Ear and Toe

Question
I have a couple of questions. My Pig for the most part is good and he gets treated like a king in  our house. I reconized that his ear gets very dry and flakes but the other ear is fine. His toenails are very long and i'm not sure how to cut them but one toenail is brown and looks infected so any advice would help for all questions. Thanks in advance!

Answer
Nick,

Hello and thanks for the question. I strongly advise seeing a expert guinea pig vet in all cases that I give help on.

The ear problem doesn't sound too serious. Get your self a bottle of ear washing solution from the local petstore. One made for rabbits and guinea pigs is recommended but ferret will work as well and is more "viscous" and easier to apply. The LIGHT use of q-tips to get rid of ant ear gunk can also be employed. If the condition causes the animal discomfort or worsens, see your vet now.

Cutting GP nails can be tricky. Odds are he/she does not WANT his/her nails cut and will sqirm as much as he/she can. Get a friend to hold the animal in a towel firmly. Cut just a little of each nail. If your can see the quick running through the nail it is easier (on lighter skinned GPs). If your DO cut the quick, don't panic. Use a styptic stick to stop the bleeding (for men's shaving). The infection can be rinsed (after trimming) with peroxide occastionally. After trimming put on some first aid cream (for humans). Again, if it does not clear up or get's worse, see the vet.

Thanks and I hope this helps. It sounds as though your GP will be fine.
Sincerely,
Ryan
PS" Please rate me.