Top 100 Cavy Breeders

lindseyc · Having a go ! Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 74

My gorgeous PE white Willis has a small bite mark on its back that looks septic. Any idea how to treat it?

Pingley Dell Cavies · Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 9:53 pm Post subject:

Flush the wound out with a saline solution made with a cup of boiled water, (cool it down but it works better if still warm) with a teaspoon or two of salt.

Flush the wound with this, if it is an open wound, use cotton wool to wipe it clean, but if it is the beginnings of an abcess, soften the scab off with the water and then flush into it using a syringe (curved tip works best) to get the pus out.

Afterwards you can use colloidal silver spray on the wound or abcess (an anti-microbal spray that is recomended by Peter Gurney) or what I use is Germolene antiseptic cream. Gorgeous guineas also does a lovely manuka gel which promotes healing.

Just keep an eye on it, and keep washing it every day in salty water if it looks septic.

Another thought is whether the bite mark could be caused by mites ~ has he been Ivomec'd lately?

lilaccavies · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:20 am Post subject:

I agree with pingley. Something I have used on cuts etc is Savlon and it seems to work very well! Smile

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lindseyc · Having a go ! Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 74

Thanks to both of you. Very useful - no, thank goodness, he hasn't got mites. He's is wonderful condition apart from the small bite. Lindsey

Pingley Dell Cavies · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:28 pm Post subject:

It should be completely fine:) Cavies do heal fast I've noticed.

I shall try Savlon lilacCavies, as the germolene has this really strong smell. It does stop the others investigating and licking it off though--some will avoid their friends if they have been 'germolened' Laughing

lilaccavies · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:59 pm Post subject:

Hi Pingley Dell,

I haveen't tried germolene, so I don't know how bad it smells lol Laughing

.
I have used savlon a couple of times a day on an open wound on a piggy and it worked a treat. I don't think anyone licked it off either Mr. Green

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Coronet, Sheltie, Merino, Lunkarya & Tortoiseshell Guineapigs!

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Pingley Dell Cavies · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:47 pm Post subject:

It smells really strongly of old fashioned hospitals LOL I'll try the Savlon instead I think:)

I'm off to post a nw subject about what's in everybody's medical box.....nosy aren't I? Razz

lilaccavies · Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:26 pm Post subject:

Yuk, thats sounds horrible Pingley! Mr. Green

Nahhh, not nosey, just interested lol Laughing

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Coronet, Sheltie, Merino, Lunkarya & Tortoiseshell Guineapigs!

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Hazelwood Lops · New Member Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 5

I always keep a tube of antibiotic cream in my medicine box for occasions such as this, you need a prescription for this in the UK but it can be bought over the counter in europe, I usually get fucidin creme or gel which is what the vets seem to use, it's a good idea to pick up a tube when you are on holiday to keep handy for next time!
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Pingley Dell Cavies · Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:05 am Post subject:

Thanks Lorna, what a great tip! The only thing that would worry me a little is if they licked some off themselves, because anyhting penicillin based is harmful to piggies. But I suppose the quantity is so small the benefit outways the small risk.

Hazelwood Lops · New Member Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 5

Pingley Dell Cavies · Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

I should think Fucidin is fine to use then:)

Penicillin is a dangerous antibiotic for pigs if given orally, as in a course of antibiotics, because it kills every good bacteria in the gut, and presumably causes damage and death through digestive upset. I don't think it is harmful if they only licked a little bit off themselves in a cream form, but to know for sure I'd text Vedra at the CCT and ask her if fucidin is a problem, and what she would use instead.

I am ordering some colloidal silver as recomended by the late great Peter Gurney. that is antimicrobal (same job as antiseptic) and fab for abcesses.

I love forums because you get to pool everybody's tips and find out from everybody's experiences what works and what doesn't.