Hello, I need some advice. We returned from vacation, my mom pig sat, and pig #1 has hair missing around her eyes. Pig #2 has been nosing around #1's hind parts. They are 2 and 3 years old, respectively and perfectly healthy thus far. I don't know what might have happened? I'd ike to skip the vet and try to treat at home, if possible. All advice is appreciated, thanks!
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Hair Loss Around The Eye
- Thread starter Jessi A
- Start date
gizzy
Adult Guinea Pig
Hi and welcome
Please note that this forum does not support home treating on spec; we have seen to many sorry results, right up to death as a result of this. Many cases end up needing to go to the vet with much more advanced cases and costing in the end more than if it had been done properly in the first place, not to mention the prolonged unnecessary suffering of your pet.
One of my adopted piggies has had to be surrendered to rescue because of wrongly applied ringworm home treatment; the first vet that was being (finally) seen wanted to pts him there and then. The second recommended to give him up to a sanctuary that was capable of applying the necessary expert care under his supervision. It was THAT bad - and it is not an isolated case. There are some shortcuts that are simply not worth taking!
Please also note that legally no online place is allowed to diagnose and treat any animals without a hands-on proper diagnosis. As a public place, we can be made liable.
Your guinea pigs are likely suffering from a fungal infection, most likely ringworm. The best, quickest and most effective treatment is a prescription-only oral medication called itrafungol (or sporonox in the US), which you will only get through a vet. You will need to treat both piggies to prevent the companion from coming down with it, too.
Please be aware that ringworm is highly contagious, including to humans and other pets. It is well worth investing in a vet strength disinfectant that is fungicidal and not just anti-bacterial in view that ringworm spores can stay live for up to 18 months - and they are shed in their thousands. Careful hygiene is essential.
Complete Syringe Feeding Guide
If you have boarded your guinea pigs with a licensed service for more than 10-14 days (which is the time between infection and outbreak), you can reclaim any vet cost from them. Please inform them anyway, because it is so contagious. They will need to close down and thoroughly disinfect the whole place if it is carried in by one of their customers.
Lady Kelly
Senior Guinea Pig
Personally I wouldn't use xeno unless it was a mite issue otherwise you would be building up the resistance to the product in future. To be honest unless I had any clue what I was dealing with I would stay away from any products until I had seen a vet.