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Dry skin issues

AimeeOx

AimeeOx

Junior Guinea Pig
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Apr 6, 2017
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Location
Oxfordshire, UK
Hello everyone!

My long haired boy Gibson is suffering from dry skin on his back. It really irritates him, if you touch it he'll nip at your clothes, he's always trying to have an itch!

Hid brother from another mother barbers him, so where his hair is 2-3 inches on his head, his rear end/back is less than 0.5inches. Gibson doesn't seem to mind the grooming (even if he does look daft)!

He has seen the vet, it's not fungal or worms, it's just dry. I have Gorgeous Guineas Just for Boars and one of the coconeem melts, but it doesn't seem to have helped. Does anyone know what I cold use to help him (and that is in no way dangerous if ingested given Higgins' appetite for hair!)? I feel really bad for the poor soul!
 
That sounds painful poor boy.

You say you have seen the vet, but what exactly did the vet do and how did they rule out fungal/mites and worms?
Did the vet ever prescribe any treatment for Gibson?

I only ask as it certainly sounds like more thna just dry skin, and some skin conditions are not visible, even with scrapings and examination under a microscope, but a guinea pig savvy vet will often prescribe treatment anyway.
 
The vet did look, said the skin wasn't red, no scabbing, no transfer to Higgins, plus he's had it on and off for almost a year (been checked more than once!), and settled on just dry skin.. No prescription.

Happy to go back though and ask for skin samples etc. to be looked at?

He loves a brush, and is far more comfortable after a bath, but only for a couple of weeks. If it was fungal, would it not have spread to Higgins, too? (Or me?!)

Perhaps I'll just pop back this weekend and see the vet again!
 
Well, we went back to the vet at the weekend, reassured unlikely to be more than dandruff, but have ivermectin spot-on (one/week for another three weeks), and been advised to get a vitamin C supplement.

The vet said it's likely because he's a little porky (1.29kg) and not grooming properly.

So, fat flaky Gibson is ok, but on a diet..! His face when she said that, it was definitely a picture!
 
Long haired piggies can have difficulty grooming themselves properly.
I keep mine well trimmed. If a bath helps it might be worth looking at the gorgeous guineas website. They can advise you on the best products to use, one of their melts applied before a bath will moisturize the skin.
Gorgeous Guineas - Aromatherapy skincare products for guinea pigs
 
Thanks @pig in the city! He gets regular grooming from me, and his hair is cropped on the back because of Higgins' barbering!

I have used one of the coconeem melts before, but found it left the hair oily after a bath. Will definitely try again though!
 
AimeeOx said:
Thanks @pig in the city! He gets regular grooming from me, and his hair is cropped on the back because of Higgins' barbering!

I have used one of the coconeem melts before, but found it left the hair oily after a bath. Will definitely try again though!
Click to expand...
They do a nice shampoo for long haired piggies. Don't wash him too often though as that can dry the skin out. You can just massage a bit of warmed coconut oil into the skin as a cheaper option
 
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