Treatment
- Holding a moist warm face cloth or wheat bag against the infected ear.
- Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen for relief of pain or fever.
- Lying with the affected ear against your pillow, or sitting propped up in bed.
- Gently washing the outer ear with soap and a face cloth to remove any discharge.
Well, believe it or not, the most common cause of flaky skin, excessive itching, or crusty ear infections in rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and other pocket pets is mites or other skin parasites. It causes a painful, crusty infection in the ears that sometimes hides deep in the ear canal.
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, and enrofloxacin are safe to use in guinea pigs.
To bathe your guinea pig:
- Place a washcloth at the bottom of the sink or bucket you're using so your guinea pig won't slip and slide.
- Gently pour warm water on the guinea pig's back, or use slow-flowing, warm water from the faucet.
- Thoroughly wet all of your pet except for its face, which it can wash itself.
Guinea pigs can sometimes expel air from their nose and sneeze as we do. It's not usually something to be concerned about, as it's usually the result of dust - many guinea pigs will sneeze when they receive hay (but try to get the least dusty hay possible to try to prevent respiratory tract infections).
Your guinea pig may acquire these fur mites from other infested guinea pigs that she comes in contact with or from previously contaminated bedding. Mites can affect a guinea pig of any age or sex.
Temperature Regulation. Guinea pig ears oscillate in temperature and can change from pink in color to red as blood vessels in the ear dilate. The ears play a role in cavy temperature regulation. Hot, red ears help Clover cool off during hot weather; cold ears help him warm up on a chilly day.
Squeal: Some guinea pigs will squeal when they are experiencing potential pain or they need attention. It can sometimes be that another guinea pig is stealing his favorite spot to eat. Pay attention to your guinea pig if you hear a squeal because it could indicate that they need help from something hurting them.
If your guinea pig rests on his side regularly but otherwise shows no signs of illness, then he's likely just choosing a position that feels good. When guinea pigs are relaxed and feel safe, they will stretch out and get comfortable. As long as he's eating, playing and happy, he's probably just fine.
could be the start of a skin prob, either mites or fungal infection.
Purring: this can mean your Guinea pig is happy or angry, so you'll need to look at the context of the situation carefully. A contented Guinea pig will make a low purring sound, whereas an annoyed piggy may make a more high pitched purr, with this increasing in pitch towards the end.
Treatment. If your guinea pig is having a seizure due to heat, rub his feet down with an equal mixture of rubbing alcohol and water, then place your pet on a cool, damp washcloth until you can get him to the vet, which you must do immediately.
What is lifespan of guinea pig?
Pneumonia. Pneumonia is actually the leading cause of death in Guinea pigs.
Sick guinea pigs may require hospitalization and supportive care, including intravenous fluids and syringe feeding, as well as surgery to remove the stones. Regular, annual veterinary check-ups can help detect problems, such as urinary tract stones, in guinea pigs before they develop into life-threatening emergencies.
Not eating, not moving and decreased fecal production are all considered non-specific signs of disease. What that means is that any disease can lead to the signs you are seeing in your guinea pig. This could be dental disease, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, toxins, infection — the list just goes on.
Streptococcus suis (S. suis), a Gram-positive facultative anaerobe, is a major porcine pathogen that can be transmitted to humans by close contact with pigs. Meningitis is the most-common presentation of S. suis infection, followed by sepsis, which has a higher mortality rate, particularly for splenectomized patients.
Mange in pigs tends to start on the head, colonising the ears and causing headshaking. Infection then spreads to the body, tail and legs. Severe crusting will develop around the ears, behind the elbows and there may be a general discolouration to the coat.
Dippity Pig Syndrome. • Also called Bleeding Back Syndrome and Erythema Multiforme. • Dippity Pig Syndrome is an acute, painful skin condition that occurs along the back in healthy young pigs. Seems to be associated with a stressful situation.
Pugs are prone to ear infections at a higher rate than dogs in general. They are also susceptible to allergic otitis, inflammation of the ear canal caused by allergies that predisposes them to infectious otitis. And their ears are floppy!
Cleaning Ears:If the ears do not look irritated or infected, perform general ear cleaning once a month. Clean the outer area of each ear using a cotton swab dipped in mineral oil. Do not push the swab into the ear canal as this can cause serious harm. Gently rub the cotton swab around the outer area of the ear canal.
Guinea pigs, for the most part, are companionable critters who relish being around other cavies. When guinea pigs fight each other, they frequently target the ears. Guinea pigs also bite ears to determine heirarchy.
