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Hair loss and fat tummy

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banz2009

Hello, i'm new to this site but have been reading through and am hoping someone can be of help.
I recently rescued four guinea pigs. Two of which look pregnant, but I was told they've looked like it for months. They have round bellies but they just feel like fluid.
Also one of them has lost quite a bit of hair, her skin is flaky but not scabby or sore, it doesn't seem to bother her. She is also quite thin.
I dont really understand how she can be so thin but with a big tummy! I'm guessing she is quite old. I know she has been bred from in the past.
I've put her in with just one other sow now so she can rest and not be disturbed by the other playful ones. She eats and drinks really well and is so happy in herself, she just looks unhealthy.
Sorry if this is really long and confusing, just trying to get as much info to you as possible. Many thanks in advance
 
Hi! Welcome too the board!

Some sows can have very big backs. My Dizzy is another big belly with a small piggie attached to it.

The flakiness of the skin and hairloss can be down to fungus or lice, not only mites, so I would recommend you have her properly checked out by a vet, as that can contribute to her weight loss and bad condition.

Have a look at this website for more info: http://www.guinealynx.info/index.html

All the best to your poorly lady!
 
Welcome to the forum. Any snaps of the hairloss? I would whizz her to a competent vet for diagnosis. Hair loss can be mites but if she is pregnant then I wouldn't treat for mites without having a natter to a vet who know about guineas.

Good luck.
 
Thankyou for your replys. I will get her to the vet. She can't be pregnant, I know the owner said she was and she has a big tummy but she would be weeks over due by now! I'll keep you updated
 
Welcome to the forum. :)

The first thing I thought was ovarian cysts, although there are other conditions that could lead to the symptoms. If you can give us an idea of your location then we may be able to help you find the most suitable vet or rodentologist in your area.

Is the hair loss generalised, or on the sides of her tummy? Is she a particularly hormonal pig? Swollen teats? All of those, along with the distended abdomen, can be signs of ovarian cysts. Treatment is simple - hormone injections, or draining the cysts via a needle. Most vets will state an ovariohysterectomy is the only solution - if they suggest this and refuse to consider injections/draining, then try to find a different vet.

Of course, having said all that I have a couple of older pigs with similar body shapes, large tummies on an otherwise slim frame. I believe both are retired breeding sows so that could explain the extra weight on the tummy.
 
I thought along similar lines as Laura above... the combination of things just sounds like hormone / ovary related to me.

I've got some very saggy sows at mine that look pregnant pretty much permanently but they're not cysty.
 
Thankyou again.
I'm in south Devon.
The hair loss is quite random, but mainly on the sides, and a little along her spine. Her tummy is very soft to touch, a bit like a bag of jelly.
i will tell my vet what you have suggested and see what he says.
Thanks again
 
Hello, just thought i'd update you. I took abby into the vet again today. She's staying in over night then having some tests done tommorw. The vet is very unsure of what might be causing it. He's going to test for fungal infection, mange, mites, bacterial infection and something else I cant remember! He said he needs to talk to his collegue tommorow before he can say what might be causing the weight loss and fat tummy. I'm very worried because he really did seem a bit clueless. I have an appointment at 2pm tommorow so i'll let you know what the outcome is.

One more thing, he couldnt tell me roughly how old she was, is there any way of checking? He looked at the teeth but still had no idea?
 
I am so sorry - it must be a worrying time for you!

Once a guinea pig has reached adult age, it is quite difficult to age them. Their front toes get thicker and twisted sideways when they get older, but as rodent teeth grow continually, it's not a good place to look!
 
I've just picked her up from the vets and settled her back in at home!
He found some mites on her, he said they were mange mites. He's ordered me some treatment so I can do all my pigs at once then repeat it again in two weeks. He doesnt know what the weight loss or fat tummy is, he said he wants to treat the mites first and see if that helps her out.
I've been reading some of the posts on here and see that mites may be something they are born with and can errupt when a guinea pig i stressed? Is this the case? She has had a very tough couple of months moving from house to house

Thanks again
 
Bless her, yeah that is right with the mites. Same thing happened to one of our bunnies Cindy she moved to three homes in 4 months and became stressed.
 
Thanks but no it doesnt really sound like her. Shes not aggressive, she eats anything and everything! Her nipples are a normal size to.
From what i've been reading on here it does sound like mites.
I did ask him about cysts but he ruled it out
 
Good, just wnated to make sure.

I've good one "mitey" guinea pig whose mites come back in the same place at least once or twice despite treatment. You can also pick up mites from hay. Eggs can be dormant for months, so once you have them, you'd better be on the lookout for them at all times. I wish your lady all the best. You might find that she's putting up weight when she's mites-free.
 
Update!
Just rang the vet to see if the medication was in yet. The vet is off today so only got to speak to the receptionist.
She said he is going to order something that is off licence and for cattle? I dont understand at all.
She also said he wanted them treated with Ivermectin. Is there any way I can buy this without going through my vet? I have around 30 guinea pigs at the moment so will need to treat them all so the usual pippets in the vets would work out far to expensive.
 
Also the vet said it was safe to use ivermectin on very young and/or pregnant sows. Is this the case?
 
Thankyou. It is only her showing the symptoms but he said I would definately need to treat them all or the problem will not go away
 
He is trying to milk you for more money. I had 2 sows with mites living with another 5 sows. I didn't treat the 5 and they are ok.

Xeno 50 is ok for pigs under 800g so young pigs. I am not sure about pregnant pigs though. I don't think Xeno is safe for them, hope someone can advise on that.
 
Thankyou so much for your help. I dont mind treating them all but I wont if it's unessasary.
 
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