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Mites Or Not?

BonBon2010

BonBon2010

Adult Guinea Pig
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Hovis came to me with evidence of a condition known as 'broken back' which is where they chew or scratch at a section of back, which drives them nuts, often leading them to self harm (breaking the skin in the attempts to cure the itch).. Only thing is, he's not itchy, i finally removed the scab yesterday - came off with ease - and he still hasn't acted as though it's bothering him, and there are no new lesions on his back, and no evidence he's chewed it since.
I have some beaphar mite drops to put on him, or the bathing option, i'm not convinced it's mites, i think something happened before i got him, as it doesn't look recent, maybe a couple of weeks old. I know what broken back looks like having seen it in the past, and he's not exhibiting typical behaviour of a guinea pig with itchy skin
 
Hard to say without seeing up close and seeing his reaction to touching the area etc.
What did the Vet think it was?
How long have you had him and was he from a rescue?
 
He's been with me about 5 days and came from a rescue, but it wasn't small animal specialized if you know what I mean? I was going to give him a few days to settle in and get used to me handling him before taking him to the vets as because he's not bothered with the area in question and it's healing nicely, he's not in desperate need to be seen and i'm surprized if he hadn't seen a vet prior because apparently he was attacked before he was surrendered to them by another animal, either guinea pig or rabbit, and they left holes all over him where he was bitten. I can only find one area that appears to have been shaven on his body, and the area with the scab an inch above from where his ribs end, beginning to wonder if it's an area they missed or something :/
 
It sounds like a vet visit would be a very good idea.
In the mean time I would not treat with any over the counter medication, as this might simply mask the symptoms and make it harder to get an accurate diagnosis.
In my limited experience sores in the middle of the back are a classic sign of mites, but given his background it could be caused by a number of things, so a vet visit would be the best course of action.

And well done for offering him a home - it sounds like he really needed it.
 
So no broken skin at the moment or sign of skin dandruff in the area?
 
The one thing that's been niggling me is the girl caring for him knew nothing about Guinea pigs and said she'd put him with her rabbit a few times. At this point he was already coming home (or at the time 'she')..
 
Please see a vet for a check-up and please do not use beaphar drops on spec.
 
I would get him checked over to be on safe side, good news no cuts and no scratching though,

He is safe and sound with you.
 
First two of many, he's still quite jumpy, but usually settles if no sudden noises from outside the room - will take him either Monday or Tuesday this week to my vet, but not sure they will be the ones to neuter him yet. Got a young face, think he's about 6-8 months, not sure..

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Aww he's lovely! May have to get my piggynapping jacket and torch out of the wardrobe :bal::bal:! Not too far to Sunny Hadfield is it?
 
I don't think my Oh was impressed when his sex was revealed lol! But neutering is a compromise, I don't want to send him back, but I can't justify keeping him on his own. That said, he's in that difficult age bracket where his hormones are raging, I don't think he could cope with another male companion at this stage, and I think a QT time of about 6-8 weeks including recovery time from neutering will give him time to get his affairs in order :) He'll hopefully be living with 3 girls, I've just got to make some adjustments to their current home, and think bigger I think..
 
Betsy said:
Aww he's lovely! May have to get my piggynapping jacket and torch out of the wardrobe :bal::bal:! Not too far to Sunny Hadfield is it?
Click to expand...
@ Betsy NO!
You know your Doctor is trying to break you from your pignapping! Lol
 
Right then guys :btt: this started off as a serious thread with someone asking for help that's enough silliness now! We need to get back to helping them.
 
On a serious note - are the lesions where the fur goes funny where the him of his neck meets his back? If so that looks far too forward to be him doing it to himself? When jet had mites it was a v further down the back where he could reach it. Have the vet check for mites but I wonder if the rabbit tried to mount him.
 
Below the shoulder blades - a single scab in the middle, was a lot bigger when he came, now a a quarter of the size and shrinking daily

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It's usually a classic 'V' shape hairloss, which is what's leaving me scratching my head, this is just what usually comes with a large bite wound that's healing, anyway will get him booked in tomorrow
 
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