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Bald Patches With White/scabs

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katanamoon

katanamoon

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Oh dear... so I got back from holiday today and had been told that one of the baby mini-pigs had a rather scabby-looking eye. I called the vet on the way from the airport and have got an appointment for tomorrow, which it turns out is just as well as during the course of this afternoon, similar patches have started appearing on two others :no:

I've only managed to get this photo as I didn't want to stress them out by trying to catch them all again so soon after moving - am thinking fungal?

20140510_201223.webp

(His eye is a little deformed since birth.)

His cage-mate/brother has a similar patch on his back hip which I'm convinced wasn't there when I picked them up from boarding, and his sister (in another cage with two more sisters, mummy and aunty) has developed a baldy patch under her front leg.

Poor piggles, what a pickle! Will update as soon as I've been to the vets- not the most relaxing end to a holiday!
 
Sorry to hear this, I would imagine it is fungal. Definite vets visit to get them diagnosed and get the right treatment
@helen105281
@Pebble
@Elwickcavies

Let us know how you get on at vets, you have caught it early so hopefully you can get it cleared up quickly. Would advise getting some F10 disinfectant spray to clean cages with to kill spores etc during cleaning time...
 
Oh no how horrible to come back from holiday to that. It looks fungal to me but others on here are the experts....
 
Fingers crossed. The boarding lady was checking them all over daily and literally texted me as soon as she saw it yesterday.
 
Yes definitely a vet visit needed. It looks fungal to me from the photo but can't be 100% sure. If it is fungal, Imaverol is safe to use on young babies, just patch test for 48 hours behind the ear first.

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Enilconazole-100mg_ml-100ml/productinfo/ENILCON/

As you have a few with symptoms you will need to dip all piggies once a week and you can mix it up for a daily topical application too (5ml in 50ml water). The dip ratio is 10ml to 1.1lites of water.

I agree with the F10 recommendation.
 
Just a quick question. I keep hearing about dipping, is this like a sheep dip where they're submerged up to their neck in the Imaverol solution? My vet has always prescribed topical application, I tend to put my thumb over the bottle neck then just apply big drops & hand massage it in to the affected area.
 
Yes that's it Stewybus. I dip them in a jug of it made up with warm water and then work in with a sponge which I throw away after. The dip is then left on to dry and not rinsed off. Imaverol is an emollient too so it is gentle on the skin and hair. The problem with topical application is that you are not treating the whole pig and fungal can spread so quickly.

You can actually dip the whole pig including their face if you apply eye drops first and make sure it doesn't go in their ears but I tend to use the sponge on the face and work it in that way into all the nooks and crannies.
 
It looks fungal to me too. Povidone iodine (you should be able to get this from your vet) mixed 50:50 with an anti-dandruff shampoo is also effective. Fungal infections can be a nightmare as they can spread so fast, but you are catching it early. Hope you get it all sorted! x
 
Back from the vets with considerably lighter pockets... Suspected ringworm, as it's spread to another of the babies now too. The vet took samples from the two boys and is sending them to the lab to confim, but in the meantime has given me a bottle of Malaseb to apply neat directly to the affected areas and rinse off after 10 mins.

I love my guinea pigs dearly, but I rue the day I thought it would be a good idea to get them from a farm! Thoroughly disappointed with myself and not sure how I'm meant to cope with all this :no:
 
I'm sorry it has turned out to be ringworm. Are you ok with what you need to do with cleaning etc?
 
I think so - clothes that come into contact with piggies need to be washed at 60 degrees C, cages cleaned and disinfected regularly (although not sure how often?), no wooden toys, hidies etc and disinfected bowls/bottles twice daily; is this correct?

With the piggies, the vet said to treat any with lesions or patches directly and rinse after 10 mins, once a day until the results come back in up to 7 days. After today's vet bill, fingers crossed for an easy treatment! Will certainly do my best to keep piggies comfortable and treat as best I can.
 
Yes that sounds about right, preferably with an anti fungal cleaner like F10. Best to clean daily too and change clothes after handling.

I recommend using the Imaverol too if you can as that treats the whole pig.
 
Hi guys. I finally got the test results back from the vet last night - confirmed ringworm :( I've got an appointment tomorrow morning so they can check them over and decide the best course of action. In the meantime, I feel I have it contained as best I can and in fact three out of the four piggies with physical symptoms are doing much, much better! Their scabby patches are nice a clean with just the bald pink skin showing and hair is even starting to grow back!

I know they will still need treating regardless... It's going to be a busy (busier!) few weeks...
 
It sounds like the treatment is working. Keep at it and well done for keeping it contained. Not an easy task with ringworm.
 
Hi, what's wrong with the other piggy? You said three out of four are better? Is the fourth one doing poorly? Piggies appreciate every effort you expend on them. You are doing the right thing by caring for them. Did they get the infection at the boarding place?
 
I think he's getting slightly better but he was born a little under-developed so maybe he's having trouble shaking it off as well as the others, poor little squinner :( I'll update after our trip to the V.E.T. tomorrow :)
 
Hi, thanks for the update. Fingers crossed, hoping for the best for the little piggies. Once they become healthy, you will be greatly pleased with the affection and entertainment they provide. Money and attention is never wasted on a piggy. You're doing the right thing.
 
Went to the vets this morning and came home with a bottle of Imaverol. I was told to apply it topically but I'm considering arming myself with the marigolds and going in for a mass-dunking of all of them, at least for the first treatment, just to try and stop any spreading. Is this a good idea? And do I need to hair dry piggies after or will they be ok wrapped in fleece and towels while I clean out the cages?
 
Hi, I would call the vet and ask. If your vet specified a dosage, applying liberally might not be a good idea, as it could cause irritation. It's great that you asked for the forum's opinion, excellent thinking. I would suggest to call the vet.
 
It is a good idea to treat all piggies that have come into contact. You can try hair drying, but not all piggies like it and you need to make sure that skittish piggies can't jump away blindly; the others should be OK wrapped up warmly in something blotting.

I would also recommend to use either F10 or virkon for disinfecting. I also use F10 hand gel and wash everything at 60 C. I am sorry for your trouble. Ringworm is a nightmare when you have got several pets! :(
 
Thanks @Wiebke. I have been using F10 disinfectant spray as a precaution since last week when the problems started. Poor piggies, it's been a rather rocky road for all of us!
 
I would also get the F10 concentrate. Any wooden furniture will either have to be dunked completely or be thrown away afterwards. I've been through it in March when one of my piggies developed a fungal patch over the eye, so I feel for you!
 
D'ohhh I thought my little wooden cabin would have to go! Still, no point in fighting for healthy piglets if their accommodation is just going to prolong matters.
 
So sorry about your current ringworm situation, it sounds like you really want your little wooden cabin. Don't worry, you will get better cabins. It's a little overwhelming,isn't it? Just keep posting, we are here to help
 
Not wanting to get excited just yet, but a quiet *yay* as special needs pig's manky eye is now totally clear of ringworm lesions and is just a bit baldy-looking. All hail Imaverol and long may the treatment and recovery continue!
 
Oh lordy, I spoke too soon. Now I have it too... *reaches for the Daktarin* :doh:
 
Don't panic, it is pretty common for humans to get it too and is actually easier to treat in humans.
 
Well. At least I don't have to be wrapped in a towel and squeak madly when anything liquid touches me...
 
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