Trixie's medical thread

[LoriBush]

What could have happened?? They all get along! They don't fight. Emily noticed this spot a few minutes ago! Is there anything I can put on it?

[skittyginny]

One of my rats had an abscess on her chin once. My vet drained it and green stuff that smelled awful came out. I cleaned it twice a day with rubbing alcohol like my vet said, he also gave us some antibiotics. It went away completely in about a week and never came back.

Abscesses aren't caused by injuries, they're caused by bacteria.

*NOTE: I'm speaking from experience with rats.*

[LoriBush]

Ohhhhhhh ok... not injury. Gotcha!!

[bpatters]

It looks like a bite to me. Clean it with chlorhexidine, NOT alcohol. There's no point in putting anything ON it, as the potential problem is inside, under the skin. Watch it very carefully, and at the slightest sign of redness, swelling, or infection, get her to a vet immediately. If it's that way now, see if you can find an ER vet so you don't have to wait until morning.

Guinea pig bites can abscess easily, and that's in a particularly bad place for one. If you need to take her in, don't settle for an appointment that days away, tell them it's a semi-emergency, and she needs to be seen quickly.

[Elthysia]

I'm not sure but with the hairloss and slight dandruff look, it could be fungal/mites and she may have scratched it so hard it caused the blood?

[LoriBush]

You know, I noticed her scratching some last night. :/

Now, how at-risk are Sammie and Patches at possibly having the same issues if it is mites/fungal/infection/whatever?

[bpatters]

At risk, if they're in the same cage. But they've already been exposed, so there's no need to separate them. If it's mites, you'll have to treat them all. You can wait to see if the others develop symptoms before treating for fungus or bacterial infection.

[PiBee]

I hope she's okay, it looks like it's really hurting her. Best of luck!

[LoriBush]

I'm in luck! I happen to have some chlorhexidine from my husband shoulder surgery. How should I use it? Dilute it? Wash with a q-tip on the spot? A good little diluted bath in it?

[LoriBush]

Guinea Lynx said not to use it near the eyes. :/

[LoriBush]

Dang it! Found a spot on inside her ear. Grrrr and a bald spot behind the ear.

[Elthysia]

Bald spots behind ear are normal is they are soft and normal. Daindruffy/white/dry/gritty/pimple/crusty spots at not.

Guinealinx has very good pages on mites/fungus etc. if you've seen her scratching it I'd do something. This page The Peter Gurney Guinea Pig Pages - Skin problems. gives some good info on symptom differences between mites-fungus too. I can't verify if the treatments on the page are good though, but the symptom discriptions are clear.

[LoriBush]

I saw on another post where you can get ivermectrin at the tractor supply co. I went and I opted not to get it... it was for CATTLE and it was injections and the man had never heard of giving it to guinea pigs. I'll take her to the vet tomorrow morning.

[bpatters]

That CATTLE ivermectin is exactly what you want for mites treatment. The pour-on kind is easier than any other, but it works just fine on guinea pigs. See http://www.guinealynx.info/mites.html for instructions on how to do it.

However, in her case, I think a vet visit might be in order, because I'm not at all sure that scab is mites related. However, do look for a good exotics vet rather than a dog and cat one -- they don't get much education or experience in treating guinea pigs.

[LoriBush]

Ahhhh ok, all they had was the injectible kind. I'll call around and find a cavy savvy vet. I know of one but he's an hour away. I'm hoping I can find someone a little closer to home.

[Paula]

I use the injectible - it just has to be diluted differently than the pour on. I use it topically.

http://www.guinealynx.info/topical_ivermectin.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/topical_i...n_pour-on.html

[LoriBush]

@bpatters I cleansed and rinsed her spot with with chlorohex and sterile water using lots qtips. (Having a husband with his own med issues pays off with cleansing supplies. :/ ) I got a better close up, too.

[foggycreekcavy]

I would leave it alone now until it heals. If you notice swelling or a bad odor or pus then you will need antibiotics.

With an open wound, I would treat for mites with ivermectin orally. You can use the injectable stuff orally without diluting it. Guinea Lynx has the doses.

[LoriBush]

The vet gave me Tresaderm and a cream (the label has SSD - I'm thinking it is Silver salvadine or something to that tune. My daughter's ped gave her some cream when she was a baby and it smells just like it, same consistency, too). The Tresaderm is drops. She will let me put it on the spot but she fights the cream on a qtip or my finger. :/

The place looks rawer/more raw however you say it. Her inside ears look better. :/ *sigh*

[LoriBush]

Dang it!!! She keeps scratching at it and it is bleeding and bigger!! Dang it!! Now what?? It's 12:40 AM here... :(