Why is my guinea pig biting her old wound and pulling out fur?

Thanks for reaching out about Sprou and including pictures. By the history and pictures, the most likely answer is a dermal (sebaceous) cyst. This condition is very common in middle aged guinea pigs. Keeping it clean as you did, is a good start. Clipping the hair around the edges to prevent further contamination is important. Ideally a veterinarian should be seen to have the cyst surgically removed, else it is likely to come back, over and over. Secondary infections of the open wound are also possible. Good luck.

Hello. Hair loss in an older female guinea pig is often related to cystic ovaries. The abnormal ovary produced hormones that cause the hair to fall out, usually on the trunk, back or belly. Sometimes, hairliss can be from over grooming, parasites, a thyroid condition, or if the Guinge is rubbing on somethin in the cage. Since she doesn’t sound itchy or inflamed, and she’s an older female, i would be suspicious of cystic ovaries. I would recommend taking Guinge to see a veterinarian who can do a physical exam, feel her belly for possibly cystic ovaries, and if needed do an ultrasound to identify and assess the ovaries. If they are indeed cystic, they can either be treated surgically with removal of the ovaries, or with injections of hormones to reduced the cyst size and activity (though these injections need to be given every 4 weeks or so). Hopefully it’s something simple! 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.

Thanks for reaching out about Thor. Hair loss can be due to self grooming, but also fungal or bacterial dermatitis, mites, and other metabolic problems. If seems to be bothering Thor or increases in size, a veterinary visit is recommended. Do not apply anything topical as guinea pigs very good at self grooming and will remove it. Good luck.

I am sorry to hear about Chewy! A photo of the bump may help us in providing you with a better answer. I would be concerned if this is a large bump about a possible abscess (pocket of infection), cyst, or tumor. I would recommend having her seen by a vet since she obviously seems to be bothered by it. The vet may aspirate the bump by putting a small needle into it to help identify what the bump is and how best to treat it.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see the area of hair loss around the neck/shoulder region on Winston. This can be caused by fungal infections, skin mites, or certain hormonal abnormalities. Fungal infections such as ringworm can be transmitted to people, so I do recommend washing your hands well with soap and water after handling Winston and/or his bedding. You should have Winston seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine what is going on, your vet may take some hair/skin samples to rule out fungal/mite infections and begin the appropriate treatment. You should also separate him from his cagemate to prevent transmission of the infection. I hope this helps!

Hello. It is difficult to tell exactly what might be going on with Shushka, but unfortunately, it does look like a tumor. I am glad that you already have plans to have her seen. Hopefully this is something that can be taken care of soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.