My Guinea Pig has a scab on his foot!

[Cavykaiya]

Is this normal? Both of my Guinea pigs have it! My friend who is a Guineas pig breeder said, it’s just from them grooming themselves. Also they are both fairly young. So, I know that means they are more susceptible to diseases. It is definetly not bumblefoot.It doesn’t quite look like a spur either. Amy advice?

 

[Swissgreys]

It is hard to tell from the photo to be honest.
Do they have scabs or bald patches anywhere else on their bodies?
How big is their cage?
Do they have things to chew and play with and unlimited piles of hay?

I have seen something similar in degus before but never in guinea pigs.
I would probably pop them along to a vet for a quick health check just to be sure.

 

[VickiA]

I’d pop them along to the vet.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

We generally recommend to have any new piggies that don't come from a good standard rescue with mandatory quarantine and vet care checked through by a vet. In the UK, the first vet check is sometimes discounted when you register your piggies.

It is very difficult to see from your picture what exactly is going on. It would be good to make sure with a hands-on examination that it is not a potential fungal infection. We have heard so many explanations from for sale breeders for the presence of bald patches caused by their failure to treat their breeding stock properly against fungal skin infections and parasites (that would cost money, after all), that we have become rather wary.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Here is what the mechanical abrasure of hairs on the inside of the front paws looks like in 5-6 months piggy. it is a gradual process of hair loss as it is caused by the piggies wiping spit over their coat several times a day in order to clean themselves ('piggy washes'). The older a guinea pig, the less hair in that area. Babies are generally born fully haired in that area.
Your scab does not look like this as far as I can make out; in fact it looks rather fungally to me, but only a hands-on vet examination can decide that. Please do not treat on spec with any cheap products that can only temporarily suppress but not cure any problem and in the end cost you more than if you had seen a vet straight away with a minor case.



The green link above is part of our new owners guide collection, which specifically addresses all the areas we get the most questions and concerns about from new owners and provides practical information to help to as smooth a start as possible as well as to minimise any preventable problems in the longer term. It includes guides on settling in, safe handling and making friends with; understanding behaviour; diet, housing, care and safe/unsafe enrichment; learning what is normal and what not and how to check for it; early signs of illness and how
You can access the very useful collection by clicking on this link here: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

 

[Cavykaiya]

It is hard to tell from the photo to be honest.
Do they have scabs or bald patches anywhere else on their bodies?
How big is their cage?
Do they have things to chew and play with and unlimited piles of hay?

I have seen something similar in degus before but never in guinea pigs.
I would probably pop them along to a vet for a quick health check just to be sure.

No other bald patches or scabs just that. Everywhere else has hair! They have a very big cage! And I have a hand made hay rack. They have at all times. It is actually gone as of right now... I will be looking for a vet now. Just in case. Thank you so very much for the help and responding! If you have any other advice or anything let me know!

 

[Cavykaiya]

Hi!

We generally recommend to have any new piggies that don't come from a good standard rescue with mandatory quarantine and vet care checked through by a vet. In the UK, the first vet check is sometimes discounted when you register your piggies.

It is very difficult to see from your picture what exactly is going on. It would be good to make sure with a hands-on examination that it is not a potential fungal infection. We have heard so many explanations from for sale breeders for the presence of bald patches caused by their failure to treat their breeding stock properly against fungal skin infections and parasites (that would cost money, after all), that we have become rather wary.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Here is what the mechanical abrasure of hairs on the inside of the front paws looks like in 5-6 months piggy. it is a gradual process of hair loss as it is caused by the piggies wiping spit over their coat several times a day in order to clean themselves ('piggy washes'). The older a guinea pig, the less hair in that area. Babies are generally born fully haired in that area.
Your scab does not look like this as far as I can make out; in fact it looks rather fungally to me, but only a hands-on vet examination can decide that. Please do not treat on spec with any cheap products that can only temporarily suppress but not cure any problem and in the end cost you more than if you had seen a vet straight away with a minor case.

View attachment 113190

The green link above is part of our new owners guide collection, which specifically addresses all the areas we get the most questions and concerns about from new owners and provides practical information to help to as smooth a start as possible as well as to minimise any preventable problems in the longer term. It includes guides on settling in, safe handling and making friends with; understanding behaviour; diet, housing, care and safe/unsafe enrichment; learning what is normal and what not and how to check for it; early signs of illness and how
You can access the very useful collection by clicking on this link here: Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

My friend is a show guniea pig breeder so became from a very good household and environment. He has a rescue as well. My pup was supposed to be a show pig but, his momma bit his ears quite a bit. So he is not applicable for show anymore. I took him in after that. He has all his paperwork and health certification since he was born a month and half ago. And his officially pedigree lol.I am actual a vet assistant so I’m aware of handling and daily care. Just not as knowledgeable in all medical conditions. I am trying to find a good exotic vet in my area for now. Which I shouldn’t have a problem with. (I only work at a general practice dogs and cats). Thank you so much for the help though and if you have anything to add with the info I told you. I would love to hear more and more advice to keep learning. Also, as of right no those patches/scans are gone now. I will still bring him to the vet. But once again thank you so much for taking the time to respond. If you have anything else let me know.

 

[5StarPigs]

Hello! I would suggest getting your piggies to a vet as soon as possible, as my sisters guinea, Sammy, had a blackish scab/bump looking thing on his foot last year. The day before we were gonna take him to the vet he passed away the thing on his foot looked like it had popped. I dont want anything bad happening to your piggies, they could probably have something different than what Sammy had, but to be on the safe side you should take them to a vet.