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Dry ear

H

HelsT

Junior Guinea Pig
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Picked up some lovely little girls. But 'peaches' appears to have a sore ear...any advice?

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I would take her to the vet. If you got them from a pet shop you are within your rights to ask that they pay the vet bill.

I’m thinking ringworm (very contagious) or mites but I’ll tag @Wiebke and @Piggies&buns and @PigglePuggle they can help more. But as I said, a vet appointment is the only way to go.

Depending where you are, you can look for a cavy savvy vet near you here.
 
Thanks. Vet booked for today. I dont support pet shops normally. This one was closing down and the girls needed a home urgently. I feel quite worried about poor peaches...and I have two young children so hoping it's not ringworm 😔
 
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
 
HelsT said:
Picked up some lovely little girls. But 'peaches' appears to have a sore ear...any advice?

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Hi! Please have your piggy vet checked for ringworm. It is a very contagious form of fungal skin infection that can also transmit to humans; sadly it is not at all uncommon in pet shop or breeder piggies. You can reclaim any vet and treatment cost from the place of sale as part of your customer rights for having been sold defective ware.

Utmost hygiene and good quality treatment (not just creaming as that won't get rid of the tiny long lived spores that spread everywhere, including into the coat) is key. ordering a vet grade antifungal disinfectant like F10 is one of the best investments you'll ever make!
Please also be aware that you need to deal with any companions and also yourself if you have touched that ear and have handled the piggy.
Ringworm is not deadly, but it is the single most contagious and species jumping problem there is; that is why doing it properly the first time round is vital - that way you can make sure that it won't come back again or spread to others. ;)

More information here:
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness) (includes information on customer rights and country specific ways of dealing with them).
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
 
It is ringworm. Actually feel a bit tearful as I collected the guineas with my 2 young children. Will this issue keep coming back or do I stand a chance of nipping it in the bud?
 
HelsT said:
It is ringworm. Actually feel a bit tearful as I collected the guineas with my 2 young children. Will this issue keep coming back or do I stand a chance of nipping it in the bud?
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Hi!

You stand a chance if you please read our ringworm hygiene link and follow the advice carefully. In a dozen of years we have just about found all the ways it can be transmitted and how to address that angle. Our tips do work; it is about 1-2 weeks hassle but if you are really doing it all, you have to do it only once. ;)
 
Hello, my guinea pig has an ear that looks just like that and has been diagnosed ringworm as well, it is a horrible thing to have. I am wearing gloves, using F10 on everything in and around their cage, cleaning them out everyday and wash all my clothes on 60 plus. I also have a shower using Nizoral. Abi has had this now for over 2 weeks. We took her to the vet as soon as I noticed a tiny white fleck on her ear, I took her back to the vets on Friday as it wasn't clearing and they said they think its taking longer to clear as she has a lower immune system as she is older and didn't have a lot of care for over four years until I got her in March. I have been following the advice on the ringworm guide on this site and it's really good. I hope Peaches gets well soon.
 
Thanks all. We're going to try our absolute best and see how we get on. Will be popping in for advice as and when. We're determined to give these little girls the TLC and love they deserve. My daughter (3) is a minature doctor Doolittle and is taking her job very seriously 😊
 
Such a shame that an act of kindness in giving the piggies a home has landed you with this problem.
Hope the treatment works quickly and it all clears up.
Holding you in my thoughts
 
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