Fur Very Scared! Need some advice on hurt guinea pig

[KristenMatejka]

One of my males, Flapjack I noticed today has something on his back. It looks white, almost like plastic embedded into his skin. But it also felt like sap maybe? it was all on his fur down to his skin. I tried cutting it down but when i did i noticed there is an open wound where it stops on his skin! there is nothing in or near their cage that would hurt them! Too late to take to a vet but very concerned! Every time I get near it he start squealing very loudly and shrilly and tries to bite me.

 

[catzeye21138]

Could you take a picture of it? He needs a vet first thing in the morning, if you can.

Have you noticed any lumps there before? I'm not an expert, so I'm afraid I can't give you any advice in the mean time. Maybe its an infected bite, or some type of abscess if it is puss.

 

[bpatters]

Ditto the picture and the vet. Without seeing it, there's no way to make a guess what it might be. But if there's an open wound, you need to see a vet. Piggies get abscesses pretty easily from wounds, and those can be painful to the pig and costly to the owner.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

I am betting the white plastic thing is most likely boar glue. Perhaps he tried to groom it out and pulled some of the skin.

 

[KristenMatejka]

He has a bald spot and if you look to the right of it (the white spot) that is what is going into his skin (or out) looks like there is an open wound!

 

[KristenMatejka]

I had to cut most of his down because it was so stiff and I couldnt see his skin

 

[bpatters]

Ditto foggycreekcavy. That looks like boar glue. Tough stuff, isn't it?

The only thing that worries me is the open wound. Cavies often get abscesses where they have wounds if they're not promptly treated. For the time being, you could get some Hibiclens, dilute it half and half with water, and clean the wound. But if it gets the least bit red or puffy, off you go to the vet for an antibiotic.

 

[KristenMatejka]

Where can I find Hibiclens? Would it be at petco or petsmart?

 

[KristenMatejka]

Well, I would guess it would be maybe at Walgreens or walmart...

 

[bpatters]

Any pharmacy. It's a human preparation, not an animal one. Don't get it in the pig's eyes.

 

[KristenMatejka]

It's on the lower part of his back/ high part of his butt almost on his spine. Poor baby is miserable. I'll have to go pick some up. I tried cuddling him but he seems to be very agitated. Anything to help him to calm down?

 

[bpatters]

Is he biting or scratching at it?

 

[KristenMatejka]

Nope, he hasn't touched it once. Just squeals, whines, and tries to bite me when I check on it. Anyway I can try to get it out. Brushing and cutting it out are DEFINATELY NOT options.

 

[bpatters]

If it's not bothering him, just let the boar glue be. It'll eventually fall out. Or he'll have a matching glob on the other side :eye-poppi.

All you need to do now is just clean the wound and watch it. You might also want to read the "Boars Behaving Badly" threads over at Guinea Lynx...

 

[KristenMatejka]

I definately should check that thread out. He has a very bad habit of biting and he has done it since he was a baby. I got him when he was six weeks old over eight months ago.

 

[bpatters]

Do you mean he's biting at his back, or he's biting you? If he's biting his back, you should definitely treat him for mites. See www.guinealynx.info/mites.html for information on dosages and administration.

The boar glue you'll just have to learn to live with, and hope no one winds up with it on their noses.

 

[Jaclyn]

Oh poor piggy! I have no clue about treatment or anything as I am new to piggies, but I wanted to say that I hope he heals up quick!

 

[KristenMatejka]

Oh poor piggy! I have no clue about treatment or anything as I am new to piggies, but I wanted to say that I hope he heals up quick!

Thank you Jaclyn. I am hoping he does too. I've been keeping it clean and it does look like the redness has gone down a bit

 

[KristenMatejka]

I am moving in less than two weeks from here in South Dakota to Louisiana. Does anyone know how my piggies and rabbit might take the move?

 

[bpatters]

They'll do fine. Here are some precautions to take:

-- Don't hang the water bottle in the cage. Most will leak while in a moving car. Feed them small amounts of very wet veggies frequently during the day, and stop every couple of hours to offer them water. But don't be surprised if they don't drink.

-- You can transport them in a fairly large dog cage or in a large plastic container (no lid).

-- Keep something in the car to cover the cage with to keep the sun off of them -- they can get overheated very easily.

-- Take a floor-time pen for the motel so that they have some space to run around. You can just put an old blanket down for them, or towels with fleece.

-- I put the cage in the car where the pigs and the people can see and interact with each other. If there are two people, I put it right behind the front seats, with the grid door facing us. If I have them alone, I put the cage in the front seat with the door facing me.

-- Put a cardboard hidey in the cage, something like a soda pop box with the bottom cut out. You can even cut most of the front off -- it won't matter if it's open. It's just something immediately over their heads so they don't feel so exposed and vulnerable.