Any Ideas?

[amber horner]

Hi all today I've noticed this bald patch on my piggy Derek's back and I've noticed a few more small ones appearing he hasn't been scratching more than usual that I've noticed so was just wondering if anybody knew what it might be I'm booking him a vets appointment in the morning as I've been away for a few days as my daughter has just had heart surgery and my mum was looking after my piggies and she said the patch has got bigger any ideas what it might be thank u x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all today I've noticed this bald patch on my piggy Derek's back and I've noticed a few more small ones appearing he hasn't been scratching more than usual that I've noticed so was just wondering if anybody knew what it might be I'm booking him a vets appointment in the morning as I've been away for a few days as my daughter has just had heart surgery and my mum was looking after my piggies and she said the patch has got bigger any ideas what it might be thank you x

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Please have your piggy checked for a fungal infection; potentially ringworm (which is the most aggressive and transmittable one, but there are others). Please be extremely careful with hygiene if you have a child with a lowered immune system. It is unfortunately the last thing you want to deal with right now.
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

PS: All the best for your daughter!

 

[amber horner]

Ok thank u so much @Wiebke I'm calling the vets in the morning to get Derek seen I won't let my daughter hold Derek until we know what it is I've checked his cage friend Dave and so far he doesn't have any bald patches appearing and thank you for your message about my daughter very kind of you x

 

[Wiebke]

Ok thank you so much @Wiebke I'm calling the vets in the morning to get Derek seen I won't let my daughter hold Derek until we know what it is I've checked his cage friend Dave and so far he doesn't have any bald patches appearing and thank you for your message about my daughter very kind of you x

The period between infection and outbreak is 10-14 days. You always need to treat all piggies within contact with each other to prevent the others from coming down with it, too. I am very sorry that it means no piggy cuddles for your daughter for the next 3-4 weeks.

Please follow our hygiene tips; they have been learned the hard way - that is why they work! I have managed to keep an outbreak of ringworm in my room of 30 piggies in October to just the one infected piggy by practising the tips myself. It has really made the difference between keeping it under control and a total nightmare.

 

[amber horner]

I've had a good read over the link you advised me to read and I'm going to order the recommended disinfectant tonight and once I have a proper diagnosis from the vet I'm going to throw away all the piggies fleece bedding and give them new ones once I've scrubbed their c&c cage out twice I was thinking shall I dip the cage grids in a bucket of the disinfectant would that be more effective?

I have 2 other piggies that live next to my Dave and Derek but not in the same set up they only see each other through the bars what are the chances they might catch ringworm if that' what it is? I always wash my hands between handling each piggy x

 

[Wiebke]

I've had a good read over the link you advised me to read and I'm going to order the recommended disinfectant tonight and once I have a proper diagnosis from the vet I'm going to throw away all the piggies fleece bedding and give them new ones once I've scrubbed their c&c cage out twice I was thinking shall I dip the cage grids in a bucket of the disinfectant would that be more effective?

I have 2 other piggies that live next to my Dave and Derek but not in the same set up they only see each other through the bars what are the chances they might catch ringworm if that' what it is? I always wash my hands between handling each piggy x

The fleece bedding is OK when washed at 60 C (it shrinks a bit but kills spores). Yes, I have dunked all grids and connectors and then let them dry - with all nearly 100 grids and well over 150 connectors! The same went for any log tunnels and wooden huts.

If you want to start afresh, please do so at the end of the treatment once the boys have had their post-treatment bath that makes sure that there are no spores lurking in the coat and that can be carried forward. I have kept my old ringworm fleeces, towels and cosies; they get a high final wash and then go back into the attic again until the next time - with so many and so many from really bad backgrounds, there is always a certain risk.

The bath at the end of the treatment is important; twice now ringworm has been carried into my Tribe as spores in a piggy coat. The last ringworm piggy in October was a surrender from a wrongly applied DIY home treatment gone very wrong; unfortunately he hadn't had that final bath before adoption. You want to make sure that you close out that aspect.

If you are careful, ringworm is a nuisance and some extra work you'd rather not have, but it can be got on top of straight away and forever. I would also recommend to use the F10 hand gel, especially in view of your daughter. I also find it helpful when having norovirus and flu (including wiping taps and handles with F10) to minimise transmission.

 

[amber horner]

Brillint thank you so much for all your help I've just ordered the F10 disinfectant will be here on Friday will call vets in the morning to get an appointment thanks once again z

 

[Merab]

Hope that piggies are ok and your daughter is recovering well

 

[amber horner]

Thank you very kind of u x