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Bald patch around eye in baby pig

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Deb2202

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Hi

We got a new cage mate from a local independent pet store for our 16 month old boar.

The new pig is a baby 3 months old and has been bonded with our boar while he was pet boarding at their facility.

We brought them home on Friday and all has been going well. Today we noticed a bald patch of dry skin around the little ones eye.

I’m going to call the vets in the morning but does anyone have any idea what it could be? I’m assuming mites or ringworm? Do you think we should separate them immediately? It seems a shame to do so with them only being on day 3 of being together 24/7.

Any thoughts? 90B1EC2C-1913-4FBB-8F93-0F9AD73C259B.webp

I’ll also ring the store once I’ve been to the vets as I’m assuming it’s been brewing whatever this infection/issue is for a while.
 
I don't have much experience with infections but it looks fungal to me, I would separate them until it's treated, hope it gets sorted x
 
Thanks for the reply, I think you are right.

We are going to go out and check them both over and separate them until we’ve seen the vet.
 
Deb2202 said:
Thanks for the reply, I think you are right.

We are going to go out and check them both over and separate them until we’ve seen the vet.
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Hopefully it won't be too long, good luck at the vets x
 
Deb2202 said:
Hi

We got a new cage mate from a local independent pet store for our 16 month old boar.

The new pig is a baby 3 months old and has been bonded with our boar while he was pet boarding at their facility.

We brought them home on Friday and all has been going well. Today we noticed a bald patch of dry skin around the little ones eye.

I’m going to call the vets in the morning but does anyone have any idea what it could be? I’m assuming mites or ringworm? Do you think we should separate them immediately? It seems a shame to do so with them only being on day 3 of being together 24/7.

Any thoughts? View attachment 121499

I’ll also ring the store once I’ve been to the vets as I’m assuming it’s been brewing whatever this infection/issue is for a while.
Click to expand...

Hi!

Please have your baby vet checked for highly contagious ringworm (the most aggressive and transmittable form of fungal skin infection.). You can reclaim any vet cost from the pet shop as exposure and infection have happened there.
You will need to treat any guinea pigs in contact with a ringworm piggy as they are likely infected themselves (the period between infection and outbreak is 10-14 days) so any separation comes too late and is very stressful for the piggies anyway.

Please take the time to read the two links below re. your customer rights and to get on top of ringworm once and for all without infecting your other piggy, any other species pets and any human household members. Invisibly tiny ringworm spores can survive for over 18 months and cause re-infection; this is no laughing matter. We have in over a dozen years found pretty much any way in which ringworm can be transmitted and how you can work around it. We have also worked out which treatments are effective and the least stressful for any piggies.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
 
Personally I wouldn't separate piggies. If one has fungal then the other has already been exposed to the spores and separation may then just be an unnecessary stressor for them. I have always opted for treating the condition and then doing one final treatment for all piggies to ensure it doesn't spread
 
Can you tell me a little about the treatment etc? The 18 month re-infection thing has got me a little concerned!
 
I’ve just read your link! Fantastic info - thank you so much, we’ll get him to the vets and get it sorted!

If it’s ringworm shall I ask for treatment for his cage mate even though he isn’t showing any signs yet?

It seems the sensible thing to do...
 
Deb2202 said:
I’ve just read your link! Fantastic info - thank you so much, we’ll get him to the vets and get it sorted!

If it’s ringworm shall I ask for treatment for his cage mate even though he isn’t showing any signs yet?

It seems the sensible thing to do...
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You can prevent an outbreak in a companion with either a fungal bath at the start (to prevent an acute outbreak) and another one at the end of treatment (to make sure that the companion is not infected and is also not carrying any spores in their coat that could cause infection) or a few days of oral fungal treatment if that is what your vet is prescribing. It is in the ringworm guide but you will likely have to read it more than once and work through it step-by-step because it is a lot of information to take in at once.
I have made it as practical, precise and comprehensive as possible.

Please do not just cream - the cream won't reach all the affected area and it cannot prevent escaping spores from infecting new patches. We have seen that repeated with forum members who invariably have come back some time after about another outbreak. :(

But if it is any consolation to you, I have managed to confine the last ringworm outbreak in my own piggies to just the one affected piggy with just the one acute patch - in a room of 30 piggies! So it is really worth going to all the effort and being thorough, even if it means to take all the cages apart and give the whole room a deep clean... But it can be done and it works! ;)

F10 disinfectant (or the respective recommended US brand) is one of the best investments you can ever make...
 
Got an appointment for this afternoon so will report back! The dry patch isn’t much bigger but is spreading around his eye and looks like his eye is closing a little.
 
Hi, so we saw the vet earlier who was convinced it is an eye infection rather than a fungal one. He has prescribed some isathal eye drops.

He said if it hasn’t cleared up by Saturday to go back.

I asked if precautionary treatment for something fungal infection but he asked that we give it a few days and try the drops.
 
Hope the Isthahal works - I used it for hay poke and an ulcerated eye. It worked very well.
 
Thanks merab hopefully it will sort it.

I’m thinking if it’s going to clear it up we’ll be able to tell in the next 24/48 hours.

It’s not spread anywhere and his eye did look a little better at bedtime.

Fingers crossed.
 
So his eye did look a little better initially but this afternoon the bald patch has spread and there are small pinky/red scabs on the exposed skin. He’s been outside in his run with his cage mate and has been eating/drinking and scampering around.

Back to the vets tomorrow!
 
Deb2202 said:
So his eye did look a little better initially but this afternoon the bald patch has spread and there are small pinky/red scabs on the exposed skin. He’s been outside in his run with his cage mate and has been eating/drinking and scampering around.

Back to the vets tomorrow!
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Personally I would try to find a more cavy savvy vet. I'm shocked that any vet would initially think it's an eye injury as the eye itself looks normal
 
I’m going to ring tomorrow and ask to see a different vet from the same practice. When we took our first pigs for a check up we saw someone I was much more impressed with, she gave them a thorough checking over and did seem knowledgable about pigs and was asking about their diet, cages, bedding etc.

Unless anyone on here knows someone good in County Durham/Teesside area?

In fairness to him when we took him his eye was a little swollen and was closing a little. I said I thought it looked fungal from looking online and he was adamant it wasn’t!

I had my kids with me (no childcare) and they were saying oh can we give him a cuddle now and the vet was saying yes of course you can etc. I didn’t though, he’s back in with his cagemage as they both seemed so miserable separated - I was worried about stress on the little guy but the pigs haven’t been in the house run or touched without gloves by the kids.
 
Deb2202 said:
So his eye did look a little better initially but this afternoon the bald patch has spread and there are small pinky/red scabs on the exposed skin. He’s been outside in his run with his cage mate and has been eating/drinking and scampering around.

Back to the vets tomorrow!
Click to expand...

I fully agree with @Lady Kelly !

Please see a more piggy savvy vet. Compare your baby's eye with the pictures in the ringworm guide, and you won't have any doubts.

Here is our UK list of recommended vets: Recommended Guinea Pig Vets
 
Deb2202 said:
I’m going to ring tomorrow and ask to see a different vet from the same practice. When we took our first pigs for a check up we saw someone I was much more impressed with, she gave them a thorough checking over and did seem knowledgable about pigs and was asking about their diet, cages, bedding etc.

Unless anyone on here knows someone good in County Durham/Teesside area?

In fairness to him when we took him his eye was a little swollen and was closing a little. I said I thought it looked fungal from looking online and he was adamant it wasn’t!

I had my kids with me (no childcare) and they were saying oh can we give him a cuddle now and the vet was saying yes of course you can etc. I didn’t though, he’s back in with his cagemage as they both seemed so miserable separated - I was worried about stress on the little guy but the pigs haven’t been in the house run or touched without gloves by the kids.
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Good that you haven't allowed the children direct contact!

You can leave your little guys together because infection has already happened; you just need to treat the companion with two fungal baths to prevent an acute outbreak and then to prevent him from carrying any spores and infection across once his companion is past the acute phase.
The added stress from the separation at an age when they are desperate for company especially in a totally alien surrounding will lower the immune response even further.
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs
 
Thank you Weibke.

Is the fungal bath for his companion the shampoo with niraznol? (sp?) or is it the fungal dip imaverol?

I need to get the timing of this right!

If I start pig 1 with oral treatment do I bath pig 1 & pig 2 on day one of the treatment and deep clean the hutch at the same time?

Or do I wait until the medicine has had chance to kick in before I start cleaning everything (pigs included)!

Also, will the vet need to do tests or something or will they treat from their examination?

My husbands taking him tomorrow, I’ve told him not to come home without oral treatment I don’t care how much it costs.

Do we need to give pig 2 the oral meds or can we stop it in him if we get the treatment sorted for pig 1 in time?
 
I’ve just checked your list of vets there is one in our town listed, i’ll ring them in the morning and ask if they have a small animal specialist at work.

I’ve emailed the pet shop as well and told them that I suspect an infectious skin disease and if it is diagnosed by the vet I want vet bills covering and assurances they are going to check their other animals and take appropriate measures.
 
Deb2202 said:
Thank you Weibke.

Is the fungal bath for his companion the shampoo with niraznol? (sp?) or is it the fungal dip imaverol?

I need to get the timing of this right!

If I start pig 1 with oral treatment do I bath pig 1 & pig 2 on day one of the treatment and deep clean the hutch at the same time?

Or do I wait until the medicine has had chance to kick in before I start cleaning everything (pigs included)!

Also, will the vet need to do tests or something or will they treat from their examination?

My husbands taking him tomorrow, I’ve told him not to come home without oral treatment I don’t care how much it costs.

Do we need to give pig 2 the oral meds or can we stop it in him if we get the treatment sorted for pig 1 in time?
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Hi!

If you get itrafungol I would give it to both piggies; that should do the trick with either. Then you have to only do one bath for both once the affected area is stopping to make any more white crusts and stops growing. This should happen within a week to ten days.

Otherwise you bathe both with the same product at the start and then again at the end of the acute phase (no new crusts and further hair loss). Do a deep clean at the start and then again at the end of treatment at the same time as the bath. This keeps the spore spread down.
You should hopefully be over it in 7-10 days plus a 2 weeks observation/quarantine phase to make sure that you have really got all the ringworm and that your children are safe with handling under your supervision.
Here are our bathing tips to prevent any accidents: Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips (understand how prey animal instincts work; establish your piggy authority by fondling the ears and then stroking around the not affected eye) to reassure the babies in their language. That should hopefully do the trick re. freaking out.

A decent vet with ringworm experience should treat from their examination. You can reclaim any vet cost from the pet shop if the problem has started within 2-3 of the sale; this is within your customer rights for having been in effect sold faulty ware.
You can also complain to your local council over trading standards - especially with a shop knowingly selling infected piggies to families with young children.

All the best!
 
Thank you wiebke, this is much appreciated.

We really love our pigs and want to get it sorted, he must be uncomfortable on top of being stressed with a new home.

The shop is an independent family run set up, they seem nice and caring but who knows what goes on. They do children’s parties where they take animals out to be petted etc (I assume more exotic animals like snakes & reptiles) Seem to have an ok reputation.

I’ve not gone in guns blazing but was firm if it is ringworm I expect them to foot the bill as it is us that will have to deal with the inconvenience of treatment and risk of infection to our family. I said it in a nice way though, my attitude may change depending on their response!
 
Well done for persisting because you felt it wasn’t right.
Hope all goes well and you get the piggies sorted out.
They’re lucky to have such a dedicated owner
 
So, I had a call this morning from the pet shop, a very nice apologetic lady who has offered to take both pigs back into their boarding facility and treat them with a topical solution until it is cleared up.

She’s then happy to keep them at their facility for observation or we can take them home and come back for re-treatment if needed.

She said she’d take both pigs and treat the bigger one as a precaution and to make it less stressful for the little guy.

She said that she’d let us know when the skin has healed and hair is regrown.

Do you think this sounds like a plan? We are of a mind to send them back for the treatment and while they are gone F10 the hutch & runs. We can always give them a quick Nizarol bath on the their return before we pop them in the new deep cleaned hutch?

With 2 small kids in the house this seems a good plan to me...
 
It's really up to you but you need to think about a couple of things (and this comes from seeing similar posts on the forum previously):-
1. Are you essentially handing the piggies back and getting a refund? Can they 100% guarantee that you can take your exact pigs home once they are well?
2. What treatment will they be using? How long do they anticipate it will take? And how long will they observe them for after treatment to ensure no reinfection?
3. Will they see a vet to confirm what the infection is? It's possible that although this shows all the signs of fungal that there is an outside chance it could be something different needing a different treatment.

Basically I would hate for you to out your trust in them, for the pigs to recover and only for them then to be sold to another customer instead of held for you.
 
Personally I'd treat them at home and tell the pet shop you will invoice them for the vet care costs. I wouldn't trust that they'd get the full treatment/diagnosis needed from the pet store.
 
They are taking them back into the pet boarding service in a separate area/cage they are going to set up. We will get the same pigs back, we didn’t buy a pair they took our single pig and bonded them for us while he was there on his holidays.

She said they will give them a imaverol (?) bath every 4 days until it has cleared up and there is new hair growth. She said at that stage we can take them home with the assurance we can bring them back if any further problems or if we would prefer they will keep them longer to observe and make sure it is all cleared up.

I have my reservations, need to chat to husband about it, he does most of the pig care and is due to work away for a month from next week!
 
Deb2202 said:
They are taking them back into the pet boarding service in a separate area/cage they are going to set up. We will get the same pigs back, we didn’t buy a pair they took our single pig and bonded them for us while he was there on his holidays.

She said they will give them a imaverol (?) bath every 4 days until it has cleared up and there is new hair growth. She said at that stage we can take them home with the assurance we can bring them back if any further problems or if we would prefer they will keep them longer to observe and make sure it is all cleared up.

I have my reservations, need to chat to husband about it, he does most of the pig care and is due to work away for a month from next week!
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That's great that you have already asked the questions so can make a full informed decision. Obviously none of us have been to, or dealt with this pet store, so we can't judge them on how reliable they are. You have obviously dealt with them more than once so you need to make your decision on what feels right for you as a family and for the piggies.
 
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