Foster babies

[Cue]

We picked up a pair of foster Guinea pigs from our city shelter today and they’re in pretty rough shape. Both girls, supposedly 3 months (definitely not 3 months) 414 and 404 grams respectively, very very underweight. They are definitely getting a vet appointment.

The thing I’m most worried about is their skin and fur. Their poor ears are lined with dead skin and oils, their little noses are clogged with it too. They both clearly have bumblefoot, cracked and flaking feet. It looks like someone cut their fur (and possibly a couple whiskers) with scissors. I was wondering if there’s a shampoo or something we can use to bathe them with that might help rejuvenate or protect their skin and/or fur?

Also is there any knowledge about piggie twins? These two look exactly alike, I mean EXACTLY. Their markings are identical.

 

[Princess Dustmop]

The number on the scale is just that ... a number. If they are skin and bones, though, the goal is still to feed them a healthy diet; guinea pig weight gain isn't a sprint. Make sure they have plenty of hay and weigh them routinely to make sure they aren't losing weight. The numbers are only really useful for comparison to the respective guinea pigs numbers; they will show you what the trend is for that guinea pig ... there isn't a specific weight that all guinea pigs of a certain age or stage of development should be.
Always good to get a animal to the vet to get them checked and find out what you're starting with. The vet can check on the condition of the skin and fur and determine what has caused the state. He or she will likely check for mites/lice and fungal. Please do not try to treat anything before visiting the vet, as it may impact the vet's ability to diagnose the issue. Afterwards, if they do need to be bathed for medical reasons, there are specific shampoos that are formulted for guinea pigs; you do not want to use anything not specifically made for guinea pigs, as it can further irritate their skin. The vet should also be able to recommend treatment for the bumblefoot; until they give you instructions and/or medications for treatment, the best you can do is to make sure they have clean, dry bedding in their cage. I'm not sure if there is a recommended bedding type for bumblefoot piggies, as I've been fortunate enough not to have personally encountered bumblefoot in a piggy.
Trimmed fur isn't a problem ... better trimmed than tangled if their long furred, as matted fur can be highly irritating and soils easily. I would hope the whiskers have not been cut, though there's nothing that you can do if they have ... what's cut is cut.

If you mean monozygotic twins, I suppose it's possible but quite rare. Dizygotic, or fraternal, twins would be any two guinea pigs born in the same litter; that would be pretty common.

 

[Bill & Ted]

Great advice above, just wanted to say good on you for taking these poor little girls in x

 

[Wiebke]

We picked up a pair of foster Guinea pigs from our city shelter today and they’re in pretty rough shape. Both girls, supposedly 3 months (definitely not 3 months) 414 and 404 grams respectively, very very underweight. They are definitely getting a vet appointment.

The thing I’m most worried about is their skin and fur. Their poor ears are lined with dead skin and oils, their little noses are clogged with it too. They both clearly have bumblefoot, cracked and flaking feet. It looks like someone cut their fur (and possibly a couple whiskers) with scissors. I was wondering if there’s a shampoo or something we can use to bathe them with that might help rejuvenate or protect their skin and/or fur?

Also is there any knowledge about piggie twins? These two look exactly alike, I mean EXACTLY. Their markings are identical.

Hi
Poor, poor mites!

Good that you are having them vet checked.

Please make sure that you treat them for mites with ivermectin and also for fungal (potential ringworm but also less aggressive forms). I would recommend a medicated bath rather than a normal one but if you want a normal shampoo formulated for small furries, then Wee Companions Rescue in San Diego sell some in their rescue online sho . Please make sure that you always wait 2 days after any skin treatment before applying another one to allow it to be fully absorbed.
Wee Companions Small Animal Adoption, Inc. - Animal Accessories

You will need to speak to your vet what to best do about the necrotic tissue and the bumblefoot. They may need antibiotics as well as foot baths to prevent the infection from getting into the bones.

If you wish to speak to somebody very experienced, try Danielle Challender who runs a sanctuary for rescue referrals with chronic medical problems in New Hampshire. She may be able to help you better with the longer term aspects of severe neglect and what US care products and care measures to recommend specifically. Our forum is UK based, and so are most of our rescue fosterers.
Helping All Little Pipsqueaks
Otherwise, you may want to speak to Portland Guinea Pig Rescue or to Saskia from Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue if you need US product based support.

Piggies with absolutely identical markings (unless they are breed specific like in selfs, i.e. piggies with just one colour) are so rare that you are the first to ever raise the question on here; I have also not come across it elsewhere. Very similar markings in a litter are not uncommon but identical twins seem to be rare although there is no reason why they shouldn't happen. Otherwise it would indicate a very high level of long term in-breeding.
You may end up differentiating them by their permanent damage to their ears.

I am keeping my fingers very firmly crossed for these poor little mites!

 

[Cue]

Thank you! We treated them for mites with selemectrin yesterday, which is what’s commonly used in the U.S. We are definitely calling our vet, I was just wondering if there’s anything we can do in the meantime until we see them (these guys count as an emergency, but even then it takes a week or so to get in). I also put down a bunch of extra layers of fleece for them so it’s easier on their feet.

I don’t really understand what you mean by necrosis? They’re definitely not in great shape but I really don’t think any part of them is actively dying. Their feet are infected, but not dying.

I was curious about the twin thing. We had them out to medicate and check them over etc. but these are genuinely the most identical pigs I’ve ever seen, and the last group of pigs I had were mother and two daughters who were almost impossible to tell apart.

 

[Cue]

Since it won’t let me edit: The selemectrin was supposed to be given at the shelter, they always do this, but they didn’t have anyone there who knew how to give it so they sent it home with us.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you! We treated them for mites with selemectrin yesterday, which is what’s commonly used in the U.S. We are definitely calling our vet, I was just wondering if there’s anything we can do in the meantime until we see them (these guys count as an emergency, but even then it takes a week or so to get in). I also put down a bunch of extra layers of fleece for them so it’s easier on their feet.

I don’t really understand what you mean by necrosis? They’re definitely not in great shape but I really don’t think any part of them is actively dying. Their feet are infected, but not dying.

I was curious about the twin thing. We had them out to medicate and check them over etc. but these are genuinely the most identical pigs I’ve ever seen, and the last group of pigs I had were mother and two daughters who were almost impossible to tell apart.

Necrosis is the dead skin on the ears you mentioned in your first post. Unless you meant dry skin flakes? Dead skin around the edges won't regrow.

If needed please ask your vet what they would recommend to do about in the interim. I do not have any personal experience in that particular area so would rather not risk making inappropriate recommendations.

 

[Cue]

Thank you again. I think it’s just scabbing and skin flakes, I’ve seen it before, but not this severe.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you again. I think it’s just scabbing and skin flakes, I’ve seen it before, but not this severe.

All the best. I have seen either. It is hopefully just fungal and nothing worse! However, I can only go by your choice of words without any direct access to your piggies.
PS: Metropolitan Guinea Pig Rescue in Baltimore took in two orphaned newborns with very similar markings earlier this year. They marked one of the girls with a little pink vegetable dye in order to be able to tell them apart easily for their round the clock feeding support and called them accordingly Pink and White.

 

[Wheekallweek]

Thank you for taking these girls in
This is where their lives turn around for the better thanks to you

 

[Cue]

Well, we checked up on them today (let them rest since we got them) and did weights. Their feet are much better, still swollen but less red and no cracks, and I don’t think they’ll have any problem fattening up because today they were 438 and 432 grams!

Our OG rescue, Cheese Stick, has also officially doubled in weight!

 

[Cue]

Update: these little are officially up for adoption after about a month with us! They went up this morning and already have two people interested.

They’re finally getting into the demanding stage of life too. Fur has grown back and bumblefoot is healed. We suspect that the scabbing on their ears was frostbite, it still hasn’t healed up fully but is looking better.