Post by Dawn - Admin on Feb 16, 2009 8:11:04 GMT
Down Under
We recently had an email from Susan, one of our customers, with a suggestion for a newsletter topic......"I had a thought for your next newsletter....when it's colder, my piggies tend to move about less, and are more prone to getting sore feet at this time of the year than any other - but I use your Perfect Paws Ointment, and they heal amazingly quickly. Anyway I thought you could suggest everyone needs to do an "underpig inspection" after cold weather (especially for shed/outdoor piggies)...because I never even considered lifting them up high so I could see their feet until I got a Bumblefoot problem, which would have been prevented if I had done regular "underpig checks"!!"
So, how often do you check "down under" and look at what is going on underneath your guinea? This doesn't just apply to the feet - regular inspections are important for the health of your guinea and the earlier problems are picked up, the quicker they can be investigated and treated. It isn't just in winter that these inspections need doing, but all year round. By picking up each of your guineas every day, you will soon get to know what is "normal" for each one and be able to feel if they are loosing weight and getting boney, even if you don't weigh them regularly (highly recommended).
There are lots of potential problems that can go on "down under", so here are some of the things to look out for:
Feet - are they a normal healthy pink colour or looking a bit red and sore? If they are, Perfect Paws or Happy Soles Ointments are useful products to use. You also need to find the cause of the problem. This could be the type of bedding that you use - shavings are one of the main causes of skin problems in guineas and not recommended. Other options are mentioned on this page. Bumblefoot is a swelling / ulceration of the foot pad that can be very painful for a guinea. It can be difficult to treat and often happens when piggies become older and less mobile. As with most things, the earlier the problem is picked up, the easier it is to treat. We've had a lot of success with our Happy Soles Ointment, but often Bumblefoot needs to be tackled in a variety of ways.
Chin lumps - gently feel under the chin for any lumps that aren't usually there. Abscesses are quite common in guineas and are often caused by dental problems. They can come up overnight and need lancing to remove the pus. This can be done quickly and easily by your Vet without the need for anaesthetic. A good dose of antibiotics is also required to keep any infection at bay. Once the abscess has been cleaned and flushed out, you will need to keep it open and flush it out every day until all the pus has gone. More information about abscesses can be found here.
Wet chin - if your guinea has a wet chin, is drooling, and / or having problems eating, they could have a tooth problem. Get their teeth checked out as soon as possible - guineas do NOT need to be anaesthetised to have their teeth problems attended to. Sadly most Vets do not know how to towel wrap a guinea in order to keep them still without anaesthetising them. Clipping teeth without anaesthetic is quick and easy when done by a Vet who has been properly trained. Unlike humans, guinea pigs do not have any nerves in their teeth, so there is no pain involved. NEVER try clipping your guineas' teeth yourself. People who try this with nail clippers can end up splitting the teeth and setting up an infection which goes up the tooth root:( Problems with the incisors at the front of the mouth can indicate that there are other problems going on with the molars at the back. There is no point in cutting the incisors without checking the back teeth, so find a Vet who can do this for you.
Lumps and bumps - lumps are often found underneath guineas. Make a point of regularly feeling around from the chin down to the bottom area. Mammary tissue tumours are often found around the nipple area. These tumours are usually benign, but can sometimes be cancerous, so it is always worth getting them checked out by your Vet. A lot of lumps found underneath guineas are harmless fatty lumps. These are usually left well alone unless they grow enough to cause mobility problems for your guinea and need removing, but again, it is always worth getting them checked out if you have any doubts.
Crusty nipples - can be caused by a fungal skin problem, hormonal problems or after a mum has given birth and is feeding her pups. Super Souffle Cream used 2-3 times a day will usually help the crusts to fall off within a few days.
Flaky skin / scabs / crusts - regular bathing every 4-6 weeks and using the correct type of bedding can help to prevent skin problems from happening in the first place. If you do find any skin problems, check out this section on the website for more information.
Wet underneath - if your guinea is wet underneath, it could indicate that they have either a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or a Bladder Stone. Both need treating as soon as possible by your Vet. Guineas that are constantly wet underneath can get sore skin cause by urine scald. As well as finding the root cause of the problem and getting it treated, try keeping them on Happy Soles Fleece Bedding. It wicks away urine and helps to keep the guinea dry and warm. The affected area needs to be kept clean - start off with a a quick shampoo of the wet area with a gentle shampoo (GG Lavender Conditioning Shampoo is good), followed by a gentle daily clean with Organic Baby Wipes. If the skin is red and sore, apply Perfect Paws Ointment twice a day to help to calm and heal the skin as well as providing a barrier against the urine.
Boy's bits - this area needs regular inspection and regular cleaning, especially if your boar is impacted. Lots of useful information about this topic can be found here.
Girl's bits - these need checking regularly for any signs of discharge, blood or white chalky bits (which could indicate a problem with bladder sludge or a bladder stone). Again, if you find anything suspect, do get it checked out by your Vet.
Information in this newsletter is no substitute for proper Veterinary diagnosis and care. Please take your guinea to see a guinea-competent Vet when you find anything wrong with it.
©Gorgeous Guineas 2009
Gorgeous Guineas,
Maybough House, Dark Lane,Tilehurst, Reading,Berkshire,RG31 6RA,
United Kingdom
Special Offers:
gorgeousguineas.co.uk/p/category/0611283886/1/name_A2Z/
We recently had an email from Susan, one of our customers, with a suggestion for a newsletter topic......"I had a thought for your next newsletter....when it's colder, my piggies tend to move about less, and are more prone to getting sore feet at this time of the year than any other - but I use your Perfect Paws Ointment, and they heal amazingly quickly. Anyway I thought you could suggest everyone needs to do an "underpig inspection" after cold weather (especially for shed/outdoor piggies)...because I never even considered lifting them up high so I could see their feet until I got a Bumblefoot problem, which would have been prevented if I had done regular "underpig checks"!!"
So, how often do you check "down under" and look at what is going on underneath your guinea? This doesn't just apply to the feet - regular inspections are important for the health of your guinea and the earlier problems are picked up, the quicker they can be investigated and treated. It isn't just in winter that these inspections need doing, but all year round. By picking up each of your guineas every day, you will soon get to know what is "normal" for each one and be able to feel if they are loosing weight and getting boney, even if you don't weigh them regularly (highly recommended).
There are lots of potential problems that can go on "down under", so here are some of the things to look out for:
Feet - are they a normal healthy pink colour or looking a bit red and sore? If they are, Perfect Paws or Happy Soles Ointments are useful products to use. You also need to find the cause of the problem. This could be the type of bedding that you use - shavings are one of the main causes of skin problems in guineas and not recommended. Other options are mentioned on this page. Bumblefoot is a swelling / ulceration of the foot pad that can be very painful for a guinea. It can be difficult to treat and often happens when piggies become older and less mobile. As with most things, the earlier the problem is picked up, the easier it is to treat. We've had a lot of success with our Happy Soles Ointment, but often Bumblefoot needs to be tackled in a variety of ways.
Chin lumps - gently feel under the chin for any lumps that aren't usually there. Abscesses are quite common in guineas and are often caused by dental problems. They can come up overnight and need lancing to remove the pus. This can be done quickly and easily by your Vet without the need for anaesthetic. A good dose of antibiotics is also required to keep any infection at bay. Once the abscess has been cleaned and flushed out, you will need to keep it open and flush it out every day until all the pus has gone. More information about abscesses can be found here.
Wet chin - if your guinea has a wet chin, is drooling, and / or having problems eating, they could have a tooth problem. Get their teeth checked out as soon as possible - guineas do NOT need to be anaesthetised to have their teeth problems attended to. Sadly most Vets do not know how to towel wrap a guinea in order to keep them still without anaesthetising them. Clipping teeth without anaesthetic is quick and easy when done by a Vet who has been properly trained. Unlike humans, guinea pigs do not have any nerves in their teeth, so there is no pain involved. NEVER try clipping your guineas' teeth yourself. People who try this with nail clippers can end up splitting the teeth and setting up an infection which goes up the tooth root:( Problems with the incisors at the front of the mouth can indicate that there are other problems going on with the molars at the back. There is no point in cutting the incisors without checking the back teeth, so find a Vet who can do this for you.
Lumps and bumps - lumps are often found underneath guineas. Make a point of regularly feeling around from the chin down to the bottom area. Mammary tissue tumours are often found around the nipple area. These tumours are usually benign, but can sometimes be cancerous, so it is always worth getting them checked out by your Vet. A lot of lumps found underneath guineas are harmless fatty lumps. These are usually left well alone unless they grow enough to cause mobility problems for your guinea and need removing, but again, it is always worth getting them checked out if you have any doubts.
Crusty nipples - can be caused by a fungal skin problem, hormonal problems or after a mum has given birth and is feeding her pups. Super Souffle Cream used 2-3 times a day will usually help the crusts to fall off within a few days.
Flaky skin / scabs / crusts - regular bathing every 4-6 weeks and using the correct type of bedding can help to prevent skin problems from happening in the first place. If you do find any skin problems, check out this section on the website for more information.
Wet underneath - if your guinea is wet underneath, it could indicate that they have either a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) or a Bladder Stone. Both need treating as soon as possible by your Vet. Guineas that are constantly wet underneath can get sore skin cause by urine scald. As well as finding the root cause of the problem and getting it treated, try keeping them on Happy Soles Fleece Bedding. It wicks away urine and helps to keep the guinea dry and warm. The affected area needs to be kept clean - start off with a a quick shampoo of the wet area with a gentle shampoo (GG Lavender Conditioning Shampoo is good), followed by a gentle daily clean with Organic Baby Wipes. If the skin is red and sore, apply Perfect Paws Ointment twice a day to help to calm and heal the skin as well as providing a barrier against the urine.
Boy's bits - this area needs regular inspection and regular cleaning, especially if your boar is impacted. Lots of useful information about this topic can be found here.
Girl's bits - these need checking regularly for any signs of discharge, blood or white chalky bits (which could indicate a problem with bladder sludge or a bladder stone). Again, if you find anything suspect, do get it checked out by your Vet.
Information in this newsletter is no substitute for proper Veterinary diagnosis and care. Please take your guinea to see a guinea-competent Vet when you find anything wrong with it.
©Gorgeous Guineas 2009
Gorgeous Guineas,
Maybough House, Dark Lane,Tilehurst, Reading,Berkshire,RG31 6RA,
United Kingdom
Special Offers:
gorgeousguineas.co.uk/p/category/0611283886/1/name_A2Z/
