Balding :(

[CharlieH]

Hi all again,

Another problem for poor little Tiffy.

I've spotted this evening that tiffy has lost quite a lot of her fur on her sides and a little off her tummy, it must have heppened in the last 24 hours as she's been out for medicine twice a day and we haven't noticed it *feels bad*. it's not total loss, just a thinning but it looks pretty severe.

I know that with animals that lose weight, often hair loss comes with it, so I was just wondering if anyone could reassure me of this? Or is it something more sinister?

I'm booking her into the vets first thing in the morning (before we're off to collect our 2 new arrivals) but just for now if anyone is able to shed any light Id be most grateful!

Side view...

Tummy....

There are no scabs, no bloody looking patches, no loss around the face or eyes, none on the back, just the sides.

Poor little mite. She's happy and bouncy in herself and not scratching. Skin looks clean and scratch free and the hair isn't pullable out, I tested a little bit and couldn't pull it out.

Her cagemate is currently unaffected by looking at her, but could be something underlying

Thanks guys, sorry to take up so much time

 

[AudioHeart]

Awww poor Tiffy, it's awful when they start losing hair and you don't know why or how come.

So pleased she's going to see the vets tomorrow, I've only had experience with mange, which wasn't a pretty sight and the piggies lost weight, hair and scratched alot.

How does her skin feel any bumpy bits? Where does Tiffy live? Indoors or outdoors?How long have you had her and what is she housed on and has their been any changes in her daily routine lately? And what medication is she on? And what for? All could be a possible cause of her hair loss.

Big kisseys to the beautiful girl

 

[jm_1234]

I haven't read what is happening with your piggie but could it be ovarian cysts. A symptom of those is hair loss like that. Here is the link: http://www.guinealynx.info/ovarian_cysts.html

 

[CharlieH]

It's just one thing after another for the poor little girl !

I've been having a look through guinealynx for hair loss reasons and the only one that really matches is Ovarian Cysts, but as far as we're aware, she's only about a year / 18months old so seems very young!

The skin feels perfectly smooth and there are no bumps lumps or flakes in it. She lives inside, in our kitchen and we've recently put her onto shavings while she has a funny tummy as we just couldn't keep up with the washing of fleeces every day for the 140 cage! If it turns out to be something like that though, we'll happily go back to them!

We've only had her since July, she came from Walsall RSPCA and poor little thing has been poorly for most of the time she's been here with diarrhoea, though all tests have come back normal.

She's on Ranitadine 0.2mg twice a day, plus fibreplex twice a day and she has recovery food and Ella's Kitchen apple puree to try and give her some more energy / calories!

She's lost about 400g in total since being ill and has had a tooth file.

Just so frustrating, you feel so helpless when looking at her

 

[CharlieH]

I haven't read what is happening with your piggie but could it be ovarian cysts. A symptom of those is hair loss like that. Here is the link: http://www.guinealynx.info/ovarian_cysts.html

Ah I posted my reply before reading this!

I thought it could be ovarian cysts too, I'll bring it up with the vets tomorrow and see what they say too! Thank you

 

[AudioHeart]

It's just one thing after another for the poor little girl !

I've been having a look through guinealynx for hair loss reasons and the only one that really matches is Ovarian Cysts, but as far as we're aware, she's only about a year / 18months old so seems very young!

The skin feels perfectly smooth and there are no bumps lumps or flakes in it. She lives inside, in our kitchen and we've recently put her onto shavings while she has a funny tummy as we just couldn't keep up with the washing of fleeces every day for the 140 cage! If it turns out to be something like that though, we'll happily go back to them!

We've only had her since July, she came from Walsall RSPCA and poor little thing has been poorly for most of the time she's been here with diarrhoea, though all tests have come back normal.

She's on Ranitadine 0.2mg twice a day, plus fibreplex twice a day and she has recovery food and Ella's Kitchen apple puree to try and give her some more energy / calories!

She's lost about 400g in total since being ill and has had a tooth file.

Just so frustrating, you feel so helpless when looking at her

There is so many reasons for hairloss, and I'm wishing you and your beautiful girl for a treatable and short term reason. I'm sure the vet will be able to advice and diagonse tomorrow. (Keep me updated I'll check back tomorrow night)

And goodness poor baby she has been through a lot, give her gentle hugs from me and my brood. On another odd note Percy-Roo loved to have Ellas Kitchen Apple puree (and the mums veggie kitchen?) one when he was a poorly pig.

Don't fret on it tonight, try and get some rest for you and little Tiffy before the vets tomorrow if she does get worse take her to an out of hours vet,you're doing an amazing job with her. Big hugs to you and tiffs xxxxxx

 

[CharlieH]

There is so many reasons for hairloss, and I'm wishing you and your beautiful girl for a treatable and short term reason. I'm sure the vet will be able to advice and diagonse tomorrow. (Keep me updated I'll check back tomorrow night)

And goodness poor baby she has been through a lot, give her gentle hugs from me and my brood. On another odd note Percy-Roo loved to have Ellas Kitchen Apple puree (and the mums veggie kitchen?) one when he was a poorly pig.

Don't fret on it tonight, try and get some rest for you and little Tiffy before the vets tomorrow if she does get worse take her to an out of hours vet,you're doing an amazing job with her. Big hugs to you and tiffs xxxxxx

Thank you so much from both of us x>>

I'm hoping it's something treatable, though I am wondering if the vet will say it's due to the weight loss thank you for your concern and help

And it's amazing stuff isn't it! Amanda recommended it when we were having trouble getting fibreplex into her and it's just been a life saver!

Thanks! I'm really hoping there'll have an appointment she can have, luckily she's bouncing around and coming over for kisses so at least she isn't distressed with it. But I'll come and check on her in the night too I think !

Thanks again for all of your kindness

 

[AudioHeart]

Thank you so much from both of us x>>

I'm hoping it's something treatable, though I am wondering if the vet will say it's due to the weight loss thank you for your concern and help

And it's amazing stuff isn't it! Amanda recommended it when we were having trouble getting fibreplex into her and it's just been a life saver!

Thanks! I'm really hoping there'll have an appointment she can have, luckily she's bouncing around and coming over for kisses so at least she isn't distressed with it. But I'll come and check on her in the night too I think !

Thanks again for all of your kindness

Not to get your hopes up but it looks treatable, when Maise and Dilly Dal had mange you could tell as soon as their hair started falling and before they started itching something wasn't quite right as their skin was rough and flakey.

I looove ellas kitchen I'm very greatful for finding it, I still have four squeazy bottles of it in the cupboard @)

So pleased to hear she's bouncing around and is chirpey!

 

[sport_billy]

Oh no, poor little thing. It is just one thing after another for her...

Lots of love to Tiffy and good luck for the vets, I'm sure they'll get to the bottom of it and get her on the road to recovery. X

 

[CharlieH]

Not to get your hopes up but it looks treatable, when Maise and Dilly Dal had mange you could tell as soon as their hair started falling and before they started itching something wasn't quite right as their skin was rough and flakey.

I looove ellas kitchen I'm very greatful for finding it, I still have four squeazy bottles of it in the cupboard @)

So pleased to hear she's bouncing around and is chirpey!

I'm really hoping it is, having read around ovarian cysts, I think we might be looking at them.. she's no candidate for surgery the way she is, so I'm not sure what I'm hoping for really!

We have an appointment for 9.20 so hopefully we'll get some answers then... for now I'll just have to make her a little jumper LOL.

Oh no, poor little thing. It is just one thing after another for her...

Lots of love to Tiffy and good luck for the vets, I'm sure they'll get to the bottom of it and get her on the road to recovery. X

I know it's breaking my heart, she's been through so much and yet more piles onto her she's always in such good spirits though, some of my moody pigs get away without problems (touch wood) yet she's always the bouncy one lol!

I'll let you know what the vet says! She's been so happy and bouncy the last few days so I'm hoping there's something we can do for her, the skin looks really nice and clean so I don't think its fungal, which is always a bonus!

 

[hazeyg]

Looks fungal to me. x

 

[SpinningNickel]

Just wanted to say that I knit and crochet and am happy to offer you my exclusive services as a guinea-pig-bespoke-jumper-maker. |)

Claws crossed here for you, let us know what the vet says!

 

[CharlieH]

Just back from the vets, she says it looks like it could be an underlying endocrine problem with Tiffy. Her 'lady bits' also protrude quite a lot so we're having x-rays done on Wednesday (could have done them today but I couldn't be there to collect her before they close ) to see if it's possible cysts.

They're going to x-ray without GA as we don't feel she'd be a very good candidate for anesthetic.

If it turns out to be ovarian cysts, the vet has agreed that we wont opt for surgery as we don't think she is strong enough. Instead she has said that she is more than happy to look into hormone injections, even if it is just a temporary measure until she is strong enough for surgery.

Poor little one was prodded and poked, but the vet was very calming with her and she settled down eventually.

So no real cure as such to report, but hopefully the x-ray will give us more information and we can move from there! She was wheeeeeeeeeeeking as we walked through the door and she could hear my mum chopping morning veggies haha so she's not too down in the dumps at least!

 

[CharlieH]

Just wanted to say that I knit and crochet and am happy to offer you my exclusive services as a guinea-pig-bespoke-jumper-maker. |)

Claws crossed here for you, let us know what the vet says!

Haha LOVE this.

Her ladyship won't give her measurements in a thread, in case any boars can see them :p

You should set up a little shop for pig clothes

 

[sport_billy]

Hopefully you'll know for sure after the x-ray. Treacle has had hormone injections so if your vet needs any guidance or wants to speak to another vet, I'm sure ours won't mind me passing her number on if you want it.


How's the poo situation? - Tiffy, not you

Lots of love to beautiful Tiffypig x

 

[CharlieH]

Hopefully you'll know for sure after the x-ray. Treacle has had hormone injections so if your vet needs any guidance or wants to speak to another vet, I'm sure ours won't mind me passing her number on if you want it.


How's the poo situation? - Tiffy, not you

Lots of love to beautiful Tiffypig x

I'm hoping it'll be able to shed some light on it and thank you, that's really helpful! The vet seemed keen on the idea of the injections but said she'd need to look into them a bit more, so the advice of another vet would probably really help if it does come to that!

And haha that did make me laugh! Much similar I'm afraid although less wet than before and more formed, she's just such a happy little pig I wish I could take it all away from her!

How's Megan doing? And all of your ladies? x

 

[AudioHeart]

Just back from the vets, she says it looks like it could be an underlying endocrine problem with Tiffy. Her 'lady bits' also protrude quite a lot so we're having x-rays done on Wednesday (could have done them today but I couldn't be there to collect her before they close ) to see if it's possible cysts.

They're going to x-ray without GA as we don't feel she'd be a very good candidate for anesthetic.

If it turns out to be ovarian cysts, the vet has agreed that we wont opt for surgery as we don't think she is strong enough. Instead she has said that she is more than happy to look into hormone injections, even if it is just a temporary measure until she is strong enough for surgery.

Poor little one was prodded and poked, but the vet was very calming with her and she settled down eventually.

So no real cure as such to report, but hopefully the x-ray will give us more information and we can move from there! She was wheeeeeeeeeeeking as we walked through the door and she could hear my mum chopping morning veggies haha so she's not too down in the dumps at least!

Awwwww Tiffy sweetie, HUGE HUGGLES from me, Harvey, Artie, Coby, Tabby, Thimble and Roo. Best wishes for Wednesday hope it is something curable or manageable, you'll be in our thoughts this week

Tiffy will certainly have to be spoilt with extra chin tickles and cuddles this week, hope everything goes well.

Lots of love, and cuddles from us!

keep us posted