Small Cut Next To Nostril

[Maisy and Poppy]

Hi,

I have just been to see my guinea pigs - they are outdoors in a garage - and I held them both and gave them a thorough check up.

Poppy was first and nothing was unusual with her, she seems perfect weight and her nails are clipped ...
She has had mites before and had a hay poke last year on Halloween but has no other medical history.

Next was Maisy and everything was fine but as I went to check her teeth / mouth and nose I noticed there was something on her nose- at first I thought it was a bit of hay! - When I looked at her it wasn't bleeding but after I put her back in her hutch to observe her it started to bleed a little. She is behaving normally and eating / drinking normally too.
She also has a bit of crusty / sore ears. I took her to two different vets to get there opinion spending over £75 in total ..... Just for them to say that she was fine!

I don't really wan't a repeat of this so wonder what I should do / if it is serious.

Many thanks,
Emily

 

[Wiebke]

Hi,

I have just been to see my guinea pigs - they are outdoors in a garage - and I held them both and gave them a thorough check up.

Poppy was first and nothing was unusual with her, she seems perfect weight and her nails are clipped ...
She has had mites before and had a hay poke last year on Halloween but has no other medical history.

Next was Maisy and everything was fine but as I went to check her teeth / mouth and nose I noticed there was something on her nose- at first I thought it was a bit of hay! - When I looked at her it wasn't bleeding but after I put her back in her hutch to observe her it started to bleed a little. She is behaving normally and eating / drinking normally too.
She also has a bit of crusty / sore ears. I took her to two different vets to get there opinion spending over £75 in total ..... Just for them to say that she was fine!

I don't really wan't a repeat of this so wonder what I should do / if it is serious.

Many thanks,
Emily

The nose cut is most likely due to a slightly misjudged swipe. It can happen. It is nothing serious unless it goes further and develops into fungal. Ringworm can often start as a scratch wound.
The ears are more serious, as that sounds like fungal which needs to be treated.

 

[Critter]

Can you post any photos? A small cut on the nose can be caused by them going a little too far with their nose-off warning nips. Crusty ears are something that breeds such as Teddies are prone to without ill effect. However it can be parasites, fungal.....
Did your vet perform any skin scapes or samples of the ear for testing?

Sorry @Wiebke, posting at the same time!

 

[Maisy and Poppy]

@Wiebke and @Critter Thank you very much for responding so quickly.

I don't have any pictures yet. Maisy Moo is usually the 'leader' of the pair. Poppy is a week older but she was introduced to Maisy on Maisy's territory so maybe that is why she's the leader?

The vets did not do any tests just looked at her ears briefly however it looks bad compared to Poppy's ears.

I don't really want to go to the vets for her nose as it is likely they'll just say the same things and charge a lot.
At the moment I use Shortheath vets and the vets in Pets at home farnham.Do you recommend any in that area - I've looked on the vet locator.

Would dabbing her nose with salt water and a cotton bud help? I've decided to monitor her closely and see how it goes.

 

[Wiebke]

@Wiebke and @Critter Thank you very much for responding so quickly.

I don't have any pictures yet. Maisy Moo is usually the 'leader' of the pair. Poppy is a week older but she was introduced to Maisy on Maisy's territory so maybe that is why she's the leader?

The vets did not do any tests just looked at her ears briefly however it looks bad compared to Poppy's ears.

I don't really want to go to the vets for her nose as it is likely they'll just say the same things and charge a lot.
At the moment I use Shortheath vets and the vets in Pets at home farnham.Do you recommend any in that area - I've looked on the vet locator.

Would dabbing her nose with salt water and a cotton bud help? I've decided to monitor her closely and see how it goes.

If it is a fresh cut and not yet scabbed over, then disinfecting with saline solution won't hurt.
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
Gorgeous Guineas: Photo Gallery

 

[Maisy and Poppy]

If it is a fresh cut and not yet scabbed over, then disinfecting with saline solution won't hurt.
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
Gorgeous Guineas: Photo Gallery

Thank you.

 

[VickiA]

Mini injuries near the nostrils are not such a worry - it's often from a nip and as Wiebke has said you can bathe with cooled boiled salt water if you wish. I hope she appreciates the tlc she is getting.