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Open sores

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BellaCLM42

Junior Guinea Pig
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Help very much needed please. My poor piggies both got what the vet thinks was mites, both were treated, I’ve moved them out of their wooden hutch into a Kavee cage which I can keep clean more efficiently. I’m spot cleaning daily and deep cleaning once a week. Both have had two lots of more treatment. One piggy is completely better and her fur is growing back nicely. The other one however has itched and made her skin sore and despite her hair also beginning to grow back is caught in a vicious cycle of licking herself because she’s sore and therefore making herself sore. She has 3 patches of wet eczema. On the vet’s advice I’m cleaning them twice daily with dilute hibiscrub. She hates this and squeaks and scrabbles and it’s a pretty traumatic experience for both of us. She’s also on antibiotics which she is taking well. If it was the dog I would put a cone on her to stop her getting to them but presumably no such thing exists for piggies. It’s been going on for nearly two weeks and I just feel so awful for her and traumatised by torturing her twice a day. Does anyone have any ideas of anything that could help. I’m going back to see the vet Wednesday.
 

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I'm very sorry. That looks sore indeed.
Unfortunately, I don't have any real advice for you.
Maybe your vet could give you some pain medication. If your piggy licks and bites because of pain, pain medication could help.

Another thought would be a bandage that protects the areas. But you would need to discuss this idea with your vet as well. I have heard of guinea pigs having to wear a protective body after an operation if they try to bite their stiches. But some piggies don't tolerate this kind of protection at all.
 
I don’t have any advice either but @Viennese Furbabies suggestion to get pain killers is a good one.
If she’s pain free she may stop licking and biting.
It sounds as if you’re are doing a really good job of caring but looking after sick piggies is exhausting so look after yourself too.

I notice that this thread has been duplicated so I will delete the other one otherwise there will be confusion.
 
BellaCLM42 said:
Help very much needed please. My poor piggies both got what the vet thinks was mites, both were treated, I’ve moved them out of their wooden hutch into a Kavee cage which I can keep clean more efficiently. I’m spot cleaning daily and deep cleaning once a week. Both have had two lots of more treatment. One piggy is completely better and her fur is growing back nicely. The other one however has itched and made her skin sore and despite her hair also beginning to grow back is caught in a vicious cycle of licking herself because she’s sore and therefore making herself sore. She has 3 patches of wet eczema. On the vet’s advice I’m cleaning them twice daily with dilute hibiscrub. She hates this and squeaks and scrabbles and it’s a pretty traumatic experience for both of us. She’s also on antibiotics which she is taking well. If it was the dog I would put a cone on her to stop her getting to them but presumably no such thing exists for piggies. It’s been going on for nearly two weeks and I just feel so awful for her and traumatised by torturing her twice a day. Does anyone have any ideas of anything that could help. I’m going back to see the vet Wednesday.
Click to expand...

@Wheekallweek Could you please explain about antiseptic F10 washes and continuing ivermectin treatment.
 
I tried an F10 spray in the sores that the vet gave me and she really didn’t tolerate it, I think it was very painful. I’ve treated them with ivermectin as per the vets recommendations so twice at a two week interval. My other little piggy looks really good it’s just this poor girl. It breaks my heart every time I have to try and clean her because she’s so frantic and frightened. Once I wrap her in a little towel she settles and takes her medicine fine. I think I will suggest to the vets some pan relief to see if that will help.
 
@Weibke I certainly can!

Hi @BellaCLM42! I agree some paint relief would be beneficial - she could be licking it due to discomfort. Hopefully it'll be easier for you give her treatment when she's more comfortable with being touched!

We have in the past used an f10 shampoo which has worked wonders. The pigyy in question had two baths around 10 days apart and her condition improved dramatically. It may be useful try this, making sure you dry and rinse her thoroughly afterwards. She may be more comfortable with this once the paint relief has kicked in.

Ivermectin we always use as a three treatment course minimum, once weekly for three weeks as directed on the brand we use (Easimec)

Leucillin is also good to use on any sore areas as it doesn't sting.

What bedding do you use in the cage? How are you doing your deep cleans? The f10 disinfectant is a really good one to use.
 
Unfortunately it has not improved with pain relief. It looks better for a couple of days and then she opens it all up again. Would she not lick cream off?
They are on fleece bedding, deep clean is everything out and everything that can be sprayed is sprayed with F10. Anything fabric is washed at 40.
I tried making her a t shirt out of a cotton sock but unfortunately it didn’t cover it as it’s at the top of her leg. I’m at my wits end a bit, she’s not a pig that likes be handled and it’s a bit traumatic every day.
 
Can I ask what pain relief and dosage she was given? If she was given Metacam/meloxicom was it cat (0.5mg/ml) or dog version (1.5 mg/ml)
Just want to check as piggies can tolerate quite high doses (and of the stronger dog version) so if it was a low dose and of cat and only once a day it may not be high enough to help her
 
Cat or dog version?
It makes a difference as dog is three times stronger, so that amount of cat once a day is a fairly low dose.
If it was cat then your vet has the option to go higher on the dose to see if it helps her.
If pain is properly managed she may be more inclined to leave it alone so it has chance to heal
 
That’s good then. Still might be a bit of leeway upwards on the dosing to discuss with the vet but it is better than being the cat version at once a day
 
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