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Chellitus

Janee74

Janee74

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Hi everyone
I have an 18 month old sow who keeps getting Chellitus. I’ve taken her to the vets at least four times now about it. She is eating normally and is otherwise healthy. She has had two courses of antibiotics over the past 3 months, but it didn’t clear it up fully. I’ve been given steroid cream but it’s still there and is showing pus again which makes me feel it is bacterial. I went back and they told me to give her Vitamin C but she definitely isn’t deficient in it and carry on with the cream and seems to be out of options. I can’t go to another vet as it’s the PDSA. I’ve been reading that you can apply anti bacterial cream but I’m not sure which one to get. I’m in the UK. Any help appreciated
 
Cheilitis is often bacterial but it can also be fungal.
Has your vet done swabs to to find out what is actually present, and if it is bacteria, which antibiotic may be most effective?
Definitely don’t put anything on it yourself without being told to by the vet.

Guinea Lynx :: Cheilitis
 
And make sure you aren’t feeding anything which is acidic - tomatoes, apple etc as that can make things worse
 
Janee74 said:
Hi everyone
I have an 18 month old sow who keeps getting Chellitus. I’ve taken her to the vets at least four times now about it. She is eating normally and is otherwise healthy. She has had two courses of antibiotics over the past 3 months, but it didn’t clear it up fully. I’ve been given steroid cream but it’s still there and is showing pus again which makes me feel it is bacterial. I went back and they told me to give her Vitamin C but she definitely isn’t deficient in it and carry on with the cream and seems to be out of options. I can’t go to another vet as it’s the PDSA. I’ve been reading that you can apply anti bacterial cream but I’m not sure which one to get. I’m in the UK. Any help appreciated
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Would your vets consider trying a fungal treatment for the cheilitis (i.e. lip infection)? Antibiotics can usually suppress a fungal infection temporarily but not clear it. With cheilitis it very much depends on what kind of bug gets through the tiny cracks in the lips. If you are very unlucky (it is thankfully rare), an incurable pox virus can be behind it. So far, I know of only one case personally. Please be aware that advanced cases of cheilitis can be very difficult to treat.

A swab of the pus may give you and your vet the answer as to what for to treat exactly.
You may also want to work off the scabs and disinfect the sores with F10 or another suitable vet grade antiseptic that is also effective against fungal spores.

Here is some more information on cheilitis: Guinea Lynx :: Cheilitis

Please stop feeding any fruit and tomato (which is a fruit) asap because the acidity in them can contribute to cracks forming. Fruit should not be a regular part of a good guinea pig diet anyway. Cheilitis is generally only seen in guinea pigs that are getting fruit or tomato daily and/or in too large quantities on a regular basis.

Your piggies can get their vitamin C from much more appropriate green veg and the odd herb in addition to the 1 tablespoon of pellets we strongly recommend for a guinea pig per day. The more hay and fresh growing grass (introduced carefully) they eat and the closer the fresh feed resembles the supplementary forage that our pet veg and pellets together replace, the better.

Our diet rcommendations: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
 
Thanks for your reply. They haven’t done any swabs. To be honest I don’t think they know what else to do. They told me to put Vitamin C drops on her water which I know you aren’t supposed to do
 
Wiebke said:
Would your vets consider trying a fungal treatment for the cheilitis (i.e. lip infection)? Antibiotics can usually suppress a fungal infection temporarily but not clear it. With cheilitis it very much depends on what kind of bug gets through the tiny cracks in the lips. If you are very unlucky (it is thankfully rare), an incurable pox virus can be behind it. So far, I know of only one case personally.

Here is some more information on cheilitis: Guinea Lynx :: Cheilitis

Please stop feeding any fruit and tomato (which is a fruit) asap because the acidity in them can contribute to cracks forming. Fruit should not be a regular part of a good guinea pig diet anyway. Cheilitis is generally only seen in guinea pigs that are getting fruit or tomato daily and/or in too large quantities on a regular basis.

Your piggies can get their vitamin C from much more appropriate green veg and the odd herb in addition to the 1 tablespoon of pellets we strongly recommend for a guinea pig per day. The more hay and fresh growing grass (introduced carefully) they eat and the closer the fresh feed resembles the supplementary forage that our pet veg and pellets together replace, the better.

Our diet rcommendations: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets
Click to expand...
 
Janee74 said:
I will take her back again. Thanks everyone for your replies
Click to expand...

All the best.

Please re-read my first post; I was adding some further advice on cheilitis care while you were answering.
 
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