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Guinea pig balding on both sides / barbering herself / scratching a lot / crusty nipples

Charlottibiscot

Charlottibiscot

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi all,

Sadly I lost a guinea pig a day ago, from a stroke. One of my other guinea pigs, Ermintrude, has always had bald patches and crusty nipples but today I've noticed that those bald patches on either side are much bigger and one part looks quite sore (pictured). For about a year the patches have been about 2cm across on each side, today they spread pretty much down her entire side on each side. She has also very recently started barbering her belly area.

She has always bitten anyone who tries to touch her and been extremely hormonally driven.

She is also barbering and scratching almost incessantly and has slowly been losing weight (100g in two months). This constant scratching and barbering has started today - I'm not sure if the loss of her friend is having an effect on her behaviour.

I did take Ermintrude to the vets a couple of months ago and the (inexperienced) vet did an ultrasound, allegedly finding no ovarian cysts, and prescribed (an overdose of) metacam. She's now on 0.1ml dog metacam but it doesn't seem to have any effect on her behaviour.

I have wondered about spaying but the risks associated combined with the lack of expertise in my area of the country makes it a bit of a last option.

My main question is - is it likely that this is a skin issue or a reproductive system issue? My other guinea pig, Mabel, is entirely unaffected.

I'll take her to the vets in the next couple of days but want to know what to say to them because honestly they aren't very knowledgable with guinea pigs, apart from the practice owner, who is always booked out.

I have also wondered about vitamin C deficiency because she was put on a special diet due to some gut issues, but I was advised that burgess excel nuggets contain all the necessary vitamin C - I haven't found anything to invalidate this claim but still feel wary.

Thanks all for any input, advice is always welcome 😊
 

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It sounds very much like Ermintrude could have ovarian cysts as everything you have said are classic symptoms. The biting of the bald patches, belly and biting people are probably due to pain and discomfort from the cysts. They may not have been visible on her last ultrasound and I’m thinking they would have grown by now so I suggest you see a more experienced vet if you can and have another ultrasound done.

Spaying is an option or you could try hormonal injections but that’s up to you and your vet to decide after a proper assessment.

Good luck x
 
Wiebke said:
Hi

Thi itching/scratching is not part of ovarian cysts but the rest of the symptoms are pointing towards them. How old are your sows?

Sow Problems 'Down Below' (Ovarian Cysts, Super-seasons, Womb Infection, Pregnancy & Mammary Tumours)

New Guinea Pigs Health Problems: URI - Ringworm - Skin Parasites
Click to expand...

Hi, thank you. Ermintrude is about 2.5-3 years old. Mabel is nearly 6. Yes I thought that would be the case about the scratching but am wondering if the hair loss has perhaps caused dry skin in the same way skinny pigs can experience dry skin? Especially because of her weight loss.
 
Claire W said:
It sounds very much like Ermintrude could have ovarian cysts as everything you have said are classic symptoms. The biting of the bald patches, belly and biting people are probably due to pain and discomfort from the cysts. They may not have been visible on her last ultrasound and I’m thinking they would have grown by now so I suggest you see a more experienced vet if you can and have another ultrasound done.

Spaying is an option or you could try hormonal injections but that’s up to you and your vet to decide after a proper assessment.

Good luck x
Click to expand...

Thank you for this. I will bring it up again with the vets and see what they say ☺️ to be honest ovarian cysts would be the best outcome here because it would be the most treatable compared to tumours etc.

Yes I feel so bad for her, she is constantly agitated and sometimes she jolts and grumbles from what I assume is the pain. When I first got her at 0.5-1 year old I was able to hold her and she would let me stroke her, but after a few weeks she started biting to get me to stop.
 
Charlottibiscot said:
Hi, thank you. Ermintrude is about 2.5-3 years old. Mabel is nearly 6. Yes I thought that would be the case about the scratching but am wondering if the hair loss has perhaps caused dry skin in the same way skinny pigs can experience dry skin? Especially because of her weight loss.
Click to expand...

It is impossible for me to say. Just keep an eye in case she is developing bare patches in places that don't have anything to do with cystic hair loss.
 
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