Fungal or Mites

[Rolo&Roxy]

Hello all,

I have been to the vets soo many times with Roxy as she just seems to not be herself a month into adopting her, it all started end of jan. continuous scratching, biting her feet and pulling her hair. The vet said it was mites and gave xeno 450. Nothing happened! I worried it was maybe lice as she lost bits of hair on her rump with a flake of skin attached. On my 4th visit to the vet they tried saying she just looks like she has sensitive skin... here are some photos as I have her booked in tomorrow but I dont want another vet to tell me it is nothing again and my poor girl suffer! Rolo my other sow is showing no problems other than a little bit of flake on her eye but very small amount. She does have some coconut oil on as I worried this could be fungal, she has also started to have some yellow dryness on her nose?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

How many rounds of xeno has your vet prescribed?

 

[Rolo&Roxy]

Hi and welcome

How many rounds of xeno has your vet prescribed?

4 rounds in total all 2 weeks apart! They then thought it may not be mange mites so I tried gorgeous guinea pigs lice shampoo twice and still no change I feel awful but every vet seems to just dismiss her and say it is nothing! I did think it was just dry skin as her rump had no missing hairs, was only when I groomed her last night did I see the red little scabs on her neck and a small patch

 

[Wiebke]

4 rounds in total all 2 weeks apart! They then thought it may not be mange mites so I tried gorgeous guinea pigs lice shampoo twice and still no change I feel awful but every vet seems to just dismiss her and say it is nothing! I did think it was just dry skin as her rump had no missing hairs, was only when I groomed her last night did I see the red little scabs on her neck and a small patch

Thank you for clarifying that; some vets not experienced with guinea pig can do just one round which would not be enough.
After four rounds of ivermectin and lice shampoo and without seeing any lice (little crawling pale things), skin parasites can be excluded.

Ringworm and other milder forms of a fungal skin infection are being suppressed by ivermectin so if it is that, then you should see more clear signs of it developing over the coming days. Right now, I am very sorry to say, there is too little to see to snap your fingers.

That is unfortunately when it gets very difficult; you are right that there is some irritation or discomfort. It is however not in the classic places or presenting with the normal indicators.
Are you using any perfumed skin products or any perfumed products in the room whether you keep your guinea pigs and would you try and see whether a bowl of steaming air next to the cage does bring relief (i.e. the indoors air may be too dry)?
Irritants to Avoid Around Guinea Pigs

 

[Rolo&Roxy]

Thank you for clarifying that; some vets not experienced with guinea pig can do just one round which would not be enough.
After four rounds of ivermectin and lice shampoo and without seeing any lice (little crawling pale things), skin parasites can be excluded.

Ringworm and other milder forms of a fungal skin infection are being suppressed by ivermectin so if it is that, then you should see more clear signs of it developing over the coming days. Right now, I am very sorry to say, there is too little to see to snap your fingers.

That is unfortunately when it gets very difficult; you are right that there is some irritation or discomfort. It is however not in the classic places or presenting with the normal indicators.
Are you using any perfumed skin products or any perfumed products in the room whether you keep your guinea pigs and would you try and see whether a bowl of steaming air next to the cage does bring relief (i.e. the indoors air may be too dry)?
Irritants to Avoid Around Guinea Pigs

Thank you so much for your response! This is the issue as it has been ongoing for nearly 2.5 months now surely if it was mites/lice or fungal she would be in a worse way! I do wear a lot of perfume myself so maybe when i handle her and we are in a flat ( they have a whole room to themselves) maybe the flat is too dry as it isn’t a massive space, flakes are attached to her hair sometimes when it comes out and she is itching and biting a lot! I did originally find these little red scabs by her back legs and they went and it is now her neck...

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for your response! This is the issue as it has been ongoing for nearly 2.5 months now surely if it was mites/lice or fungal she would be in a worse way! I do wear a lot of perfume myself so maybe when i handle her and we are in a flat ( they have a whole room to themselves) maybe the flat is too dry as it isn’t a massive space, flakes are attached to her hair sometimes when it comes out and she is itching and biting a lot! I did originally find these little red scabs by her back legs and they went and it is now her neck...

I would recommend to try and see whether she could be reacting to your perfume; it may take a week or so before you would notice any changes as reactions to chemicals won't disappear instantly.

 

[Rolo&Roxy]

I would recommend to try and see whether she could be reacting to your perfume; it may take a week or so before you would notice any changes as reactions to chemicals won't disappear instantly.

Thank you I will hive this a go! I have a new vets tomorrow and will see what they think, if no luck I will stop any fragrance. I also wash her bedding in non bio capsules could she possibly be allergic to that? It is horrible because this is just never ending and I want her to be okay! Thank you again for your recommendations really means a lot

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you I will hive this a go! I have a new vets tomorrow and will see what they think, if no luck I will stop any fragrance. I also wash her bedding in non bio capsules could she possibly be allergic to that? It is horrible because this is just never ending and I want her to be okay! Thank you again for your recommendations really means a lot

Non-bio is fine, as long as it is not perfumed.

Unfortunately, once you and the vets have excluded all the usual avenues, you are very much down to trial and error detective work.