Open sores on back hind leg area please help

[cocobrown]

Hi there,

Around 4 or 5 months ago when bathing our guinea pig we noticed he had a large lump on his rear back end/upper leg. After bathing the lump seemed to burst which revealed itself to be nothing more than a fluid filled lump, we're still unsure how our pig got this lump in the first place but since it burst whilst we bathed him it has left a nasty open wound. The wound still hasn't gone due to him nibbling at it and now there is a second open wound next to the first one. They are really nasty to look at and are causing him discomfort. We have tried to fit dressings over the lump which doesnt seem to work as hes not a fan of having plasters stuck to his back end. We regularly treat him with anti flea and mites medication. What could of caused this in the first place and what can we do to treat the wounds?

Many thanks.

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

I don't know if it's possible as it depends where the wounds are, but there is a sticky bandage called 'vet bandage' which they use on horses legs and so on which might work.

My girl Columbine wouldn't stop biting at her healing wound from a mastectomy and caused an abcess as a result. It would be a good idea to take him to the vets to be certain there is no infection there. Infections can cause itchiness/discomfort which would encourage biting - a sort of vicious circle really.

To help Columbine stop chewing at the wound I used salty water, not too salty, as advised. Salt water is an antiseptic anyway, so helps to keep the wound clean, and she didn't like the taste which helped to stop her chewing at herself.

By the time she was finally healing up she ran away as soon as she saw me - I was either getting antibiotics down her or putting water on her tummy! - but our relationship is back to normal now...I have been forgiven!