Teddy pig, ear issues

[Lisanjake]

Hi, my little lady Ruby is prone to waxy dry ears which I’ve read is very common in teddy guinea pigs.

So I took her back today for a clean, but we seen a different vet.
This one poured this ear cleaner (sorry I forgot the name) directly into the whole ear and massaged it in.
Now tonight I’m reading up never to put anything into the ear, just the surrounding parts.
I just hope she hasn’t given her more issues now :/
She cleaned them well and put a gel on which treats fungal infection as she said they smelt a bit off.
She seems okay in herself tonight.
Do you think this could cause any issues pouring liquid into the whole ear?
I went to a local vet which aren’t great with pigs, but I thought a simple ear clean would be okay otherwise it’s over 1hr 30 to my guinea pig vet x

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

Unfortunately, I don't know, so I'm just sending kind thoughts and hope you can sleep the night without worrying too much. And hope Ruby is fine of course.
I did have a Teddy with dry skin but don't recall anything being put in her ears at vet's. Long time ago though, things may be different.

 

[Julie M]

Teddies are prone to dry skin. I would just clean the exterior of her ears with a damp cotton bud and some people use coconut oil to moisturise dry skin. It's also got the benefit of being antibacterial.

I imagine it would have been ear cleaner that they use on dogs and cats the vet used. I don't think it would have done any damage. I think the reason we are told not to put anything in their ears is incase the eardrum is perforated which could cause more issues. I imagine the vet looked into her ears to make sure this wasn't the case before using the ear cleaner. I love teddies they are one of my favourite types of piggies.

 

[piggieminder]

I agree with Julie. My Teddy Brillo is prone to mucky ears. I wipe round the folds inside the ear with a damp cotton wool bud, if they are looking/smelling a bit fungally I put a very small spot of Hibiscrub in the water as per vets advice. Only wipe round the upper folds never go into the ear canal. If you are worried do see a piggy savvy vet.
I've found quite a few of my pigs over the years have had this not just Teddies. It seems to be the long hairs more than the short hairs, Timmy my Peruvian gets dirty ears in the very top fold with a dry fungal on the very end of one ear, always the same ear.

 

[Lisanjake]

Teddies are prone to dry skin. I would just clean the exterior of her ears with a damp cotton bud and some people use coconut oil to moisturise dry skin. It's also got the benefit of being antibacterial.

I imagine it would have been ear cleaner that they use on dogs and cats the vet used. I don't think it would have done any damage. I think the reason we are told not to put anything in their ears is incase the eardrum is perforated which could cause more issues. I imagine the vet looked into her ears to make sure this wasn't the case before using the ear cleaner. I love teddies they are one of my favourite types of piggies.

Thank you, i wasn't told any of this when i got her. she was unwanted from a breeder as she was too small so thought I may of been told this.
She is such a little wriggler, hates being handled. when i take her to the vets she just flops of the table terrified and the vets always say how well behaved she is, I'm like not at home she isnt! lol
at least it is done for now, how often do you reckon i should clean them to keep them at bay?

 

[Julie M]

Thank you, i wasn't told any of this when i got her. she was unwanted from a breeder as she was too small so thought I may of been told this.
She is such a little wriggler, hates being handled. when i take her to the vets she just flops of the table terrified and the vets always say how well behaved she is, I'm like not at home she isnt! lol
at least it is done for now, how often do you reckon i should clean them to keep them at bay?

You'll be able to see if they need a clean. I wouldn't clean them more than is necessary. As this won't help them either.

 

[Lisanjake]

It might be random but would it make sense to feed vegetables that have lower starch content?
I just googled low yeast veg and things like carrots and corn etc can be high in carbs so try to avoid. And I’ve been feeding carrots more recently for sure.

 

[piggieminder]

Not something I've ever heard of but I don't feed high starch foods. Mine might get a tiny slice of carrot every 2 or 3 months.

 

[Piggies&buns]

You don’t want to be feeding lots of carrots and corn anyway. The high starch and high sugars aren’t good for their digestive system.
They should be considered a very occasional treat - one tiny slice and no more than once a week.
Mine are looking forward to their annual carrot peeling from the Christmas veg prep!

Thread 'Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets'

Jul 14, 2014

1 The recommended ratio of food groups
2 Hay and fresh grass
3 Vegetables, fresh herbs and fruit with an illustrated balanced sample diet
4 Special dietary needs
- Urinary tract infections, bladder stones and sterile IC (non-bacterial interstitial cystitis)
- Diabetes and long term digestive problems
- Impaction in boars
- Pregnancy and nursing dietary tweaks (only visible to registered members who have accepted our no intentional breeding policy)...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Diet

• 

 

[Lisanjake]

You don’t want to be feeding lots of carrots and corn anyway. The high starch and high sugars aren’t good for their digestive system.
They should be considered a very occasional treat - one tiny slice and no more than once a week.
Mine are looking forward to their annual carrot peeling from the Christmas veg prep!

Thread 'Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets'

Jul 14, 2014

1 The recommended ratio of food groups
2 Hay and fresh grass
3 Vegetables, fresh herbs and fruit with an illustrated balanced sample diet
4 Special dietary needs
- Urinary tract infections, bladder stones and sterile IC (non-bacterial interstitial cystitis)
- Diabetes and long term digestive problems
- Impaction in boars
- Pregnancy and nursing dietary tweaks (only visible to registered members who have accepted our no intentional breeding policy)...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Diet

• 

Thanks for this, I don’t usually give carrot just they go off if I don’t use them up. She only gets 2 tiny bits over the course of the day along with other veg.

Also I noticed her ear is still quite warm and red… she seems okay in herself, better than she was before she had them cleaned.
She still scratches it now and then.
I had the heating on earlier but it’s still only 19 degrees in here.
Hmm might be better to get her into cat and rabbit clinic if I can

 

[Lisanjake]

You don’t want to be feeding lots of carrots and corn anyway. The high starch and high sugars aren’t good for their digestive system.
They should be considered a very occasional treat - one tiny slice and no more than once a week.
Mine are looking forward to their annual carrot peeling from the Christmas veg prep!

Thread 'Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets'

Jul 14, 2014

1 The recommended ratio of food groups
2 Hay and fresh grass
3 Vegetables, fresh herbs and fruit with an illustrated balanced sample diet
4 Special dietary needs
- Urinary tract infections, bladder stones and sterile IC (non-bacterial interstitial cystitis)
- Diabetes and long term digestive problems
- Impaction in boars
- Pregnancy and nursing dietary tweaks (only visible to registered members who have accepted our no intentional breeding policy)...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Diet

• 

Thanks for this, I don’t usually give carrot just they go off if I don’t use them up. She only gets 2 tiny bits over the course of the day along with other veg.

Also I noticed her ear is still quite warm and red… she seems okay in herself, better than she was before she had them cleaned.
She still scratches it now and then.
I had the heating on earlier but it’s still only 19 degrees and 18 degrees on the floor by her cage.
I might try and get her in with the cat and rabbit clinic on Monday or something as my local vets aren’t great with piggies at the best of times.

Her left ear is the warmest but both look red to me.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, my little lady Ruby is prone to waxy dry ears which I’ve read is very common in teddy guinea pigs.

So I took her back today for a clean, but we seen a different vet.
This one poured this ear cleaner (sorry I forgot the name) directly into the whole ear and massaged it in.
Now tonight I’m reading up never to put anything into the ear, just the surrounding parts.
I just hope she hasn’t given her more issues now :/
She cleaned them well and put a gel on which treats fungal infection as she said they smelt a bit off.
She seems okay in herself tonight.
Do you think this could cause any issues pouring liquid into the whole ear?
I went to a local vet which aren’t great with pigs, but I thought a simple ear clean would be okay otherwise it’s over 1hr 30 to my guinea pig vet x

If your piggy is not showing signs of discomfort or a head tilt, then I would not worry.

It depends on the product used: how much/little has been used to flush out any muck (i.e. the fluid has come out again), whether it evaporates or - and that is the reason for our warnings re. home DIY - it sits at the bottom of the outer ear canal, is congealing with what is already there and is making things worse instead of better.

I hope that this explanation eases your mind?

 

[Lisanjake]

If your piggy is not showing signs of discomfort or a head tilt, then I would not worry.

It depends on the product used: how much/little has been used to flush out any muck (i.e. the fluid has come out again), whether it evaporates or - and that is the reason for our warnings re. home DIY - it sits at the bottom of the outer ear canal, is congealing with what is already there and is making things worse instead of better.

I hope that this explanation eases your mind?

thank you for your reply. She seems okay in herself.
She hasn’t put any weight on since but not lost either which is good. She was up all of last night eating and walking around the living room lol.
is it normal for the ear to still feel warm? One defo more than the other.
God I do worry about her

 

[Wiebke]

She seems okay in

thank you for your reply. She seems okay in herself.
She hasn’t put any weight on since but not lost either which is good. She was up all of last night eating and walking around the living room lol.
God I do worry about her

Piggies have a way of doing that to you because pets are the ones we can love unreservedly...

Make sure that you have some rest and breather for yourself and stop fretting.

 

[Wiebke]

thank you for your reply. She seems okay in herself.
She hasn’t put any weight on since but not lost either which is good. She was up all of last night eating and walking around the living room lol.
is it normal for the ear to still feel warm? One defo more than the other.
God I do worry about her

Yes, give any parasite treatment time to work and the ear time to settle down. As long as it is just warm and not hot, there is no reason to worry.