Bald belly and flaky skin

[klovespigs]

Hello, my girl (almost 7years old) has a balding belly and some flaking skin. I gave her a quick belly wash as she was a little dirty and I couldn't see the skin very well. There is some redness/cut as well. I haven't seen her itching more than usual either. I first saw a little baldness on Sunday evening.

The reason I am posting here is because a few months ago, she had a huge panic and erratic breathing on the way to and at the vet, she started making a horrible noise too, this was to a non savy vet 10min drive away. My nearest savy vet is over an hour drive so I'm worried about taking her as I really thought I was going to lose her last time.

I have attached some photos for advice.

 

[piggieminder]

Bump

 

[Freela]

This could be a fungal skin issue. If you're concerned for her health getting her to the vet, understandably so given her age and your last experience, maybe you could call the vet and see if they would suggest something. They may have a pet-safe antifungal shampoo that they can recommend.

 

[klovespigs]

I'm back again as this issue is happening again. Last time I gave her a full bath and applied Xeno. She had Xeno applied only last week as well as a bath with the shampoo!

This time there is hair loss on her outer front legs (both legs, it is hard to see as other hair hangs over it), both back thighs and her lump on her chin (fatty lump, seen by vet) there is no dry skin, redness or flakiness.

She is still active, eating normally, no excessive grooming or itching. Is it possible this is something to do with her age? The fact it is so symmetrical may mean something? I will say that she lays around alot and does get urine on her that I wash off to prevent scalding, although this is mainly on her back/bum.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

Could you please post more of a picture as to where the hair loss actually is? If it is symmetrical and mainly on the sides and belly, your vet may consider ovarian cysts. It can spread from there; especially in elderly and frailer piggies.

Unfortunately, without access to your piggy, we can only guess as much as you. You will need to see a vet as it is obviously an ongoing issue.

 

[klovespigs]

Hi

Could you please post more of a picture as to where the hair loss actually is? If it is symmetrical and mainly on the sides and belly, your vet may consider ovarian cysts. It can spread from there; especially in elderly and frailer piggies.

Unfortunately, without access to your piggy, we can only guess as much as you. You will need to see a vet as it is obviously an ongoing issue.

Hi! Thanks for replying.

I'm not able to take photos at the moment as I have no one to hold her, however I checked her again and there is a very small amount of crust around the nipples, hairloss is mostly on the belly, only a small amount on her front legs and chin. I suspect you're correct in saying ovarian cysts.

Can I just ask, because of her age, what would treatment look like? I'd like to be knowledgeable before going into the vets. Overall she is healthy, just under 900g weight, blind in one eye. She does have issues with her stomach, it's extremely sensitive and I have a very strict amount of vegetables I give because of this.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Thanks for replying.

I'm not able to take photos at the moment as I have no one to hold her, however I checked her again and there is a very small amount of crust around the nipples, hairloss is mostly on the belly, only a small amount on her front legs and chin. I suspect you're correct in saying ovarian cysts.

Can I just ask, because of her age, what would treatment look like? I'd like to be knowledgeable before going into the vets. Overall she is healthy, just under 900g weight, blind in one eye. She does have issues with her stomach, it's extremely sensitive and I have a very strict amount of vegetables I give because of this.

Hi

At that age, treatment options are very limited and you and your vet may just decide to put up with it in view of her frailty. The baldness will continue to spread.
I had to make that decision with my vet for my by then very frail 6/7 years old Cerian during the last few months of her life.
Sow Problems 'Down Below' (Ovarian Cysts, Super-seasons, Womb Infection, Pregnancy & Mammary Tumours)

 

[klovespigs]

Hi

At that age, treatment options are very limited and you and your vet may just decide to put up with it in view of her frailty. The baldness will continue to spread.
I had to make that decision with my vet for my by then very frail 6/7 years old Cerian during the last few months of her life.
Sow Problems 'Down Below' (Ovarian Cysts, Super-seasons, Womb Infection, Pregnancy & Mammary Tumours)

Thank you for giving me an honest opinion, sorry to hear you have been in a similar situation. She's still very happy currently and always coming over for some fuss! I know how lucky I am to still have her at her age, so any extras days are a bonus.

Sorry if this sounds like a strange question, but will the missing fur be irritating to her? Like I said previously I haven't seen her biting or over grooming at those areas.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for giving me an honest opinion, sorry to hear you have been in a similar situation. She's still very happy currently and always coming over for some fuss! I know how lucky I am to still have her at her age, so any extras days are a bonus.

Sorry if this sounds like a strange question, but will the missing fur be irritating to her? Like I said previously I haven't seen her biting or over grooming at those areas.

Hi

No, the missing fur will not be irritating to her although she will feel cold more quickly but you can ask your vet if the skin is scaly or scurfy.

It is the large and growing ovarian cyst/cysts inside the body that are impacting on the body, including with pain. You will have to see your vet because Cerian was on a regular relatively high long term dog metacam (1.5 mg/ml) maintenance dosage for the remainder of her life and I had to up that dosage towards the end.

In view of her advanced age and the fact that she never accepted a new companion after Breila's sudden death (who she had been very close with), my vet and I decided on what basically amounted to palliative care with the priority given on her being as pain-free and comfortable as could be but there would be no life-prolonging measures.
Caring for Older Piggies and Facing the End - A practical and supportive information collection
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs
Looking After Guinea Pigs With Limited or No Mobility

 

[Wiebke]

Alternatively, abrasion of hair can be the result of not moving around much and being unable to clean themselves.

Please have her thoroughly vet checked so you have an idea what could be in play and are able to keep her as comfortable as possible with her specific extra care needs. I can only suggest avenues to explore but as I am neither qualified not can I replace a professional hands-on examination, I cannot replace any necessary vet visits. Trained vets pick up on other and more things than I can.

What I can do is tell you when to see a vet, what you may ask them to look for if they aren't bringing something up you may want to have considered and where we can support you as a community with practical care tips and ongoing moral support.
You may find the guide links in my previous posts not the easiest of readings but they are as practical and helpful as I could make them and can make it easier to navigate the difficult time when a beloved one reaches old age and there is an increasing crowd of knock-on effects and issues.

 

[klovespigs]

Alternatively, abrasion of hair can be the result of not moving around much and being unable to clean themselves.

Please have her thoroughly vet checked so you have an idea what could be in play and are able to keep her as comfortable as possible with her specific extra care needs. I can only suggest avenues to explore but as I am neither qualified not can I replace a professional hands-on examination, I cannot replace any necessary vet visits. Trained vets pick up on other and more things than I can.

What I can do is tell you when to see a vet, what you may ask them to look for if they aren't bringing something up you may want to have considered and where we can support you as a community with practical care tips and ongoing moral support.
You may find the guide links in my previous posts not the easiest of readings but they are as practical and helpful as I could make them and can make it easier to navigate the difficult time when a beloved one reaches old age and there is an increasing crowd of knock-on effects and issues.

Thank you so much for all of your advice. Your Cerian seems like she was very similar to Pepper, she also would not accept another companion and currently lives alone with her cuddly toy which she loves to snuggle with. I definitely want her to be as comfortable as possible.

Going into the vets with more knowledge will be very helpful! I will have a read through the guides and thank you again for all of your help.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for all of your advice. Your Cerian seems like she was very similar to Pepper, she also would not accept another companion and currently lives alone with her cuddly toy which she loves to snuggle with. I definitely want her to be as comfortable as possible.

Going into the vets with more knowledge will be very helpful! I will have a read through the guides and thank you again for all of your help.

I am wishing you and Pepper all the best.

Also have her checked for potential arthritis - it can contribute to hair loss on the belly in the elderly through abrasion or self-barbering.
Hair loss around the genitalia in the elderly and frail can be down to urine scald when they can no longer clean themselves and pick up poos for redigestion.
Practical care advice is in the mobility guide link in my previous post.

Since we are all doing this for free in our own free time we cannot repeat all the relevant little tips in every single post. For that purpose, we have our guide links.

Barbering (Eating Hair)

Here is the access link to the whole guide collection, which you may want to bookmark: Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection

 

[klovespigs]

I am wishing you and Pepper all the best.

Also have her checked for potential arthritis - it can contribute to hair loss on the belly in the elderly through abrasion or self-barbering.
Hair loss around the genitalia in the elderly and frail can be down to urine scald when they can no longer clean themselves and pick up poos for redigestion.
Practical care advice is in the mobility guide link in my previous post.

Since we are all doing this for free in our own free time we cannot repeat all the relevant little tips in every single post. For that purpose, we have our guide links.

Barbering (Eating Hair)

Here is the access link to the whole guide collection, which you may want to bookmark: Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection

I will do, thanks for the tip!

She definitely has some issues with cleaning, but I keep on top of it with bum baths but it has definitely been more frequent lately.

Bookmarking right now, lots of reading for me to do today