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Dry Itchy Skin

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lostox

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Hi,

I have a 12 week old male guinea pig, Mustard, who has developed dry itchy skin around his ears, lip, genitals and possibly around his eyes. He seems to be eating and drinking ok, but I've noticed he can barely keep his eyes open. I've been treating him with anti-fungal spray for the last few days and it hasn't improved. I was wondering if anyone knows what it could be (I'm taking him to the vets this evening).
 
Welcome to the forum.

It is difficult to diagnose over the internet so it is great you are taking him to the vets. It does sound fungal to me but it may be the spray you are using is not effective enough or needs time to work. Please could you update your location on your profile as it will help us advise you.
 
Thank you :)

That's what I initially thought, but the scabby sore on his lip looks a lot different to the scaly skin around his eyes and genitals. I've been a bit worried with using the spray as he is so small and I don't want to make him worse.

My location has been updated.
 
Thanks for updating. If the vet diagnoses fungal the best product at his age is Imaverol which is used as a dip but can also be applied topically. If the vet doesn't give it to you I can give you the link to buy online.

Can you post photos of the affected areas? There is a chance you could be dealing with mites or ear mites instead.

Can I also ask what he is bedded on and where he came from?
 
We didn't think it was ear mites, as we had a case of that with his cage mate (though this was a couple of months before we got Mustard)
He is bedded on newspaper and sawdust. We purchased him from Pets at Home.

He lives with another pig, male who is roughly 18 months old.
 

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Unfortunately it is not uncommon for Pets at Home pigs to come with fungal issues. I do think the ear looks fungal though the vet will confirm. The eye could be unrelated, it looks to me like either the start of a URI or he has some kind of eye injury (like a hay poke), the vet would need to put a dye in to check for damage and you would most likely be given drops and pain relief.

Here is our Ringworm guide in case you need it. There are plenty of different types of fungal but only Ringworm is likely to show up in any culture that the vet carries out.

https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/ringworm-hygiene-and-pictures.115402/

Also, shavings can cause dry skin which could also explain the dry skin around his genitals. There are plenty of other types of bedding in our housing section if you need to consider an alternative. My recommended bedding is Vetbed with incontinence pads underneath though if you would prefer to use a substrate Fitch is great and I use it for my hamsters.
 
Back from the vets and they have prescribed Mustard some Baytril, and to apply vaseline to his dry areas to moisture them.
Didn't seem to have a problem with giving him the Baytril, he also seems to have perked up since his visit.

Fingers crossed this helps. :)
 
Did the vet not think it was a fungal issue? Is the Baytril to treat a potential URI? Have you also got probiotics to give an hour after the Baytril? Sorry lots of questions. If it is fungal the Vaseline will not help.
 
The vet thought it was a fungal infection, which is why I was surprised that I was given an antibiotic. Haven't been given any probiotics, but so far he hasn't seemed to suffer any side effects. The dry skin has now almost cleared up.
 
That's odd. Was he not given any fungal treatment at all?

I would still give him some probiotics now as Baytril can really affect the gut. Pets at Home sell Pro C which is a probiotic. It needs to be given at least an hour after the Baytril.
 
Hi. Poor little Mustard, bless him, he is having a rough time! I would ditto Helen and give some Pro C, antibiotics really mess with their tummies. I too am a bit bewildered by the vet not treating the fungal. A company called ' Gorgeous Guineas' do some great and gentle lotions and creams for skin conditions, it might be worth looking them up and checking with them what would be suitable for a 12 week old. I will keep my fingers crossed for your little man. Get well soon Mustard:tu: xxxxx
 
No, nothing other than Baytril. I shall pop to Pets at Home this evening and get some, is there a reason it cannot be given at the same time as Baytril? I did have some fungal spray but the vet told me not to bother using it.

More bad news, Pepper his older cage mate, has developed some yellowy-white discharge under his eye and is making some very odd noises while eating :/.
 
One affects how the other works as far as I know but I can never remember which way round, so best to be given apart.

Am sorry Pepper is poorly too. It could be the start of a URI.
 
Update: Mustard's skin problem is a little better but still there. Going to try an antifungal spray once the course of Baytril is finished.
Pepper has conjunctivitis and has been given 0.4ml of Batyril once a day and some antibac eye drops twice a day. He's been a pain in the bum to give him the Baytril and eye drops, but has seemed much happier after having them. His eyes must have really been annoying him.

The vet also suggested that I put some Vit C into their water bottle, but I've read that this is a bad idea as they won't drink it. Is there another way I could give them some more Vit C or would increasing the amount of leafy greens I am giving them be better?
 
The Pro C probiotic powder contains vitamin C. It can be sprinkled on food( I put it on the veggies if using it), the correct dosage is on the side of the tub. I never add anything to drinking water. I believe green peppers/capsicum and broccoli are quite good for vitamin C content? Hope things improve soon for your piggies.
 
lostox said:
Update: Mustard's skin problem is a little better but still there. Going to try an antifungal spray once the course of Baytril is finished.
Pepper has conjunctivitis and has been given 0.4ml of Batyril once a day and some antibac eye drops twice a day. He's been a pain in the bum to give him the Baytril and eye drops, but has seemed much happier after having them. His eyes must have really been annoying him.

The vet also suggested that I put some Vit C into their water bottle, but I've read that this is a bad idea as they won't drink it. Is there another way I could give them some more Vit C or would increasing the amount of leafy greens I am giving them be better?
Click to expand...

Here is our guide to how to best deal with fungal: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/ringworm-hygiene-and-pictures.115402/
P@h piggies typically have got ringworm, so please use good hygiene and don't home treat with ineffective general shop products! :( Imaverol dip is very efficient and mild enough that it is safe to use on young piggies, as well as on delicate organs like the ears or next to eyes and mouth.

Putting meds in water doesn't work with guinea pigs; they drink noticeably less and you cannot control the intake. Better dissolve the recommended dose in 1 ml of water and syringe that directly. Give one pinch of probiotics 1-2 hours after the antibiotic to help the gut to recover from the antibiotics killing off the good bacteria in the guts, not just the bad ones in the body.

here is our piggy savvy bet locator: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/pages/guinea-pig-vet-locator/
As the in-house vet is obviously not very up to guinea pigs, you can reclaim any vet bills from the shop if they deal with a problem that has arisen within two weeks of your buying any piggies.
 
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