Fuzzbutt's Medical

[arpitkakkar1]

Nice information such a useful for us thanks for sharing.

[GrannyJu1]

Fuzz is doing well. The bare spot on her back (shaped like a "V") is growing back after being treated with Gentizol. It barely shows now after only a week of being treated.

The other areas are not bare - all the way around her butt and down on the belly. They simply look like the hair has been trimmed very short. Should I continue to use Gentizol on them since it doesn't appear to make a difference and I can't see any "lesions" from the fungal infection? Should I suspect ovarian cysts? The vet took x-rays in December and couldn't see any sign of cysts from those x-rays last week, just a bit of gas. Are more x-rays in order? I'd post a copy of what was taken in December, but I guess I failed to ask for them. I'll try to get copies and get them posted here.

Fuzz has had many x-rays in her 4 years. Does this have an effect on her?

Ideas and suggestions are very welcome.

[bpatters]

A V-shaped hair loss on the back is the classic sign of mites.

[Lynx]

Ditto. I think you had said you'd treated for mites too, no? Maybe this is what is working.

[GrannyJu1]

Yep, Revolution at last vet visit. Doesn't appear to be solving the "short hair" issue, though.

[GrannyJu1]

Poor Fuzz seems to be getting worse and worse with the fungal infection. It has spread to her eye, and the other areas don't seem to be growing back as I thought they were/should be. Small bare spots keep appearing here and there. Yesterday I noticed that her left hind foot looked almost bloody, but was probably just her pink skin showing through since I couldn't find any source for blood.

The other two pigs are almost completely clear except for the areas on their ears and behind the ears, and those are improving.

[bpatters]

Maybe Fuzz's problem isn't fungal. I'd try a triple-antibiotic cream and see if that works.

[Lynx]

I am sorry it is getting worse. Sounds like it might be really itchy. I wonder if (besides a treatment - see if the triple antibiotic cream bpatters recommends works) some antihistamines might help.

[daisymay]

Hoping little Fuzzy is feeling better real soon. Hoping the other girls don't get it. You're such a good piggy slave. Cuddle for Fuzzy from us.

[GrannyJu1]

I was pretty sure that when medicating the area around Fuzz's left eye, I, at least once, poked her with the q-tip before I finally gave up and applied the Gentizol with the tip of my finger. Even then, she struggled so much I might have touched her eye again. Vet confirmed it when she found some mucus (slightly bloody?) in that eye. Vet gave me Oph Bnpoo ointment to apply twice a day. Vet shaved the area around Fuzz's eye so I could see where to apply the Gentizol. Fuzz has a slightly red scabby area below where I have been applying Gentizol. That is where the medication needs to get to, inside the hairline where I couldn't see it. This may make Fuzz a little happier since it will mean I don't have to get quite so close to her eye.

Vet says Fuzz behaved very well while they shaved her. Must mean she has my number and isn't afraid to use it.

The rest of the areas on her body seem to growing back, although very slowly. Maybe I'm not getting the edges of the infection as I should be.

Now, if only she will quit struggling while I put the eye ointment in.

[Lynx]

That the rest of her body seems to be healing is great! Good luck getting that pesky eye cleared up!

p.s. what is "Oph Bnpoo ointment"?

[GrannyJu1]

Hahaha! I decided to actually look at the tube instead of just the bottle - it's Vetropolycin. I have no idea why the bottle said "Oph Bnpoo".

[Kimera]

Oph is short for ophtalmic, but I have no idea what Bnpoo is :).
Edit.I found it! It is Bacitracin-neomycin-polymyxin.

[Zaphy]

Eye ointment might be my least favorite thing to administer to a pig... it's so hard to get it actually in the eye without jabbing it with the applicator. I hope she returns to full health quickly! Good luck :)

[GrannyJu1]

Does anyone have any suggestions for an easy way to get the ointment in her eye? Last night I know I jabbed her again when trying to get the Gentizol around the eye. At this rate, her eye will never heal. Does the ointment have to go in the center, or can I put it one of the two corners? Even when I'm not near her eye, she fights like crazy, to the point that I have to all but lay on her and twist her head to hold her still.

The area below her eye is starting to grow back but now there are spots appearing on her nose above the eye. It seems like I take one step forward and 3 steps back. Her body is becoming more and more involved, too. The good news is the "V" on her back is almost gone. Now for the 3 dozen other areas...

[daisymay]

I usually get my husband to distract my piggies whilst I put ointment in their eyes or if alone we wrap the piggy in the towel and softly talk to them. Hoping it works for you. If all else fails you could bribe her with treats. Glad some bald patches are growing back.

[Lynx]

Wash your hands really well and maybe you could put a tiny amount on your finger and get it in the corner of the eye. This way a big finger would not jab so much (I hope). Hopefully there will be better suggestions from more people if the finger/distraction method does not work.

Also glad the hair is filling in!

[Clint The Cuy]

Vetropolycin is a brand of triple antibiotic ophthalmic ointment. The 3 antibiotics being bacitracin, neomycin and polymyxin, hence the “BNP.” O.O. Is just short for ophthalmic ointment.

There are a few ways that I have administered eye ointment. I don’t generally use the tube directly because of waste, contamination and lack of control (like when a huge 4 inch line of ointment comes out after the slightest squeeze of the tube! So annoying!).

One is that I use a 1 ml TB syringe, pull out the plunger and squirt some ointment into the syringe. Then just put the plunger back in and then use that to administer your ointment. It has a fatter tip that isn’t as “pokey” and it allows for more control and less waste IMO.

It is also totally legal to use a clean or gloved hand to administer the ointment instead of trying to aim with another applicator. I usually use one hand to restrain/hold eye open and the other to put into either corner of the eye. You could also aiming for the top or lower lid. I sometimes gently lift the upper lid very slightly and aim he ointment in that area. Their eyes are tricky because of how convex they are.

Also remember that their eyes don’t hold that much ointment/solution and it only takes an extremely small amount to treat the eye. A larger eye can only hold 0.1ml of solution and maybe a 3mm strip of ointment. A guinea pigs eyes are a fraction of that size. I’ve had vets tell me to administer 3 drops of solution at one time and I hate to say that it is a waste, because they blink most of it out. Their eyes can’t hold that much.

[Lynx]

Oh, I'm glad you posted, Clint The Cuy! It sounds like I was pointing in the right direction (for the finger method) but your explanation was so much better.

[GrannyJu1]

Hahaha, Lynx. You were right on. I did use my finger to administer the Gentizol, and still ended up poking her. However, maybe I poked her first and worst with the q-tip I've been using. I think you're both right that my finger would work best for both medications. It's worth a shot anyway.

I'm not sure the distraction method will work but will certainly try. It can't hurt. I've been giving treats AFTER the application of meds, but maybe DURING would work better. And maybe a little more (it's usually lettuce) afterwards.

I thank you all for the ideas and suggestions. It is truly appreciated.