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Midge&Panda

Midge&Panda

Adult Guinea Pig
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I'm posting about Midge again as things are getting worse. Midge is near 6yrs and not in the best of health. She is on medication for bladder problems - nutracys +, metacam and septrin. She is also under going treatment for fungal - daktarin cream. She has been weighing in at about 1040-1070 g for the last 6 weeks but now no matter what we try her weight is slowly dropping this evening it has dropped to 1019g. She recently had a dental so we know its not her teeth. She has a monthly check-up where she is poked and prodded around and no lumps have been discovered. She's also been spayed. Midge is topped up twice a day with critical care usually mixed with babyfood. Just plain tonight thinking she's filling up on the 'not so good stuff'. When she is out having cuddles she eats extremely well but when in the hutch it is almost as if she forgets to eat and any weight gain is lost overnight or during the day when I am working or my daughter is at school when we cant tempt her with food. In herself she is very active and still the dominant girl in the room. She's off to the vets tomorrow but if anybody can come up with any suggestions I would be most grateful.
 
Just a thought...... I have been reading about systemic fungal infections but the symptoms don't seem to be very specific and the vet said he wouldn't give oral treatment unless it was shown to be ringworm. Would it be likely she has this? Another idea... we have 7 piggies in total and when my daughter handles the 2 'fungal' piggies she has an awful reaction to them. Her eyes swell and nearly her whole body itches (sorted with anti histamines) could the 2 be connected. I think I'm clutching at straws now. :(
 
It's possible, a systemic mycosis can result in weightloss and loss of muscle tone, it is also a fantastic mimic of other conditions such as bladder issues, heart issues, respiratory infection so you end up treating symptoms but not the cause. My Barney is mycotic and has slowly lost weight over the last year but has stopped now. When he was losing weight he was given 3 rounds of Itrafungol and it did help. Not saying that is necessarily what is going on here but it is possible. You need to factor in her age though as they do lose weight as they get older.

Can I ask what history of fungal there has been in your pigs, other than the current situation? Basically a systemic problem occurs when pigs injest fungal spores through their special poos and it is a repetitive cycle that needs to be broken.
 
helen105281 said:
It's possible, a systemic mycosis can result in weightloss and loss of muscle tone, it is also a fantastic mimic of other conditions such as bladder issues, heart issues, respiratory infection so you end up treating symptoms but not the cause. My Barney is mycotic and has slowly lost weight over the last year but has stopped now. When he was losing weight he was given 3 rounds of Itrafungol and it did help. Not saying that is necessarily what is going on here but it is possible. You need to factor in her age though as they do lose weight as they get older.

Can I ask what history of fungal there has been in your pigs, other than the current situation? Basically a systemic problem occurs when pigs injest fungal spores through their special poos and it is a repetitive cycle that needs to be broken.
Click to expand...
We have never had fungal in all the time weve had pigs - 9yrs. we rescued a boar in august and he displayed fungal just before christmas. The girls dont mix with him although they share same floor space. Pappy & midge showed signs about 3 weeks ago. Midge has a sore on her side and what we thought was bumblefoot. all been treated with daktarin. pappy has a bald bottom a couple of small sore patches but hair is growing back.
 
Hmmm, it is a possibility, it may be worth asking for Itrafungol in case but not all vets would agree. I lost my Buzz and Izzie in the same day after a bad bout of pneumonia which was linked to the mycosis and the vets agreed to Itrafungol for all 15 pigs but those were exceptional circumstances. Do they have any wood in their cages and are you using an antifungal discinfectant?

Bumblefoot can also be linked to systemic mycosis as the immune system of the pig is weakened.

Could you post pictures of the sores and baldness?
 
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately we cant get an apt for today but last night I started her on daktarin oral and after feeding we got her weight up to the mid 1030g mark. this morning her weight was again up by about 10 g an after feeding her it went to 1057. I've just come in from work and she has dropped slightly to 1047g but considering her low point was 1019g I'm keeping my fingers crossed the daktarin may be helping. She is also munching on long strands of timothy which she was refusing over the weekend. The apt is booked for Wednesday. I'm having trouble posting pictures but the sores on her feet.... I'll try to describe. There is no swelling just slightly pinker than normal. The sores are on the very end of her feet just where they turn up to the leg and it almost looks like a blister that has popped and the skin is now healing with a dry ring of skin . If that makes sense. I'm using a pet disinfectant for the hutch " will check to see if it is antifungal all bedding washed at 60. Thanks again.
 
Glad the Daktarin seems to be helping, it is good stuff. I give 05ml twice a day.

The sores sound as if they could be fungal. Is it just the feet or do any pigs have sores elsewhere?
 
Midge is the only one with sores on her feet. She has a bald patch about 10p in size on her shoulder with a couple of small red spots, not open just flat. Pappy has about 3 of these spots on her bottom but the hair is growing back extremely well. I've ordered some gorgeous guineas fungal shampoo (hopefully here Wednesday) so will start the bathing as soon as possible.
 
Sore feet could be fungal transferred there when grooming.

Is the fungal that you're treating with the topical daktarin cream clearing up? I was using this on Mr Scruff but it wasn't clearing up - I switched to canesten and it cleared up in days - the daktarin was actually irritating his ear!

In terms of feeding - is she eating well? are you seeing her eat hay? Maggie has been unwell recently with an ear infection, which caused her to stop eating. I've been mixing up critical care in a bowl, and putting it in the cage and she helps herself. With a little help from her friends, the bowl is licked clean 3 times a day!
 
I would recommend Imaverol dips with topical application between dips and an antifungal shampoo such as Alphosyl or Nizoral. That always works for me.
 
Thanks again for all the replies. We were recommended the canestan by the vet when Finny first had fungal but there was no improvement by a couple of days so we switched to daktarin( Recommended by Helen) which really worked well for him. She doesn't tend to eat much hard feed but has been like that since she started to lose weight but the dental went well so I think she might just be bored with it. Since using the oral gel she is taking more of the cc. We have been getting about 10mls into her and alternating this with pieces of hay. A feeding session normally takes about 30-40 minutes. Midge has also just started again to eat the crunchy stalks of timothy. Give her a leaf of cabbage though or any other veg and she wont stop eating till it's gone then try and steal the others. :) I do think old age is a factor - sleeping more so eating less but we will carry on until Midge decides she's had enough. Helen, the Imaverol is that a vet only or can I just buy over the counter. Is it something I would use in conjunction with the gorgeous guineas or on it's own. Apologies for all the questions but never had to deal with this before. Thanks again. xx
 
Did I recommend Daktarin cream? I don't remember that but I do lose track of what information I have given to who. I know I always recommend the oral gel but tend not to recommend creams, maybe I did a while back.

I would use the Imaverol with a medicated anti fungal shampoo, though I know you have ordered Grogeous Guineas, it is not a product I use myself, I tend to go for Alphosyl or Nizoral from the chemist. My information has been given to me by my friend who has years of experience with very serious cases of fungal and she got my pigs through a nasty systemic situation.

You can get it from Hyperdrug.

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Imaverol-100ml/productinfo/IMAVEROL/

They also have a link for the small animal product which I believe is the same but have nit used yet myself.

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Enilconazole-100mg_ml-100ml-Imaverol/productinfo/ENILCON/
 
Sorry my mistake Helen. I've read so much info and advice concerning fungal lately I'm getting everything a little bit muddled. It was the oral you recommended and guinea lynx recommended the cream. I'll put it down to my age. :)
 
A quick up date. Midge has been to the vets and has been diagnosed with ringworm. She has been given intrafungal 0.5ml daily for 7 days the stop for 7 days then repeat twice more. So fingers crossed this will sort her out. Thanks again for all the advice and kind thoughts sent this way. Much appreciated as always. x
 
Glad the vet has given you Itrafungol and for the proper duration too. Is half the dose I would give but most vets differ in the recommended doses. She should really start to improve now she is on it, the Imaverol would help too if you can get it.
 
Can anybody tell me if there are any side effects with the itrafungal. I've looked on line with little success its just that since shes had the medicine she has become quite quiet.
 
There shouldn't be, but each pig is different, maybe speak to your vet? I have given it to 15 pigs in one go with no issues.
 
After another weight loss I made an apt for a second opinion at a different vets. Midge has never been squeezed or prodded so much in all her years. She was most indignant and certainly voiced her disapproval then took it out on my daughters fingers. The good news was that he could not find any lumps or bumps which should not be there but she had a very empty stomach even with the topping up she is having. On the slope to stasis. She has now got emeprid, zantac and cisapride to take as well as fibreplex. He thinks once the guts are moving she will be inclined to eat. Another check-up on Tuesday so fingers and paws crossed here.
 
Sounds like a good examination. Did they say to continue with the Itrafungol?
 
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