Useful Emergency Supplies
If your guinea pig needs medical care, chances are you will be using some of the supplies on this page to treat your guinea pig or to administer meds.
- Antibiotic Creams and Ointments
- Syringes
- Chew Guard
- Where to Find Supplies
- Antiseptic Solutions - (new page)
- Bandaging - (new page)
Antibiotic Creams and Ointments
WARNING: Most antibiotic creams contain antibiotics that must not be ingested. Make sure these ointments are used sparingly and only when absolutely necessary.
The most common antibiotic cream/ointment is triple antibiotic ointment, also known as BNP (brand name, Neosporin).
- Ingredients: Polymyxin B Sulfate, Bacitracin Zinc and Neomycin Sulfate. Since bacitracin is a deadly antibiotic taken orally, apply sparingly, wipe off any excess, and be especially careful if applied near the mouth to treat conditions like cheilitis (a bacterial skin infection).
Syringes
Syringes are used for administering medication, hand feeding, and flushing wounds.
Pictured above:- Top: Curved tip syringes are invaluable for flushing abscesses.
- Top: Curved tip syringes are invaluable for flushing abscesses.
- Middle: This 3cc syringe can be used for hand feeding. The author prefers a 1cc syringe with the restrictive tip cut off.
- Bottom: Typical 1cc needless syringe used to administer medication.
Pictured below:
- Needled syringe used to draw dose of ivermectin from 1% solution bottle. This bottle is typically sealed with a rubber seal. One pierces the seal, inverts the bottle, and draws a single dose into this one cc syringe.
Pictured below:
- Removeable needle. This needle can fit on the end of some 1cc needleless syringes. If treating topically, draw dose of ivermectin, remove tip, apply ivermectin behind ear.
Where to find? Your veterinarian should have 1cc needless syringes and supplies. Not all vets carry the indispensable curved tip syringe but they are worth tracking down. Curved tip syringes are invaluable for flushing abscesses. Try other veterinarians or even dentists (who give them to patients to flush pulled teeth). Pharmacies and farm supply stores (feed stores) may also carry an assortment. See discussion concerning Online Sources.
Chew Guard
Some guinea pigs will chew at incision sites or injured/swollen areas. Chew Guard is a veterinary product used to spray a fine mist of a peppery substance on an area of skin, wound, or bandage. Be sure to cover the guinea pig's face when spraying, and cover your own also, as the pepper spray is easily inhaled.Another method of preventing a guinea pig from biting at his flesh is to use a collar to limit movement.
Where to Find Supplies
Farm supply stores, pharmacies, and online vet supply companies have most of the products in the supplies pages.