the baths in bowl on a large towel in the shower or bathtub so your new piggies cannot injure themselves badly in case they blind jump in a panic. Your vet will be able to give you or recommend a suitable shampoo.
If you have been already touching the infected patch and yourself without thoroughly washing your hands, I would recommend to give yourself a whole body soap down with the shampoo to prevent developing ringworm yourself.

With prompt treatment and good hygiene on all levels, ringworm can be got on top of once and forever in about two week with a two week obervation period afterwards. The hairs will grow back in a matter of weeks.

 

[2 fluffy boars]

Like the others said, it's probably a fungal infection please see a vet ASAP. If the itching is very bad, you can get a guinea pig lotion, such as the Quench lotion from Gorgeous Guineas or Organic tea tree oil and put it on the place, as it will cool the wound. It won't heal it thought, so a visit to the vets is absolutely necessary.

 

[VickiA]

Please don’t try to treat this at home without formal diagnosis and professional treatment from a vet. It does sound like it could be a fungal infection and that is something that you will need oral medication from the vet for treatment. Good luck. Please let us know how you get on.

 

[Freela]

It sounds fungal and is likely itchy and in need of an antifungal treatment- get it seen promptly or she is likely to spread it to other areas on her body, to cagemates, and (depending on the fungus involved), to you!