Problems? And Questions

[Butterscotch2]

Okay, I have been checking Butterscotch out for a while and I have noticed a few things. One niple is pink and looks normal. but the other one is blackish and crusty. Is that normal or wrong? Also, one o her ears is clean, but the other one has brownish things coming out. Is it ear wax and normal? Lastly, all Butterscotch's nails are clear, except the right hind leg. It is a brown. Is any of this normal? Should i take her to the vet as soon as possible? Please help and thanks! Sorry, that can't have any pictures. My camera cann't take a clear picture that is so close to anything. Would anything cause pain to her?

[Haley0489]

The ear crusties sound like they may be ear mites.
Guinea Lynx :: Ear Mites

And crust any where on the body isn't normal, she may have a mammory issue causing her nipple to discolor and expel discharge.

I'd take her to the vet, asap.

[Tinkr4147]

I agree with Haley. I would take Butterscotch to the vet. Guinea Lynx has a list of vets in your area if you need one.

[Butterscotch2]

Can anyone find pictures of guinea pig ear wax that is in the ear still? I want to make sure it is wax and not something else.

[Ziggy&Herald]

If you clean out her ears and look closely at the wax you've expelled, if it is mites, they are large enough for you to be able to see moving around. Many times they are covered in the wax however. I did a search for earwax in pigs but didn't come across any pictures. Just sites explaining the problem. I will list the links to the pages I've found.
Guinea Lynx :: Ear Mites
WikiAnswers - How can you tell if a guinea pig has ear mites
If your pig isn't shaking or continuously scratching at it's ears, it's probably just wax, but should still be cleaned to prevent fungal bacteria from growing.

[hydrohoki]

Originally Posted by Ziggy&Herald

if it is mites, they are large enough for you to be able to see moving around.

Mites are microscopic so you won't be able to see them.

[Ziggy&Herald]

This mite is large enough to be seen with the unaided eye, though they are often covered with debris. Round to oval in shape, the females have two front leg pairs tipped by "bell-shaped " suckers . In rabbits, the psoroptes cuniculi are found almost exclusively in the ear (outer ear typical, middle and inner ear extremely rare if at all). These non burrowing mites chew and pierce the skin causing inflammation and multiple layers of "thin, tan, flaky crust" . Under neath the crusts, the skin is "hairless, moist and raw." On rare occasion there may be bacterial infections that could move into the inner ear or brain, causing torticollis or other signs. "The egg-to-egg life cycle of P. cuniculi requires approximately 21 days (Sweatman, l958)." (Harkness and Wagner).

This came from the Guinea Lynx site I provided earlier.
Mange mites in the skin are microscopic, but the ear mites are not.

[hydrohoki]

My mistake then.

[Butterscotch2]

Originally Posted by Ziggy&Herald

If you clean out her ears and look closely at the wax you've expelled

How am I supposed to do that? She won't let me touch the inside of her ears. How am I supposed to know it is ear wax and not something else? Any adivce on the toe nails?

[Haley0489]

Has the toenail always been brown?
One of my guinea pigs has a back foot with all black toenails, except one white one. It's just the coloring.

However, if it was previously clear, then you really need to have her looked at. The crusties and color changing are not good.

[Butterscotch2]

Oh okay. I am going to make a vet appointment as soon as possible, like it has been stated.

[Wheek Weak]

Originally Posted by Butterscotch2

Okay, I have been checking Butterscotch out for a while and I have noticed a few things. One niple is pink and looks normal. but the other one is blackish and crusty. Is that normal or wrong?

Has that nipple always been a blackish color? A couple of our pigs have one pink and one black nipple.

The crustiness could also indicate ovarian cysts. When Ruby had them, her nipples were crusty and swollen (although they did not change color).