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does anyone remember the story of sockpig, the guineapig with open wounds due to mites?

9 replies

windmillpond · 03/09/2012 21:30

hello - I have just realised that my original thread in chat has gone poof a long time ago.

I brought home a guineapig in April who had such severe mites that she itched herself raw. the vets gave her .....for kittens to kill the mites as the usual mite stuff didnt work.

the ......worked in that the mites went, but she was left with a horrific fungal infection which caused severe itching and again open sores (due to itching/biting)

I fashioned a body glove out of a child's sock for her, and she wore it daily, I cleaned her wounds, bathed her and applied cream from gorgeous guineas (who were very helpful to me in teling me what I needed for her)

My pig was also incredibly thin and drinkign vast amounts per day. I took away her water bottle and mixed her food with water so she HAD to eat if she were to drink. Her weight shot up and within a month or two she was fat again and had to go up a sock size.

She was living indoors in a cat carrier to stop her moving too much and burning off the calories, and to keep her warm.

After a three months or so, and when she was fat enough she moved into her own hutch outdoors and got her water bottle back. Se also moved to sock with just 2 holes instead of 4, so she was wearing a sort-of t0shirt Grin

I can now report that she has been sockless for three whole days :) And although we are not out of the woods yet (one patch on her back still itchy, although she manages t itch it "sensibly" with no skin loss) she is soooo much better :)

the sad news is that her sister who she used to live with rejected her throughout and is now actively fighting her, so I guess she will have to live with us

Sadly all of the constant washing/creaming and socking has left her quite mistrustful of people and she is nowhere near as friendly as she used to be, but we hope this will change.

OP posts:
KRITIQ · 03/09/2012 21:34

Oh wow, what a story. I so admire your patience and dedication to making Sockpig better. Given all she's been through, it's understandable she's wary (and sad her sister has written her off,) but I'm sure as she continues to recover, she will reward you with her love. Hugs (very gentle) to precious Sock Pig!

BonkeyMollocks · 03/09/2012 21:37

I remember this.

Good to know she is getting there and well done you for your patience! :)

PippasArse · 03/09/2012 21:38

aww that so lovely

and 'had to go up a sock size' is just so sweet

windmillpond · 03/09/2012 21:38

gah, my ....... were for me to try and remember the name of the stuff - it is stronghold. I am such a berk! sorry all.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/09/2012 21:39

Yes I remember Sockpig - was she a nursery or school GP ? (IIRC)

Are you LacksaDAISYcal? (I think it was the name but I could be talking garbage, it's not unknown Grin

It's no wonder she's a bit Hmm they really don't understand when something is For Their Own Good.But hopefully you can win her round (cuddles and foodey treats)
(I remember trying to tie toilet paper and bandage round my boar I had when I was 9yo.He had a stress eczema that left him with huge open areas that he scratched till he screamed.Then scratched some more.The vet's ointment seemed to make his claws unable to get a grip but didn't cure it Sad )
Needless to say my bogroll/bandage didn't work. The guinea slipped out of it.

roughtyping · 03/09/2012 21:48

aw what a lovely, heartwarming story! bless your wee pig!

windmillpond · 03/09/2012 21:52

good memory 70 Shock she is a nursery guineapig, or should I say WAS a nursery guineapig. The nursery don't need her back, they have others and a guineapig rota as to who goes in the run when throughout the day as some GP's are male and some are female Grin they don't need to add another GP to the rota who cannot join in with the others and needs a seperate run-slot :)

i was crispface i think.....DAISY is a different poster to me.

the scratching and screaming is awful isnt it? the toilet paper bandage made me Grin though!

OP posts:
fortifiedwithtea · 04/09/2012 00:17

What a lovely sucess story. Had to smile at 'went up a sock size' bless her. Well done for all your hard work. The cream will make Sockpig smell funny to her friend. Maybe when the creaming finally stops you can try to re-introduce them again. Fingers crossed.

guineapiglet · 04/09/2012 11:35

AAw, bless sockpig, she sounds like a real fighter. After some our our threads yesterday about people who shouldnt have guineas/didnt like their guineas, this is a really lovely story, you have done a great job - re: re integrating them, I think fortified is right about the smell, may be you should try it very gradually, with short bursts of time together, on neutral soil so to speak, I am sure eventually they will learn to love each other, but it may take time - lovely to know that there are such caring people out there!

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