Sore Ear

[Julia McAnish]

Hello

Brand new guinea pig granny here! My two sons have two wee guinea pigs, Oscar & Dexter (9/10 weeks old) who came to stay last week.
Unfortunately, behind one of Oscar's ears is a little scabby, and has broken skin, any suggestions to what we can put on it. I haven't seen him scratch it, but presuming he is as the skin wasn't broken the other day. Thanks for your help & hope I'm posting in the right place.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

Please have your boys checked by a vet re. fungal problems, which are not at all rare in new shop or breeder piggies. Do not home treat on spec. At the worst, it can be easily transmittable ringworm, which is one of the very few things that can cross the species boundaries, but that are rife especially in some pet shops. Please do not let your children touch the piggies and make sure that you use very good hygiene. You can reclaim the vet cost from your pet shop, as it falls into the incubation period.
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/ringworm-hygiene-and-pictures.115402/

Here are also tips on how to best settle new guinea pigs that are not used to human interaction yet. You can find more information about all aspects of looking after guinea pigs at the top of our various Care sections:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-do-i-settle-shy-new-guinea-pigs.36239/
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/...stincts-and-speak-piggy-body-language.117031/

With members from all over the world, we find it very helpful in always being able to give you the best advice and recommendations for your particular part of the the globe straight away if you added your country, state or (for the UK), your county/city straight away. Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thanks!
We have got a piggy savvy vets locator for our UK members on the top bar: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/

 

[Julia McAnish]

Hi Wiebke
Thanks so much for getting back to me. Will ring vets first thing in the morning & hopefully get an appointment same day. Will get them checked & sorted out asap. We've only had them a week, but so attached already, love watching them & they grow braver everyday, we even had some pop corning today. Have read some info., on settling them in, but will read through the links you posted, my older son will be especially interested in the instincts & speak piggy body language. I read the info., about keeping boars and must re-read as Dexter (who I think is slightly older, they're not brothers) is getting a little fresh with Oscar, especially his head

Will also fill in personal information.
Thanks again
Julia

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks! I wish you and your boys all the best!

Mounting from all sides is a normal boar pre-occupation... But you could try adding a washable piggy sized toddler-safe soft humping toy that you have rubbed over both boys, so it smells right to help draw off some of the enthusiasm!

 

[Julia McAnish]

Hi Wiebke
Managed to get to vet first thing this morning & she pretty much thinks it's roundworm (one very anxious vet, washed her hands several times as only time she's had roundworm herself & was from a guinea pig) poor wee Oscar, was a bit traumatised by it all. Dexter was checked too, but seems to be okay at the moment. We've got ointment to apply & she took some hair to have cultured to confirm whether it is. We go back in a couple of weeks, if it's not better then it could be mites, but it looks even worse this morning - Dexter better stop bonking Oscar's head, or he'll be getting something in a not very pleasant place! Better get a wee toy as you suggest!

Thank you so much again for the advice, so glad I went to the vet, just hope he gets better quickly
Julia

 

[helen105281]

Do you know the name of the ointment you have been given?

 

[Julia McAnish]

Hi
At work just now, but will let you know when I get home.
Julia

 

[Julia McAnish]

Hi Helen
Vet gave me surolan, to be applied twice a day. She said there are no licensed treatments for guinea pigs, but she had had good results with this - does it sound familiar to you?

 

[helen105281]

Yes Surolan is effective but you are only treating the one area and not the whole pig. We recommend Imaverol which is a dip or Itrafungol which is an oral medication (or even both) as the most effective treatment for Ringworm. If it is not clearing up please speak to your vet about these.

 

[Julia McAnish]

Oh, will do, we go back in 2 weeks, will definitely mention if it hasn't cleared up. Thanks.