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wondered about old remedies I used to use

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Pepperdog

Pepperdog

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As complementary treatments of course not instead of. I wondered if any one has tried them before on guinea pigs or know of any reason why they cannot be used on them

the first one is iodine, brilliant for putting on holes and cuts to clean and dry up wounds, I used it to dip new borns navels and for treating cysts on the goats (and abcesses). It does sting on application but it is a great cleanser.

Secondly is manuka honey http://www.manukahoney.co.uk/, spread on open wounds and it is has antibiotic properties as well as wonderful healing properties. I have used this on open wounds on pepper, it really does work.

Thirdly is aloe vera, I cant imagine this plant to be harmful for anything, its soothing and healing properties have been used in all sorts of products, I by the most pure form of gel to apply to wounds and have used for my own sunburn too.

Lastly is what farmers call purple spray http://www.agrilloyd.com/sheep_pages/sheep_purplesprayp1.html I used to use it on farm animals where getting hold of them daily would be an issue or you wanted to prevent fly strike. I have seen it used on rabbits with fly strike after the maggots were removed as a topical skin treatment - but it wasnt the only treatment they were receiving. I certainly would not be using it as an anitfungal treatment, only as a antibiotic topical spray on, it has a low grade antibacterial agent in so it would again be useful for complementary treatment, not for solo use.

Please anyone reading these products do not think they are an alternative to seeking vet help, my experience comes from years on a farm and I know what treatments are useful for which issues, to the novice of each of these products I would not advise using them unless you ask your own vet. I am mearly asking out of interest if they could be used for guinea pigs. I am mostly interested in the aloe and the honey, and they would not be an replacement for proper veterinary care and medicine.
 
"Please anyone reading these products do not think they are an alternative to seeking vet help, my experience comes from years on a farm and I know what treatments are useful for which issues, to the novice of each of these products I would not advise using them unless you ask your own vet. I am mearly asking out of interest if they could be used for guinea pigs. I am mostly interested in the aloe and the honey, and they would not be an replacement for proper veterinary care and medicine. "

THANKS xxxxx

I know that manuka honey has been used before.
Not to sure about the others......... i have personally used aloe vera but never on a piggie.....
Interesting thread........... i'll be waiting on other people's thoughts and what they've used........always good to hear about other products.....if this can't help a piggie it might help other animals.
 
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I was a little worried that people might think I was advising or attempting to use these items instead of seeking help but I can see both of you have so far taken what I was getting at - to find out if they can help along side conventional vet medicines. I would never use them instead of conventional medicines and hope that nobody else thinks its ok to.

Right with that statement (again) out the way.

Yes aloe is brilliant for small grazes, the liquid or the gel is just as good as each other, the higher up the ingredients list of the aloe product the more pure aloe it is. Originally discovered to help heal burns, the full potential of its healing properties only discovered as more people used it. I have used it lots of times on pepper for the small cuts and grazes and when she had a huge hole in her tummy after a tear once it had scabbed up and started to knit together I put it around her wound to assist healing.

The honey was on two small holes in her neck, within days it was closing up but it left behind a really sticky area so I had to be careful when I cleaned the area up each day - thats the only problem with hairy animals.

Iodine is interesting as even a diluted form can be a great cleanser, I know some people with horses use hibiscrub on other animals to great effect but its a bit different using a product on a dog than a small animal such as a guinea pig. I know it stings as I splashed some neat iodine in my eye once - stung but didnt harm me, ok I washed my eye right away but I lived to tell the tale.
 
I've heard of manuka honey being used on wounds and skin irritations (though my plump pigs would probably just eat it! LOL!) I've heard negative things about iodine, even in humans. It does hurt, and I've read in multiple sources that it may slow healing by killing some healthy cells as well as bacteria.
 
Freela said:
I've heard of manuka honey being used on wounds and skin irritations (though my plump pigs would probably just eat it! LOL!) I've heard negative things about iodine, even in humans. It does hurt, and I've read in multiple sources that it may slow healing by killing some healthy cells as well as bacteria.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I was wondering about using iodine in the same way you would use hibiscrub or salt water, but I would guess from that response that iodine is best left alone.

I also wondered if the piggies would want to eat it, although digesting it would have some good effects too - it would be a sweet product for them to digest so I think care would be taken when using it.
 
Gorgeous Guineas sell something called Aloe gel which I'd assumed was aloe vera - so if it is Aloe Vera then it should be safe for guineas
 
Aloe is brill if you have a guinea pig with fungal issues, as the treatment can dry out the skin so the Aloe is applied and this keeps the skin soft and also has some healing properties in it. x
 
I swear by Manuka honey and iodine.

I have seen zambuck on ebay i am buying some..not for the guine's lol.
 
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