Guinea pig has white flaky ear and it’s now bleeding.

[Ksb123]

Hi everyone, this is my first post on here so please let me know if I’m leaving anything out. I live in Scotland, I got 2 female guinea pigs from my local pet shop about 11 days ago. They said they were both around 9-10 weeks when I got them, although they do not look like they are from the same litter as one is long haired and white with a longer nose (Daisy) and the other one is shorthaired and brown with a more square nose (Honey)... what I would say a standard guinea pig looks like? She also looks bigger out of the two.

So... my concern is my white guinea pig, Daisy, she has had a tiny bit of white flaky ness on her left ear which has now spread all over and to her other ear and has also caused bleeding on both ears. The flakes are also on her feet. I took her to the vet yesterday and the vet gave me medicine for her and said it was most likely mites in the ear but as I had treated them about two days before I took them to the vets for mites etc they couldn’t see any mites alive from the ear swab. She is itching constantly and doesn’t seem very happy, she is still most of the time and doesn’t really make any noises. I can pick her up easily as she is so still and is happy when just sitting on me.
When she is in the cage honey my other guinea pig seems to be poking out her bum and what looks to me like biting her? So I’m not sure if the bleeding is coming from her sore ears or if it’s from my other guinea pig biting her. I’m not really sure what to do .. I had them both inside in a smaller cage (which is still very large but smaller than the hutch in the garage) and I had to end up buying another bed for Daisy as honey would not let her in the bed so after going to the vets I have moved them outside into the garage as there is more room in there in case they were fighting over lack of space. But this morning I went out and the right ear that wasn’t infected to begin with is now covered in white flakes and also bleeding. I’m really not sure what to do, if I should phone the vet back or if it’s from Honey biting. The vet did suggest separating them but so they can still see each other if the bleeding continues after the ear has healed, but I feel like that’s such a shame as I got 2 as I read they like to be together.. should I contact the shop I got them from?
I will attach a photo of her ears if I can work out how to.
Thank you if you have gotten this far! I would really appreciate any advice as to fighting and the ear flakes/bleeding.

 

[Ksb123]

Please can I add the name of the medicine is sulfatrim and loxicom

She is also twitching badly occasionally... not pop-Corning as she does this too (when she is happy about food mainly) and it’s very different. I showed the vet a video and all she said was oh that’s odd. She keeps doing this when I try to give her the medicine so I end up having to put it on romaine lettuce leaves for her to eat.

 

[Piggies&buns]

We aren’t vets and without pictures are left with using your description, but my guess is that this could be a fungal infection and potentially the vet you have used might not be cavy savvy. Sulfatrim is an antibiotic (won’t do anything if it is a fungal infection) and loxicom is a pain relief.

New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

I would imagine they are just behaving like normal piggies. When they come to a new home they go through a period of establishing themselves in a new environment. You will see dominance behaviours during this time.
You must always have two of everything item - two bottles, two bowls, two hides, two hay piles etc so that each piggy can get to what they want. Most piggies will not share beds. The dominant piggy will always have their pick of the best and the submissive piggy will have to find another - that’s just normal piggy behaviour. Nipping is a sow dominance behaviour, not necessarily fighting.
How big is their cage?
Is it warm enough in the garage? Piggies need to be kept in a warm environment and any sudden changes in temperature aren’t good for them.

Yes guinea pigs do need to be in pairs but the problem with pet shops is that piggies are just sold as they are and their character compatibility is not taken into account. Character compatibility is vital for a successful bond And if they don’t have that then a bond will fail.

Have you checked their sexes yourself? Unfortunately pet shop missexing is also common and people can find themselves with an unexpected gender and therefore problems with pregnancies. Please check their sexes yourself to be sure they are both female.

Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)
New Owners' Most Helpful How-To Guides and Information

 

[Siikibam]

Have a look and see if you can find another vet to go to. Even if it’s a little further away they should be seen by an experienced vet. I would take both of them.

Whatever the outcome from the vet visit you are within your rights to ask that the pet shop pays the vet fees. Let them know about what’s happening with her so they have a heads up. Unfortunately that’s what comes with getting them from a shop, as mentioned above.
Vet Locator

 

[Ksb123]

Thank you for the feedback. I do think they are happy together except from when they are in bed so I have got two. They also have two of everything else as the hutch is very big and on two levels do one of each on each level. Yes the garage is warm enough I have a Bluetooth thermometer in there so I can check the temp, It’s all insulated. So this is her ears now. Sorry I have just figured out how to upload them.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you for the feedback. I do think they are happy together except from when they are in bed so I have got two. They also have two of everything else as the hutch is very big and on two levels do one of each on each level. Yes the garage is warm enough I have a Bluetooth thermometer in there so I can check the temp, It’s all insulated. So this is her ears now. Sorry I have just figured out how to upload them.

Excellent.
As you’ve got a two storey hutch, then make sure there is multiple of everything on both levels to stop any problems.

I’d get a second opinion from another vet on those ears.
Also, I note you say you treated them before you took them to to the vet. It’s best to never home treat and always go straight to the vet. You can wipe evidence that the vet needs, plus you could use the wrong thing and pet shop treatments are never strong enough to actually cure a problem.

 

[Siikibam]

Try and have her seen by another vet. And be strict with hygiene for now until you know it’s not fungal. And have a read of the guide linked above.

 

[Ksb123]

Excellent.
As you’ve got a two storey hutch, then make sure there is multiple of everything on both levels to stop any problems.

I’d get a second opinion from another vet on those ears.
Also, I note you say you treated them before you took them to to the vet. It’s best to never home treat and always go straight to the vet. You can wipe evidence that the vet needs, plus you could use the wrong thing and pet shop treatments are never strong enough to actually cure a problem.

Thank you for the advice. I will ask for a second opinion from another vet! The treatment was just a spot on which I used before I realised the ear problem was linked, I only used that as they were itching themselves a lot. It ended up it was the one the vet recommended I carried on with anyway... xeno? Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[Siikibam]

The issue is treating something when you don’t know what it is. It’s always better to take them to an experienced vet. All the best