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Pig with bald patches and damaged claw

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Deb2202

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Hi

We have a gorgeous 1 year old Pig called Rolo. He lost his cage mate 3 weeks ago and is alone but seems to be doing ok.
Yesterday morning we noticed a cut on his nose, last night a couple of bald patches on his face.
Sent some photos to the vet who thought he was probably damaging himself and was asking about hi cage or it could be mites. Said to handle him and comb his fur the wrong way and see if he itches and reacts. We’ve done that and I don’t think it’s mites, he’s not itching at all.

However, he is now bleeding from his front claw and I’m wondering if this was the culprit all the time! It looks damaged to me.
After lunch I was going to bathe it and see if I can see a little clearer what is going on.

Can anyone help? Should I go back to the vet to have the claw seen to or will cleaning and trimming it do the job?

thank you 🙏🏼
 

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I would have the vet have a look at it as it looks to be quite a cut from the picture. You don’t want any infection to set in.

Are you going to look to get him a new friend? He will have grieved for his friend, but he will need a new friend to spend his life with.
 
Thanks for the reply, I was wondering if the vet might give us an ointment or such to try and stop it getting infected, we are putting him on clean fleece. I also wondered if his claw might need removing or something, it looks kinda hooked round.

We are going to get him a new pal, we were going to try our local rescue and my heart sank when i saw the bald patch as I thought it might put them off bonding him just incase it was something infectious.

The bald patches are weird there looks no trauma to the skin, it’s totally smooth.
 
Has he been chewing the bars to cause the bald patches? I had a hammy years ago that would spends most nights chewing the bars DESPITE all the other chewy things in her cage. And she wore a bald patch too. No sore skin, just a bare patch
 
Not been chewing that we’ve noticed and he has chew toys and a wooden house to chew on. He’s indoors so I’d of thought we would of noticed bar chewing.

The patches appeared overnight.

My husbands on his way home we are going to give him a good look over everywhere, he’s much better at handling him than me and send some more photos to the vet.
 
Deb2202 said:
yes I suppose he could.

he’s in a c&c cage with a plastic floor then fleece, how could we stop bar chewing?
Click to expand...

I’m sure you already do, but ensuring he always has plenty of hay to chew can help along with plenty of other enrichment, particularly while he is alone. There are many reasons why piggies bar chew, if that is what he is doing, but it might be because he is looking for attention. It might stop when he gets a new friend.
 
I agree with the above. I would get him seen by the vet rather than sending more photos. Hands on is the best way to diagnose, even if the photos are clear. Is your vet guinea savvy?
 
Hi. The vets have been really good when I’ve used them before they specialise in exotics.
I’ve sent off some photos and she’ll take a look and if she wants to see him I’ll drop him in. They are just trying to do some triage type stuff with COVID.

Husband is back and we’ve checked over every inch of him. Blood defo coming from a damaged claw which is now wonky and only bald patches where he washes his face with that claw when he’s grooming.
He’s happy enough sat munching while I brush him.

Waiting on the vet ringing.

I wonder if we’ve let his claws get too long... he had dark nails and I find them tricky to cut.
 
Deb2202 said:
Thanks for the reply, I was wondering if the vet might give us an ointment or such to try and stop it getting infected, we are putting him on clean fleece. I also wondered if his claw might need removing or something, it looks kinda hooked round.

We are going to get him a new pal, we were going to try our local rescue and my heart sank when i saw the bald patch as I thought it might put them off bonding him just incase it was something infectious.

The bald patches are weird there looks no trauma to the skin, it’s totally smooth.
Click to expand...

Hi!

I am very sorry for your loss.

It looks rather like some mechanical abrasion to me.

Please have the toe seen by your vet to make sure that it doesn't get infected.

Here are our tips for bereaved guinea pigs and grieving support for yourself.
Looking After a Bereaved Guinea Pig
Rescue Locator (link to other countries below the UK map)
Human Bereavement: Grieving, Coping and Support Links for Guinea Pig Owners and Their Children
 
I think you should see the vet as soon as possible! I hope your guinea pig will be okay, poor Rolo! Good luck!
 
Good luck and do let us know how you get on.
 
We’ve been to the vets and she’s given him a good going over, she said the nail is damaged down to the nailbed so she’s cut it right back so it can’t catch on anything.

she doesn’t think the claw is enough to cause the damage on his face, she thinks it’s from his environment that at night when it’s quiet and he’s alone he’s trying to bury out and is damaging himself which is similar to what has been suggested by posters on here.

Do you think a rescue will take him to bond with another male while he is like this? Not sure what to do now.
 
Deb2202 said:
We’ve been to the vets and she’s given him a good going over, she said the nail is damaged down to the nailbed so she’s cut it right back so it can’t catch on anything.

she doesn’t think the claw is enough to cause the damage on his face, she thinks it’s from his environment that at night when it’s quiet and he’s alone he’s trying to bury out and is damaging himself which is similar to what has been suggested by posters on here.

Do you think a rescue will take him to bond with another male while he is like this? Not sure what to do now.
Click to expand...

In that case it sounds as if he is in need of companionship. Get in contact with some rescue centres. They absolutely will help if they can and have suitable single boars available.
 
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