Scab On Bella's Back, Self Harm?

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

So for the last week and a half Bella has had some scabs on her back, right in the middle. Some looked worse than others and seem to be healing but then another one appears, I believe this is 3/4 in total, no bigger than a 5 pence piece.

She went to see Laurel at Grove vets in Brighton on Monday with her sister Cissy (who is showing no signs of anything and no scabs). We were prescribed a tramadol/glucose mix, 1.5 mil twice a day to ease her discomfort (she tried to bite me when I was trying to examine her which is not like her) which she has taken beautifully, such a good girl. She gets excited for her medication now!

They were both treated for mites and checked over and everything else is fine, Bella is the dominant of the two (I'm 80% sure) and Cissy has shown no sign of aggression towards her because that involves standing up! My only conclusion at this point is that she is being bitten by something else in the same place or she's doing it to herself? I know they can self harm if stressed but I don't think she is, she's behaving normally in every other sense. I've seen her nibble at her back but only for seconds like she's getting an itch.

Can anyone offer some insight in what I could be dealing with? I'll probably take her back to the vets next week if things haven't yet improved, I'm pretty sure she has a fresh(ish) scab right now so I'll be monitoring her.

 

[helen105281]

If it is in the middle of her back it is possible that she is scratching or biting at herself due to the mites.

Did the vet treat the mites with an injection or a spot on treatment? Usually they need at least 3 doses about a week apart to treat the mites at each stage of the life cycle.

 

[Adelle]

I agree with helen. Usually metacam would be the pain releif of choice, and tramadol used in severe cases which i wouldnt say this is.

Have u checked the recommended veterinary locator on the forum? It will show you piggy savvy vets in your area- i think this should be the next step x

 

[Wiebke]

Please get a proper vet diagnosis. I also suspect mange mites in that location. If your vet confirms this, you will need a full course of high dosed good quality ivermectin for her and any companions she is living with; at least 3-4 rounds at the product specific interval. Please do not home treat on spec and do not use wide spectrum, low dosed shop products that are not strong enough to deal with an acute outbreak.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

It was a spot on treatment, I can't remember the name of it but have it written down at home.

I did question the tramadol but she said there isn't really anything else for animals :/

Sadly she was from the vet locator on this website, I haven't treated with any home treatments and just what the vet provided.

Looks like I'm gunna have to search for a new vet, third time lucky... Can anyone suggest anyone in the East Sussex area?

Doesn't look like the Grove vets is as cavy savvy as we thought, might need to look into that on the vet locator?

It's so hard to find someone who actually knows about piggies

Thanks.

 

[Adelle]

It was a spot on treatment, I can't remember the name of it but have it written down at home.

I did question the tramadol but she said there isn't really anything else for animals :/

Sadly she was from the vet locator on this website, I haven't treated with any home treatments and just what the vet provided.

Looks like I'm gunna have to search for a new vet, third time lucky... Can anyone suggest anyone in the East Sussex area?

Doesn't look like the Grove vets is as cavy savvy as we thought, might need to look into that on the vet locator?

It's so hard to find someone who actually knows about piggies

Thanks.

Maybe call grove vets and just ask if they have any vets that see more piggies than others and see what they say x

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Maybe call grove vets and just ask if they have any vets that see more piggies than others and see what they say x

That's the only person that deals with piggies sadly, I double checked. She's the one on the vet locator, Laurel Bowker in the Brighton area, I see another few vets around but idk if anyone has experience with those vets?

I don't drive so I have to get lifts or go by taxi (the last trip was £72 to the vets then £40 something for the vets itself lol) so I struggle to get to places and I'd hate to have to try too many vets before finding one that can actually help, plus it stresses my girls out :/ in turn stressing me out when Bella tries to fly off the table! I'm taking a box next time.

There doesn't seem to be much in the way of savvy vets in the East Sussex area, unless there are unknown ones so I'd love to hear of some good vets in the area.

 

[Wiebke]

It was a spot on treatment, I can't remember the name of it but have it written down at home.

I did question the tramadol but she said there isn't really anything else for animals :/

Sadly she was from the vet locator on this website, I haven't treated with any home treatments and just what the vet provided.

Looks like I'm gunna have to search for a new vet... Can anyone suggest anyone in the East Sussex area? Doesn't look like the Grove vets is as cavy savvy as we thought, might need to look into that on the vet locator?

It's so hard to find someone who actually knows about piggies

Thanks.

It would have likely been xeno spot-on you got from your vet, who has done the right thing in treating for mange mites as the most obvious cause.

If that has not done the trick, it is not because of the vet not being competent, but because there is the chance that some other bug/microbe may have got in the skin or because there is another issue or a resistence to ivermectin. Please talk about it with your vet.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

It would have likely been xeno spot-on you got from your vet, who has done the right thing in treating for mange mites as the most obvious cause.

If that has not done the trick, it is not because of the vet not being competent, but because there is the chance that some other bug/microbe may have got in the skin or because there is another issue or a resistence to ivermectin. Please talk about it with your vet.

Okay so I don't need a new vet? That would be a relief, I did like her but I'm just concerned that Bella gets the best treatment. I can make another appointment but she's only in for a few hours a week unfortunately. So I should request ivermectin for the mite treatment and metacam for pain relief?

I'm new to this side of piggy care so I don't really know what to expect or what's right for them and I'm just getting a bit concerned for her, it doesn't help that I don't really know what to do or say lol.

Thanks guys, the info has really helped!

 

[Wiebke]

Okay so I don't need a new vet? That would be a relief, I did like her but I'm just concerned that Bella gets the best treatment. I can make another appointment but she's only in for a few hours a week unfortunately. So I should request ivermectin for the mite treatment and metacam for pain relief?

I'm new to this side of piggy care so I don't really know what to expect or what's right for them and I'm just getting a bit concerned for her, it doesn't help that I don't really know what to do or say lol.

Thanks guys, the info has really helped!

I would discuss with your vet whether you need another course of ivermectin, perhaps even with injections (which are the most effective) or to see whether another avenue should be pursued. We can only help you to ask to work out what kind of questions you can ask your vet. You can also discuss pain relief as she keeps biting her back open.

Sometimes, it is not quite easy and straight forward with skin issues. I have been through a few over the years.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

I would discuss with your vet whether you need another course of ivermectin, perhaps even with injections (which are the most effective) or to see whether another avenue should be pursued. We can only help you to ask to work out what kind of questions you can ask your vet. You can also discuss pain relief as she keeps biting her back open.

Sometimes, it is not quite easy and straight forward with skin issues. I have been through a few over the years.

Thanks for the advice, yes I appreciate the help! This is the first time with skin issues, it's curious that Cissy (her sister and cage mate) hasn't been affected by it but she will of course be treated accordingly just in case.

You were right, the mite treatment was xeno 450, dosage half a pipette each.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Just an update, she was very quiet on Tuesday so I went to a new vets on Wednesday as my other vet at Grove Lodge is only available after 3pm on Mondays and I didn't want to wait that long.

The vets I went to was fantastic, called The Forest Vets in Maresfield. They really knew their stuff, the first vets to properly investigate it and gave Bella a little hair cut (her bald patch is very funny, she's sensitive about it!) and is concerned that the bite might have been/be infected and she's on 0.3mls of baytril twice a day for 2 weeks. They've both had a second dose of Xeno 450 just in case. No painkillers, but if she needs some they recommend metacam and I'll just have to go back to them.

Bella is back to normal today, causing all sorts of mischief which is nice to see. Got a follow up appointment in 2 weeks to see how it's going. If it's not all better by then they want to do a skin scrape to identify the problem.

So now we wait!

 

[Adelle]

Excellent news! Give bella probiotics as baytril can upset the gut flora. Examples include pro-c from pets at home, fibreplex and aviproplus (my personal choice.) they should be given 1-2 hours after each antibiotic dose. 1/4-1/3 scoop of the pro-c or avipro plus and 1 click of the tube of fibreplex per kg of piggy.

All the best x

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

Excellent news! Give bella probiotics as baytril can upset the gut flora. Examples include pro-c from pets at home, fibreplex and aviproplus (my personal choice.) they should be given 1-2 hours after each antibiotic dose. 1/4-1/3 scoop of the pro-c or avipro plus and 1 click of the tube of fibreplex per kg of piggy.

All the best x

Thanks Adelle! I don't live close to a Pets At Home, think I could get it in other pet shops like a Pets Corner or the vets? I didn't think of this, hopefully not too late to start her on it as it's only been a few days.

 

[Adelle]

The vets may stock fibreplex, u can call nearby pet shops and ask if they stock any of the others. Failing that, amazon can deliver pretty quick x

 

[helen105281]

The vets should sell probiotics, I think my vets sell Bio Lapis or Fibreplex.