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Scabby mouths

  • Thread starter Thread starter fluffypiggies
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fluffypiggies

Hi I put my piggies away this evening after a lovely long day out in the garden, and noticed 2 of them have scabby mouths! Anyone have any idea what this could be? I keep 3 irls including these 2 together in one cage and then another 4 together in a separate cage but they were all out in the run together. I will be going to the vets in the morning obviously but wondered if anyone had any idea with what it is and if contagious to the others?

thanks x
 
is it under their bottom lip and is quite hard?

My piggies get this sometimes - it tends to be their dribble when they get carried away sometimes!
 
Just had another look its actually on side as of mouth as well, its worse on Princess it looks a teeny bit swollen.
They are both only 10wks old,
 
Was it there before you put them out to graze in the run, or has it just come up since they've been in the run?
 
A few things spring to mind:

Could they have been fighting? Does it look like bite wounds?
A fungal infection

Your vet will be able to help you if it's a bacterial or fungal infection.
 
No no blood, cant say that I noticed it before they went out, seemed fine then, Princess is all cream and Ginger is all.... well Ginger. Ive been watching them for the majority of the day popcorning and munching away, Princess has green stains on her mouth from all the grass!
 
what does it look like - like i say, mine do get it sometimes, and its just dried up dribble.
 
I'd be worried if my pigs had dried dribble that they hadn't cleaned up. Even when it's tomato day, they still manage to clean themselves up quite soon after they've covered themselves in tomato juice.

I wouldn't expect them to have a reaction to grass as much as I'd expect pigs to have a reaction to hay unless you treat your hay with anything: pesticides, fertiliser...
 
No they have been for about a month now. Its odd, they are sisters, the other girl flower that I have in with them isnt related at all and she has nothing on her.

If no one has any idea I will upload some photos trm maybe with vet diagnosis incase anyone else gets owt similar x
 
teadragon said:
I'd be worried if my pigs had dried dribble that they hadn't cleaned up. Even when it's tomato day, they still manage to clean themselves up quite soon after they've covered themselves in tomato juice.

I wouldn't expect them to have a reaction to grass as much as I'd expect pigs to have a reaction to hay unless you treat your hay with anything: pesticides, fertiliser...
Click to expand...

its not all the time - all my piggies have had it, and i've had them for 18 years!

its usually cleaned up by them after a couple of hours, but if i see it i get it.

i dont think its a reaction to grass as well - have you checked their teeth?
 
I totally read that wrong and was sitting thinking "an 18 year old guinea pig.... wtf?!?!"
 
The hay is untreated, grass untreated all the same stuff i have been using for years. Nothing different. All other piggys and 2 buns are fine just these 2 sisters! Hmmm puzzling! Gonna upload a pic bit blurry but * get the gist of it x
 
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This one just to show her pretty face x

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I know its blurry but you can see the area its covering.
 
It looks like a bite, or else a cut from a piece of grass, on the right lip. Leave alone.
The area below the right nostril could be dried nasal discharge, difficult to tell from an out of focus image. I would leave that alone for a couple of days, then review. There is no point in taking off the scab just to have a look underneath.
(It may be that it is the start of a "cold sore" which would be treated by Daktarin Oral Gel.)
 
A coldsore would make sense to me thanx didnt know they could get them.
What should I do then, shall I vet them tomorrow or wait a couple of days?
 
I would wait a couple of days, just wait and watch. A "cold sore" is not a life threatening condition. It is treated by removing the scabs then applying Daktarin 2 or 3 times per day for about 3 weeks. It is important that the scabs are removed, before applying the gel, because the condition is under the scab. Be warned, some pigs object to having the scabs taken off, mind your fingers!
However,wait and see in the first instance.
 
Ok thanx you been a great help you all have much appreciated, its great to have somewhere like this to get advice from, will keep an eye on them and update with you x Thanx again guys xoxo
 
Hi update for you, it seems to be clearing up! So very strange, does that help anyone with an idea of what it could have been? Xxxxx
 
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