Balding Tummy

[Hannah Boyd]

Hi, wondering if anyone has heard of a piggie getting thinner hair on their tummy? I have a two year old female guinea pig, who I have just noticed has a lot less hair on her tummy. The skin looks healthy, there does not appear to be any irritation and she is otherwise fine. She is a little fat, and I wondered if this could cause the hair to thin? Also, the group of piggies she lives with have had a fungal skin problem which has pretty much cleared up now (although she did not show symptoms), but her skin does not look like the other two piggies did previously. They are now bathed monthly with Gorgeous Guineas Coconeem melt followed by the Manuka and Neem Shampoo on Chrissie's advice with topical application of Kwench cream for any crusty/irritated skin.

 

[Wiebke]

It can be mechanical abrasion, but I would see a vet to check that it is not a hormonal problem caused by ovarian cysts. She is a bit young for arthritic joints, but one of my elderly piggies has a rather bald belly due to putting as little weight on her legs as she can.

If it was fungal, I would rather consider to ask your vet for a course of oral itrafungol.

 

[Hannah Boyd]

It seems to me most likely to be mechanical abrasion then. She was at the vet around 6 months ago for a check up and I asked specifically about ovarian cysts and the vet checked and thought all was fine. She is very active and eating/behaving as normal. I spoke to Chrissie about oral itrafungol and she thought best to try the topical treatments mentioned above and see how they worked - so far so good, but I have contacted the vet about itrafungol and will take them all in if the fungal problem returns. fingers crossed it doesn't! thank you for your advice.