Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Guinea Pigs > Guinea pig nose scabs

Guinea pig nose scabs

21 13:46:07

Question
Shortbread nose scabs
Shortbread nose scabs  
My guinea pig shortbread has some knobbly bits underneath her fur on her nose. They are yellow-ish and as you go further up the nose they are smaller and white. She is acting fine, eating and drinking normally, but I was just wondering if this was anything to be worried about and if she needs to go to the vets or anything. There is a photo attached for further reference. Thank-you!

Answer
White \'scab\' on nose
White 'scab' on nose  
I can't tell you exactly what it is but I can assure you it's extremely common. I have several pigs with the same thing. I have three friends who are both cavy breeders/exhibitors and veterinarians and none of them know exactly what this is or where it's from.  

We know that it's not contagious, it's not infectious and it's not malignant. It appears in most pigs at about 1 1/2 years of age, sometimes sooner. I've never had a judge that could tell me what this is but there are no disqualifications or faults for it. It looks like a scab but there's no evidence of injury. It doesn't scrape off and it doesn't get any worse.  

Here's a picture of one of my own animals taken four years ago. I've had this question come to me many times. It's nothing to worry. It's just there.