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Fungal Infection

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Trish&Ewan

Trish&Ewan

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Hi all, I'm new here so sorry it this post goes on a bit but I need some help an advice.
We bought 2 guinea pigs (after a lot a research into it, obvioulsy not enough) and have 2, 9 week old girls Scully and Rascal, named by my son Ewan who is 5. He choose them and Scully had a scab on her nose that they lady at the pet centre said was from a fight and should heal very soon, so as my little boy was in love already we took them both home. We let them settle in their new hutch, but the next day I noticed she had scabs and flaky skin in her ear too so I rang the pet centre and they said it can't be mites they are all treated for this she's been in a fight and they will heal. A couple of days later I decided it was time for the vets to take a look, the poor little thing looked so sad and battered and after looking on the net I suspected a fungal infection, and it is. I have Suralon drops to put on her sores twice a day, the poor little piggies hate me, Scully hates the drops, they hate coming out every day so I can clean the cage and gut everything out, my little boy is upset because he can't handle them - and I already have signs of ringworm! I have rang the pet centre and taken the vet receipts (£72) for them to pay, but they are now saying they are sending all the others back to the breeder and do I want to do the same! My heart says to keep them, treat Scully and get her better but am I doing the right thing? Will she get better? Anyone with tips, help, advice, anything would be great. I'm really stressed with it all, I can't stand to see our little piggies so stressed and upset. So far Rascal is clear, but vet said she will more than likely get it too. :( Trish & Ewan
 
Hi there,

Its an awful start, I understand you. I also started with 2 baby girl piggies that had ringworm and with a daughter that was desperate to hold them.

I can't comment on the treatment the vet has given you because I was given something different. I'm sure some more experienced owners might comment on that.

But hang in there, after a few weeks when you get it cleared up, you can start again with getting to know them and for them to trust you and put this behind you.

I think your heart is right, I wouldn't send back to the breeder either....
 
just to make you aware, we are a rescue friendly forum, therefore do not like talking about breeders/petshops.

if i were in your situation i would keep the pigs, you don't know what will happen to them if they go back to the breeders, and they may be put to sleep unnecessarily.

with regards to the fungal infection, i'm sure someone on here can give you more advice, but i'm pretty sure it is curable, and therefore will clear up.
 
Thanx to both of you, I dont want to send them back I cant just give up on them but worry they aren't happy. Sorry I dont want to offend anyone by talking about breeders, I honestly wasnt aware, even with the research I did I was doing the wrong thing. The girls in the pet centre seemed so knowledgable and loving to all their animals :(
 
hello! Sorry you are having a worrying time with your new piggies. I recently had a piggy with a fungal ear which then spread to small fungal patches on his face. I was also given Surolan ointment and it worked really well. He did not like having it applied but wrapping him in a towel and feeding a very large lettuce leaf helped! Have you got some disposable gloves too?
Do you have anything like F10 to disinfect their housing? Good idea if you can get some.
They will get better and they will come round to like you - it just takes a bit of time.
 
Please don't worry about them not being happy, at this stage the priority is to clear the fungal infection. You are not being cruel to them.

I used to give mine veggie treats after medicine, at the beginning they wouldn't take them from me but slowly slowly they got more confident and now they wheeek like crazy if i'm even close to the fridge! :(|).

It takes time to gain the trust of a piggie, and it doesn't help if you have to do things they don't like from the beginning. But once the fungal infection is cleared you can, with a bit of time, have lovely pets.
 
Cant thank you all enough for your kind replies. Where do I get f10? Is it ok to use on a wooden hutch? Vet said diluted bleach is good? Ive been putting her in a towel and feeding herhalf a grape but she shakes her head around like mad when I go near, her poor nose is worse, really sore. Back at vets tomorrow.
 
Have you tried applying the Surolan on a cotton bud? Can help but might not depending on how wiggly the pig isrolleyes I use a big romaine lettuce leaf just because it gives you maximum time occupied eating but whatever veg works for you.
Will look back at some other threads to find you an F10 supplier and post soon and yes you can dilute it and spray on wood then leave to dry. Specifically designed for pets. Preferable to bleach I would think.
 
F10 is a fab pen cleaner - I use it all over the piggies houses.
Diluted to the recommended amount, it lasts for ages.
Sorry you have had to go through this, it's bad enough having poorly piggies as it is but to be treated like that is awful mallethead
You really need to keep on at them, write to their head office if it is a pet store and demand your vet fees back.
I would also ask for the 'breeders' details too (may scare them a bit) and threaten them with selling on ill animals !
Myself being a laid back person suddenly becomes a demon in situations like this - horns appear from my head and I charge in with all guns blazing :x
Hope all goes well for your piggies, keep us posted :)p

http://www.viovet.co.uk/Prescriptio...oa_network=g&gclid=CNLmh_fEkbACFUUhtAodNhVfrg
 
I've been in exactly the same position as you! I got my two boys a month ago a week after having them i noticed one of them had a scab on his face my first thought was they'd had a fight but the next day it was all flakey and took up all one side of his face i took them to the vet who did a scrape of his face. He told me it was more than likely ringworm and asked if i was going to take them back to where i got them from (i also did research before getting them but came across rescues shortly after getting them) I decided to keep them. The results came back that he did infact have ringworm and told me to bath both of them twice a week with antifungal shampoo to start with i felt so horrible for having to do this but i know its for the best Joey the one who first started with it is looking loads better now the hair is starting to grow back and already looks miles better unfortunately Bruce did catch ringworm and has a big scab on the end of his nose, i'm still bathing them and they're due back at the vets on the 29th for a check up.At first they were terrified of me but they are slowly starting to get used to me i give them veggies straight after they are bathed and dried and back in the cage which helps alot to calm them down they've even started to take food out of my hand and wheek when i walk in the room. I'm so glad i decided to keep them and for me it was the right decision even though we've only been together a short while i couldn't be without them now. It just takes a little time but it really is worth it in the end believe me.
 
Thanx for link, will get some and try it out. The girls in the pet centre have been great and I havent shouted at them, but I will shout at head office if I dont get the bill paid! The girls offered to take them back and treat them until they are better, but want to do it myself and keep a close eye on them. Wish I had found this forum before I got them! X
 
Unfortunately, your experiences are all too common... Ringworm/fungal, mites and URI (respiratory infections) are all things that spread very quickly between stressed piggies whose immune system is lowered from having their short lives turned up a few times in their very short lives.
 
beckyboo said:
I've been in exactly the same position as you! I got my two boys a month ago a week after having them i noticed one of them had a scab on his face my first thought was they'd had a fight but the next day it was all flakey and took up all one side of his face i took them to the vet who did a scrape of his face. He told me it was more than likely ringworm and asked if i was going to take them back to where i got them from (i also did research before getting them but came across rescues shortly after getting them) I decided to keep them. The results came back that he did infact have ringworm and told me to bath both of them twice a week with antifungal shampoo to start with i felt so horrible for having to do this but i know its for the best Joey the one who first started with it is looking loads better now the hair is starting to grow back and already looks miles better unfortunately Bruce did catch ringworm and has a big scab on the end of his nose, i'm still bathing them and they're due back at the vets on the 29th for a check up.At first they were terrified of me but they are slowly starting to get used to me i give them veggies straight after they are bathed and dried and back in the cage which helps alot to calm them down they've even started to take food out of my hand and wheek when i walk in the room. I'm so glad i decided to keep them and for me it was the right decision even though we've only been together a short while i couldn't be without them now. It just takes a little time but it really is worth it in the end believe me.
Click to expand...

I'm another who is in exactly the same position...hi Becky and Trish and Ewan :) I was at my wits end with Ringworm and a vet who was useless with guinea pigs. I've had so much help on this forum that I'm hopefully on my way to normal healthy pigs. I use F10 SC and though it's expensive it gives me peace of mind that I'm not spreading the fungal spores. I'm on my second large bottle....nothing escapes!
Good luck :)
 
I dont know if anyone else has already suggested this, but if the other piggie is showing no signs of infection it might be worth seperating them temporarily as it might stop the infection spreading to the other one. Some animals are more resisdent to such infections so you might be lucky and get away with treating just one. uless you are already treating both.
Good luck with it and dont worry too much it's not has bad as the fear others can create about fungal infections just need to treat it;)
 
Just thought I would mention, I was posting the same time as the poster before me and my comments were in no way being critical to them I didnt even see their post until i had posted mine.;)
 
The girls have been together from the start, Rascal hasnt got any sores so not been using drops on her. I dont have anywhere seperate to put them at moment either. I'm cleaning them out every day, so fingers crossed I can get rid of it. They are both eating well and vet said they are healthy weight etc they chatter on to each other and eat food on my knee so hopefully they will not hold this against me. They run like mad when I open cage tho! Will keep going and update you on progress. Sorry for others its happened to.
 
Mine had ringworm when we first got Kevin, I got asked did I want to return him but I couldn't I treated his fungal infection, since he's had an ear infection too he's a little fighter! Just hang in there Kevin didn't want fuss after treatment * gave him some green beans I was his best friend again!
 
I wouldn't separate the girls, bearing in mind they are young and always lived together, the stress of being in solitary confinement would do more harm than good. What with the incubation period for fungal etc, if Rascal does have an out break too it will happen despite everything.

Sorry to hear you have an awful experience with your new Piggies.
Thank goodness they have a dedicated owner and the haven't been sent back to the breeder where I don't think it would have be a good ending.

You'll probably find it will get worse before it gets better and may spread to other parts of her body, which you need to keep checking for. A fungal dip would then be required.

Keep us up to date with Scully, your doing a good job.
Post photos if you can too :)
 
Yeah I think the same with these 2, they rely on each other and I cant split them up. Although I do understand why people would advise to split them up. I have photos but not sure how to post them, and yes it look worse at minute than ever! Also I have asked for the money back (40 quid) I paid for them cos I'm not supporting a breeder after reading through other posts on here.rascal has a tiny scab on her nose this morning, just put some cream on, will show vet this morning.
 
Thanx thats really interesting reading. If the Suralon doesnt work will show the vet. V worried as I have them in a wooden hutch!
 
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