Fortunately, the really big raccoon rabies wave is mostly in the eastern states, though it sadly isn't possible to discount it so easily. Yeah, it's a scary thought--I've had a cat put down before (she had eaten something poisonous outside and her liver was starting to fail--what a terrible thing that was).

His ear is surprisingly okay, as long as he doesn't scratch it. An ear infection was really bothering him so he scratched it for the relief. The after-hours vet commented that it was almost neurotic after he'd seen the damage. No yowling either, which made me feel really bad to look up from We ♥ Katamari and realize that a fair amount of the room had blood sprayed over it. :( It was especially bad after we arrived at the vet, since by then the blood was making its way into his ear, and he kept on shaking his head to clear it...a few blood clots came flying out, and the vet, my mother and I were sprayed with it...same with the walls.

He's had ear problems since he was a kitten. Less than a year ago, blood made it under the skin of his ear, and it swelled up, so he had surgery to relieve it--his ear's crinkled now. It's the other one he scratched.

(Sorry to write so much about it, it's fresh in my mind still. And I doubt I'll forget my mother's hands being covered in his blood as she petted the poor thing to soothe him.)

Anyway, I hope for the best for the guinea pig.