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Advice please

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Amysmom

Amysmom

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Our little piggy Millie is 10wks now and unfortunately she has what we think is a fungal infection. It started with white crusts on her nose so I rang the place we had her from-as some of you know she was very underweight when we had her.

I called the manageress to tell her and to ask whether I should use the free vets health check given with her, she said no because they would sell me something very expensive(I now think this was a lie). She gave me a spray off the shelf-beaphar anti fungal spray. She tried to make out that Bonnie and Lottie could be picking on her and stressing her-this is totally NOT the case at all.

Millie then developed it under her neck, it started as white crusts and now there is a bald area. The spray obviously wasn't working so I took her to our vet who gave her a thorough health check-everything is okay. She decided to try and treat Millie with some hibi(sp?) scrub directly on the area for now because she's very young but today the bald area looks bigger and I'm really worried.
So far there are no signs of it on Bonnie and Lottie and we are washing our hands well before handling any of the other Piggys.

The hibi scrub has got rid of the scabs but I'm thinking of giving the spray another try.
Is there anything else I could try?
 
You could try Daktarin gold. I is an anti fungal cream used to treat athletes foot in humans. You can buy it over the counter at almost any pharmacy. Just don't tell them it is being used to treat a piggy. Use it on affected areas up to two weeks AFTER the scabs have cleared.

You could also contact Chrissie through Gorgeous Guineas. She may be able to recommend one of her fungal shampoos that can be used on young piggies :)
 
I wouldn't use anything off the shelf or home remedies etc. on a guinea pig so young, without the instruction of a cavy savvy vet. Please have a look at the recommended vets list, and see if there is one in your area. If the bald area is getting bigger, the hibiscrub probably isn't working. "It is also useful against fungi and enveloped viruses, though this has not been extensively investigated." (wikipedia)

10 weeks is very young to be trying all sorts of different non-prescribed treatments, please go back to your vet.
 
I won't be trying anything off the shelf because as you say she is a little young.
I'm going to persevere with the spray for a few more days.

We do have a cavy savy vet who has always been good with any problems we've had before so I don't really need to seek out another one.
 
Sorry :red I was only suggesting the Daktarin gold as this is what my vet recommended using on Ena as she was only 6 weeks at the time and my vet felt more comfortable using that on a piggy so young compared to the other creams that they stocked at the vet. Sorry...
 
Amysmom said:
I won't be trying anything off the shelf because as you say she is a little young.
I'm going to persevere with the spray for a few more days.

We do have a cavy savy vet who has always been good with any problems we've had before so I don't really need to seek out another one.
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The spray is off the shelf, and it's not even from a pharmacy, it's from a pet shop. Things that you can buy in pet shops are often ineffective as the drugs that work are controlled by prescription laws. You tried it, it didn't work, theres no point in continuing to use it as its just putting unnecessary chemicals onto her, the risks of which probably haven't been fully investigated in such a young animal.
 
Claire W said:
Sorry :red I was only suggesting the Daktarin gold as this is what my vet recommended using on Ena as she was only 6 weeks at the time and my vet felt more comfortable using that on a piggy so young compared to the other creams that they stocked at the vet. Sorry...
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No need to be sorry.
I will consider trying the cream you suggest (I will phone my vet and check with her 1st). I'm sure if it was okay on a 6wk old it will be okay on a 10wk old. My vet is trying to avoid using the strong stuff so it's worth an ask. :)
 
Amanda1801 said:
The spray is off the shelf, and it's not even from a pharmacy, it's from a pet shop. Things that you can buy in pet shops are often ineffective as the drugs that work are controlled by prescription laws. You tried it, it didn't work, theres no point in continuing to use it as its just putting unnecessary chemicals onto her, the risks of which probably haven't been fully investigated in such a young animal.
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I only used the spray when it was white scabs on her nose-I sprayed it on my finger and dabbed it on. I haven't tried it on the patch under her neck-its only had hibi scrub on there
 
I'm hoping someone more experienced will comment but i have heard it advised that its normal for the bald patch to get bigger as all the infected hairs around the patch fall out, so new fungal free skin grows and evetually the hair regrows?

Its possible I'm wrong, just wanted to throw it in there as you said the scab has gone and i remembered hearing that.
 
Amanda1801 said:
The spray is off the shelf, and it's not even from a pharmacy, it's from a pet shop. Things that you can buy in pet shops are often ineffective as the drugs that work are controlled by prescription laws. You tried it, it didn't work, theres no point in continuing to use it as its just putting unnecessary chemicals onto her, the risks of which probably haven't been fully investigated in such a young animal.
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When I said I wouldn't try anything off the shelf I ment from a pharmacy.
The spray was recommended and given to me by the manageress of the place we had her from.

Just wanted to clear any misunderstanding you seem to have.
 
Connie said:
I'm hoping someone more experienced will comment but i have heard it advised that its normal for the bald patch to get bigger as all the infected hairs around the patch fall out, so new fungal free skin grows and evetually the hair regrows?

Its possible I'm wrong, just wanted to throw it in there as you said the scab has gone and i remembered hearing that.
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That's interesting thank you.
It would be helpful if someone knew whether this was right before I try the spray again later on.
 
If nobody sees this then i will try PMing someone more experienced to confirm :)
 
Amysmom said:
When I said I wouldn't try anything off the shelf I ment from a pharmacy.
The spray was recommended and given to me by the manageress of the place we had her from.

Just wanted to clear any misunderstanding you seem to have.
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She's doing it to save herself some vets bills. I'm assuming she's not a vet, and some of the other ingredients in these things (like the carrier ingredients that dilute it down/make it smell nice/make it sprayable or whatever) can be really harsh. Please just take baby piggy to see your usual vet tomorrow if the hibiscrub isn't improving things.
 
I knew she was trying to avoid the vet bill but at the end of the day the spray costs £10 (we didn't have to pay for it) so your going to believe its worth a try.

You work in a vets? Do you know if the above which Connie suggests is right?

You did say in one post that the spray could be full of chemicals too harsh for a young one, yet here you say it's probably diluted down etc-confusing.

Also my vet made it clear she doesn't want to use anything strong at this moment in time. The last visit was £16 so I'm not really going to waste more money if she won't give her anything stronger yet.
 
Amysmom said:
I knew she was trying to avoid the vet bill but at the end of the day the spray costs £10 (we didn't have to pay for it) so your going to believe its worth a try.

You work in a vets? Do you know if the above which Connie suggests is right?

You did say in one post that the spray could be full of chemicals too harsh for a young one, yet here you say it's probably diluted down etc-confusing.

Also my vet made it clear she doesn't want to use anything strong at this moment in time. The last visit was £16 so I'm not really going to waste more money if she won't give her anything stronger yet.
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I do work in a vets, however I am not a vet.

I'm not sure if what Connie has said is true, the only fungal infection I've ever personally dealt with is ringworm, and that was several years ago on a pig (a pig pig, not a guinea pig) so hairloss wasn't really an issue. I would say however, that if it's spread from her nose to her chin, it isn't being effectively controlled.

What I said could be harsh, was the additional ingredients, besides the "active" ingredient, whatever that may be, and gave examples of why they may be used. One of which, is to dilute down the active ingredient, to make it weak enough to avoid prescription laws. Just because it's weak enough to not require a prescription, doesn't necessarily mean that it's safe for a young guinea pig. Bob Martin flea collars have been banned and withdrawn from sale because they're highly toxic and can result in death, yet for years it's been possible to buy them willy nilly in supermarkets.
 
The vet did say she suspects it could be ringworm.
I think for now I'm going to continue with the hibi scrub.
 
Connie said:
I'm hoping someone more experienced will comment but i have heard it advised that its normal for the bald patch to get bigger as all the infected hairs around the patch fall out, so new fungal free skin grows and evetually the hair regrows?

Its possible I'm wrong, just wanted to throw it in there as you said the scab has gone and i remembered hearing that.
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This is correct Connie. When fungal is treated correctly then the infected hair falls out and new healthy hair grows in its place.

No, hibiscrub isnt effective against fungal. Odd that your vet gave you this. Any chance you could post a picture at all?

x.
 
It may be worth using a Fungicide disinfectant to clean your cage / hutch / food bowls etc to kill the fungal spores. F10 is a good one and can be brought online or from some vets :)
 
Claire W said:
It may be worth using a Fungicide disinfectant to clean your cage / hutch / food bowls etc to kill the fungal spores. F10 is a good one and can be brought online or from some vets :)
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This is a good idea, as ringworm is very contagious. I hope that Bonnie and Lottie and the rest of the family don't get it. This is exactly why quarantining new additions with an unknown history is recommended.
 
Bonnie and Lottie have no signs of it (touch wood)
The hibi scrub has improved it because there are no white crusts anymore, just fresh pink skin where there is some fur loss and her nose is almost clear.

I don't think our vet should be criticised for giving hibi scrub, she's avoiding anything harsh at this stage which is exactly what everyone here has suggested anyway so it's better than trying nothing.
 
Abi_nurse said:
This is correct Connie. When fungal is treated correctly then the infected hair falls out and new healthy hair grows in its place.

No, hibiscrub isnt effective against fungal. Odd that your vet gave you this. Any chance you could post a picture at all?

x.
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The hair has fallen out since I have been using hibi rub so that would mean its been treated effectively then?
 
If the white crusts and scabs are clearing, that's a good sign :) if the fungal is clearing, you should notice hair regrowth with in the next week or so.

Just keep an eye on your other two girls. Enas mum had fungal whilst she was pregnant and it took a good five weeks until Ena caught it although I imagine the infection was passed on whilst in the womb.


I was advised to bathe my other three girls with meleseb shampoo and disinfect as a precaution and thankfully, Ena didn't pass it on.


I think it is important to remember that there are different kinds of fungal.


It sounds like you have caught yours in the early stages
 
Amanda1801 said:
This is a good idea, as ringworm is very contagious. I hope that Bonnie and Lottie and the rest of the family don't get it. This is exactly why quarantining new additions with an unknown history is recommended.
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Wanted to ask-how long would you quarantene for?
Millie didn't show signs of this until 2.5 weeks after we had her, surely she wouldn't have been kept alone all that time in which case quaranteening wouldn't have made any difference?
 
Amysmom said:
Wanted to ask-how long would you quarantene for?
Millie didn't show signs of this until 2.5 weeks after we had her, surely she wouldn't have been kept alone all that time in which case quaranteening wouldn't have made any difference?
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Most reputable rescues recommend anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks, although it would depend on the circumstances that the pig has come from. Personally I would say the latter end of this, as some things have a longer incubation period than others.
 
Unfortunately the pet shop didn't do their job and we didn't know we should have done it, that's already been mentioned in a previous post so I don't think it's really necessary for you to drag that fact up during this post when it was to ask advice on treating fungal not to be made to feel bad about something I should have done.

I can't help but get the feeling that for some reason you have taken a dislike to me, you have also been rather blunt in previous threads I have put on here.
 
If it makes you feel better, when I adopted Ena, I was warned that she would probably develop a fungal infection as her mum had it. Ena was only with my girls for a hour and a half and they were bonded so I felt bad for taking her away so I kept her with Eleanor, Eliza and Erin knowing full well that if she did develop fungal, the other girls could too. Thankfully, the other girls didn't get it.

It sounds like you have the fungal under control if the scabs are clearing up.
 
Thank you Claire, you have been helpful.

I have decided to put a bit of canniston cream on as I have it from a reliable source that it's okay to do so with a 10wk old.
 
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