Skin infection? Or something else?

[chelgan]

Hi! We noticed Saturday night that our older boar had a small indent on his upper lip. It looked to me like maybe his baby cage mate had bitten him but didn’t break the skin.

Then Sunday morning the area looked bigger, the hair is shorter in a patch on his upper lip. It’s difficult to get a good look at is because he’s so wiggly, but I did manage to get a couple photos. Today (Monday) it looks the same as it did yesterday, so it hasn’t gotten any worse over the past 24 hours.

Wondering what this could be, as we haven’t introduced anything new to the cage recently, and his new cage mate has been with him for over 6 weeks at this point. Not sure where any sort of infection, etc. would have come from? Could this be barbering from his cage mate, or something else? He seems fine, acting normal and eating/drinking/pooping, not scratching at it. Just looks a little funny.

Planning to call the vet when they open later this morning (it’s a bank holiday in the US so not sure yet if they’ll actually be open or not.)

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[CTWC]

Bumping your post hopefully someone will be along soon to advise.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m afraid it’s rather hard to see much from the picture. A hands on vet check is the best thing if you are concerned.

If there is a chance it is an injury caused by his cagemate, then aside from the vet checking it, ensure you don’t have any single exit hides or anywhere one piggy can corner the other, and thus risking defensive injuries.

 

[chelgan]

Thank you! @Piggies&buns all of our hides are double-exit. The piggy with the issue is our dominant boar, and he is very patient with his cage mate (who is still very young), which is why I’ve considered the possibility that perhaps the young one was testing boundaries and bit him playfully without getting bit back.

 

[chelgan]

The vet said it’s likely ringworm
They took a culture and we have to wait two weeks for results. In the meantime he’s on antibiotics to prevent a secondary infection. She said it’s possible that the new baby was a dormant carrier of ringworm and infected him, and it took some time to develop. (We’ve had baby for over 6 weeks now.)

Baby pig still doesn’t have any signs of ringworm. I’ve learned my lesson: don’t buy baby piggies from a pet store! We quarantined him for a couple of days and he looked fine so we introduced them and thought everything was ok, now 6.5 weeks later, here we are waiting for a ringworm culture on our older piggy who has always been perfectly healthy.

 

[Piggies&buns]

The Incubation period of ringworm is 10-14 days but as baby piggies can’t be quarantined there wasn’t a lot you can do about it to be honest.

This is our guide which explains the recommended oral treatment and dips, as well thorough disinfection which is needed to hit it hard. Spores can live in the environment for up to 18 months.

Thread 'Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures'

Jun 12, 2014

1 What is ringworm and how is it treated?
- Ringworm facts
- Available treatments (UK-US-worldwide available products)
- Your customer rights with new guinea pigs
2 Ringworm hygiene during and at the end of treatment
- When to quarantine
- Recommended disinfectants (UK-US-worldwide available brands)
- Disinfection (plastic/hard surfaces, fabrics, wood/toys)
3 Ringworm hygiene/prevention and...

• Wiebke
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• Forum: Wiebke's Home Care Guides

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