Cat attacked my guinea pig, no wounds, but losing hair. Is he okay?

Thanks for reaching out about your guinea pigs. Cat bites or claw marks are notoriously contaminated, often causing serious infections. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to prescribe antibiotics. Reaching out to local humane societies or rescue groups can sometime provide some financial assistance. But don't wait too long as infections can progress to systemic problems quickly. Good luck.

That looks like a laceration from the photo. I recommend to have Sussy examined by the veterinarian who may want to put her on antibiotics. In the mean time, you can gently wash the area with soap and rinse it very well. Pat dry the fur well. Make sure to keep her warm until she is dry. Remove the bedding and put a towel down so no dust or particles can contaminate the area. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Most of the oral meds are on prescription and should be discussed with your local veterinarian. Disinfection of the skin may be achieved at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

I am so sorry for the delay in answering your question. Mites are very common in guinea pigs and may be the cause. Take her to your vet so they can determine if this is indeed the problem, and can advise you on how best to treat it. In the meantime, change the bedding daily and monitor her food and water intake--if she is lethargic, or is not eating or drinking, take her to the vet right away. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach, and again I apologize for the delay!

I am sorry to hear about your guinea pig! I would recommend having him examined by a veterinarian. If some of his skin is torn or hanging, it could be painful and a source of infection. I would also want to examine inside his ear and the skin around his ear to see if tehre is a reason why he might have been itching at the ear. I would also recommend check the cage/bowls/etc. for areas that could be sharp/could cause injury.

Even though a picture would help to understand better the underlying cause, generally speaking this presentation could be due to a trauma or recurrence of the localized skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Bleeding must be stopped as soon as possible with gentle pressure. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Yes. I would recommend to take her to the vet. The doctor will likely put her on antibiotics to try to clean up the infection. You also need to make sure that she is not licking at the area as this can make it worse. She should wear an Elizabethan collar at all times and be kept indoors completely until the wound is completely healed. I hope she feels better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.