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Flakey and crusty patch on leg

DizzyD95

DizzyD95

Junior Guinea Pig
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My baby Minstrel has an odd bald patch on her leg, which is a little flakey. She doesn't squeal when I touch it so I don't think it's hurting her. Does anyone know what it looks like? She's only a 7 week old baby and I'd hate for her to get really ill :( am I overreacting?
 
DizzyD95 said:
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My baby Minstrel has an odd bald patch on her leg, which is a little flakey. She doesn't squeal when I touch it so I don't think it's hurting her. Does anyone know what it looks like? She's only a 7 week old baby and I'd hate for her to get really ill :( am I overreacting?
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Hi! Please have Minstrel vet checked for ringworm, which is highly infective and transmittable to humans. If your piggies have been purchased within the last 2-3 weeks, you can reclaim the vet cost from the pet shop.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

Please be aware that you need to always treat all piggies within contact. Ask your vet for oral itrafungol, which is the most effective and least stressful way of treating.
You'd best get hold of some vet grade disinfectant like F10 (shop stuff doesn't do the trick) that is proven to kill ringworm, follow our hygiene tips, which REALLY work even in a multi-piggy and pet household. Also get some anti-dandruff shampoo like nizoral from a pharmacy to give yourself a whole body shower in order to not come down with ringworm yourself as well as giving your piggies a bath at the end of the treatment to prevent them from carrying any spores across in their fur.

If you have got a ringworm diagnosis, please take the time to carefully read our ringworm care guide. Do not treat on spec; we cannot diagnose reliably online, nor are we qualified to!

Alternatively, it could be mange mites, but that is for a vet to decide. Please do not put anything on the bald patch, as you make any diagnosis and prompt correct treatment much more difficult or impossible.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi! Please have Minstrel vet checked for ringworm, which is highly infective and transmittable to humans. If your piggies have been purchased within the last 2-3 weeks, you can reclaim the vet cost from the pet shop.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

Please be aware that you need to always treat all piggies within contact. Ask your vet for oral itrafungol, which is the most effective and least stressful way of treating.
You'd best get hold of some vet grade disinfectant like F10 (shop stuff doesn't do the trick) that is proven to kill ringworm, follow our hygiene tips, which REALLY work even in a multi-piggy and pet household. Also get some anti-dandruff shampoo like nizoral from a pharmacy to give yourself a whole body shower in order to not come down with ringworm yourself as well as giving your piggies a bath at the end of the treatment to prevent them from carrying any spores across in their fur.

If you have got a ringworm diagnosis, please take the time to carefully read our ringworm care guide. Do not treat on spec; we cannot diagnose reliably online, nor are we qualified to!

Alternatively, it could be mange mites, but that is for a vet to decide. Please do not put anything on the bald patch, as you make any diagnosis and prompt correct treatment much more difficult or impossible.
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Thank you :) I will take her to the vets as soon as possible! And will also check out those links :)
 
Claire W said:
Hello and welcome :) That could be fungal or mites. Both are treatable but please take her to the vets for a proper diagnosis and the correct treatment especially as she's still a baby
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That's good to know they're treatable! I will get her booked into the vets as soon as possible :)
 
DizzyD95 said:
Jusy

Just noticed a patch on her nose, looks like it potentially could be ringworm - glad we got her booked in. Thanks so much for your advice x
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OUCH! Best order some F10 disinfectant from ebay or amazon now!
 
Update:

It is a ringworm, but luckily caught very early on. We've been given a topical cream for the small patches. If no improvement we will be given the oral solution. Also have imaverol on order to start giving dips. Thanks for all your help :)
 
Betsy said:
Did you get any F10? Glad you spotted it early. Hope you will be able to get on top of it quickly.
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Yes I ordered some last week and it should be delivered tomorrow :) will scrub the cage as soon as we get it. Have washed all their fleece bedding at 60 degrees as well!
 
Don't forget to scrub the whole cage with bleach and throw away all wooden items. Wash your hands throughly until the hair grows back.
 
That is what the F10 is for. F10 kills all nasties including mould and fungal spores and is safe for guinea pigs. No need for bleach too.
 
Hello again everyone!

So little Minstrel has been on her cream for almost a week now. The patch on her nose has gone white and crusty (from the pictures on the ringworm thread, I think this is a good sign as it has to look worse to look better!) but because she won't stop chewing her leg patch, she's just making it bleed :( She also has a bald spot on the top of her head, which doesn't look flaky or sore, just bald. I'm applying the cream here also. She'll be having her first imaverol dip tonight as it has finally arrived - I'm also spraying F10 left right and centre on all cage/bottles/bowls etc! I was just wondering how long you would leave it before taking her to the vets again. I know that it can take 4-6 weeks to clear up. Personally, I feel like oral medication would be the best thing for her, but obviously we've started the topical treatment now, so need to see it through. Cream can be used for up to 4 weeks, but if there is no massive improvement after about 2 would it just be best to take her back?

I apologise if this seems like a silly question, I'm just so worried about her. She's eating and playing and seems very happy. I've also been weighing her and although she isn't putting on that much weight, she's put on about 10-15g in a week - she is smaller than her companion, but she was a lot smaller when we got her. I've had lots of guinea pigs in the past and never had to take one to the vets for any illness so this is all so new for me, which I think is why I'm so concerned.

xx
 
There are no silly questions here - we all understand the worry a sick piggy can cause.

As I have no experience of your situation all I can do is offer support.
If you feel a return to the vet in 2 weeks is best then go - sometimes a vet trip is about reassurance for us as much as treatment for the piggies.
 
Merab's Slave said:
There are no silly questions here - we all understand the worry a sick piggy can cause.

As I have no experience of your situation all I can do is offer support.
If you feel a return to the vet in 2 weeks is best then go - sometimes a vet trip is about reassurance for us as much as treatment for the piggies.
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Thank you, your support is so very appreciated :)

I'm guilty of being a bit of a worrier anyway, but it would give me piece of mind! Obviously it is costly, but I don't care about the money, I just want her to be better and healthy!
 
If it was me I would ask for the oral meds now as the cream will only treat the existing patches and not any new ones that could appear.
 
helen105281 said:
If it was me I would ask for the oral meds now as the cream will only treat the existing patches and not any new ones that could appear.
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I have Imaverol as well, does that kill the fungus too? I do agree with you and think I might have too. She's so shy and I don't think she's going to enjoy being syringe fed the medication but needs must!
 
You taken a lot on with your poorly piggie but you doing a great job and in few weeks time Minstrel and you be happy piggie and piggie slave.:yahoo:
 
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