Guinea Pigs have been fighting and one has a nasty sore. Advice required.

[LackaDAISYcal]

I took delivery of my baby piggies on Tuesday, and on Weds there was an altercation in which we think one of them bit the other one, as I noticed a scabby bit on her head the next day.

It seemed to be getting better, but last night I noticed it was looking scabbier so I put some vaseline on it. There was an almighty ruckus this morning, and the injured piggy was making a racket and shaking her head. There is now an area about the size of a 5p coin behind her ear that is just raw flesh :( I think the other two have been trying to groom her rather than ganging up on her though.

I've put a wire mesh divider in the cage to seperate them but they are still "together". Is there anything I can do for her, or is it a case of just letting it heal on its own. It doesn't look infected, so not sure she needs the vet. Of course this would happen today when everything is shut :(

googling mites/mange, there are 3 different types.
there's also lice to consider
ringworm- causes hair loss and irritation
and ciccodiosis (i'd not heard of this ) that's caused by eating/drinking contaminated food/water -affects the liver

vit c deficiency- but your gp food should contain vit c. some owners supplement

hormone deficiency- but if it's 2 or 3 gp then it's more likely to be something contagious

one of our gps had stress excema but he was a victim of abuse from his mate

hormone

Maybe short term see how you go with the treatment you are using then if you get an improvement, it's mange mites.
If it doesn't then get it checked. You could end up trying loads of different treatments and covering up symptoms rather than getting to the source.

She said she treats them as routine, as she also rescues and boards and the rescues can bring all sorts in with them.

I'm going to give her a call tomorrow as she may be able to advise, before I shell out for the vet. I just feel shitty that she has probably been suffering for the last week :(

I'm pretty sure that mites can kill pigs and you need to take them to the vets before it gets worse.

Thanks Silver :) I'm keeping an eye on it and will do vets on Monday if no better.

Don't fell bad Daisy . Animals have a whole manner of things crop up.
And when your GP had a scabby ear, it started off as a fight/squabble so you think "Oh bite wound/injury and treated accordingly"

It's not as though you are ignoring them is it? There are some pretty nasty pictures on forums, the kind of infestations that guinea-pigs can die from, but usually the caption states they are long term neglect.

thanks :)

They are either feeling better or the invermectin is like GP speed....they are teararsing round in circles, and haven't stopped chuntering for over an hour now :o

I won't flatter myself that it's because they have me for company (I'm pootering in their room)

And when I topped up the hay earlier, I got lots and lots of wheek-wheeking :o