Bald spots - no scabs/sores

[boz]

I've recently rehomed two rescue boars whose previous owners were unable/unwilling to care for them any more. I've had them about a week, and have only handled them once or twice as they are quite nervous. Tonight on getting one of them out to give him a check over I noticed he had bald patches in front of both of his back legs, and thinning hair on his belly/down the insides of his back legs. The skin is normal coloured, no redness, flaking, or scabs at all, just lacking in hair. It doesn't look like any ringworm, mite, or mange type infection I have seen before as normally you see some irritation/scabs to go with it. The pet shop who had taken them in when their owners gave them up did say they had cut matts out of his hair, and he has obviously had a radical haircut, but I don't know if I am looking at spots where he has had lots of matted hair removed, or something more sinister. He is booked in for a vet checkup next week anyway, so will be being seen in just over two days time, but I wondered if anyone else had any experience of anything like this. Not sure if I should give a precautionary antifungal bath just in case (but then if mites this might make it worse?). I have seen him scratch a few times today, but nothing that would have really drawn my attention had I not been looking for an answer to the bald bits. He does not seem sore/uncomfortable, and is generally very bright, active and eating well etc. Sorry, not the best photos, he is not that keen on staying still!

 

[Helen82]

It's not something I have experience of, but from reading other posts on the forum I would say don't give him the antifungal bath before you've been to the vets as you may 'destroy evidence' so to speak and possibly make things harder to treat (if it is anything that needs treating). Hope that the vet is able to enlighten you and that you can get things sorted out. (Also, welcome to the forum!)

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
@Helen82 is spot on with her advice.
See a vet who will be able to give you a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Let us know how things go

 

[Betsy]

to our friendly forum! Let us know how you get on at the vets.

 

[Wiebke]

I've recently rehomed two rescue boars whose previous owners were unable/unwilling to care for them any more. I've had them about a week, and have only handled them once or twice as they are quite nervous. Tonight on getting one of them out to give him a check over I noticed he had bald patches in front of both of his back legs, and thinning hair on his belly/down the insides of his back legs. The skin is normal coloured, no redness, flaking, or scabs at all, just lacking in hair. It doesn't look like any ringworm, mite, or mange type infection I have seen before as normally you see some irritation/scabs to go with it. The pet shop who had taken them in when their owners gave them up did say they had cut matts out of his hair, and he has obviously had a radical haircut, but I don't know if I am looking at spots where he has had lots of matted hair removed, or something more sinister. He is booked in for a vet checkup next week anyway, so will be being seen in just over two days time, but I wondered if anyone else had any experience of anything like this. Not sure if I should give a precautionary antifungal bath just in case (but then if mites this might make it worse?). I have seen him scratch a few times today, but nothing that would have really drawn my attention had I not been looking for an answer to the bald bits. He does not seem sore/uncomfortable, and is generally very bright, active and eating well etc. Sorry, not the best photos, he is not that keen on staying still!

Hi and welcome!

I would strongly recommend to have your boys vet checked and not to home treat on spec. You can so easily prolong the suffering and end up paying more rather than less in the end!
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

It is impossible to tell for us whether you are dealing with mites (either mange or hay). It doesn't specifically look like a fungal skin infection to me. But without a hands-on examination it is impossible to tell.

 

[boz]

Thanks everyone - I'll report back on what the vets say on Tuesday. The more I look the more I think this might be an over grooming thing rather than a nasty (which could make sense, he's been on his own and has been passed around, so it could be boredom/stress/loneliness?) - I've not managed to find anything similar looking with googling, it really doesn't look like any manage or fungal stuff I've ever seen (never had it on piggies, but have seen it on other animals before), so I am hoping it's nothing too nasty which will delay our potential bonding date too much, but I want to be absolutely sure. Watching him like a hawk for itching... I'll message the pet shop too to see if they have any recollection of him having big matts in those areas too.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks everyone - I'll report back on what the vets say on Tuesday. The more I look the more I think this might be an over grooming thing rather than a nasty (which could make sense, he's been on his own and has been passed around, so it could be boredom/stress/loneliness?) - I've not managed to find anything similar looking with googling, it really doesn't look like any manage or fungal stuff I've ever seen (never had it on piggies, but have seen it on other animals before), so I am hoping it's nothing too nasty which will delay our potential bonding date too much, but I want to be absolutely sure. Watching him like a hawk for itching... I'll message the pet shop too to see if they have any recollection of him having big matts in those areas too.

Here is our rather comprehensive barbering guide. The problem is that you always have to exclude a health problem first. Barbering generally leaves a stubble, at least on the rim of a barbered area.
Barbering ( Eating Hair)

 

[boz]

Thanks everyone - if it's anything it'll be mites, but caught very early, almost 100% sure it's not fungal now the more I look at him... Out of interest, does anyone use preventative lice/mite treatment to help guard against anything that comes in the hay etc?