Hair loss behind piggy's ears

[Stockyanna]

Hi. I have just adopted a 9 month old boy today because he was left on his own when his mate died 2 days ago. The owner didn't want him left on their own. After I got him
Home I've noticed he has bad hair loss behind his ears and inside his ear is very black. I got him to go in with my recently bereaved sow and about to get a baby on Tuesday. Now I am really concerned he's not healthy. The refuge I got him from have been very good. They were rehousing him for somebody. He's been neutered. They called the previous owner and they said he's always had bald patches behind his ears. And that she had got him checked out at the vet before. But that quite concerns me. They have agreed to give me my money back to pay for a check up appt. I don't want to give up on him but am I asking for trouble by putting him in with my other pigs (eventually)? I recently had issues with my piggy that has just sadly died and it cost me well over £500 in the end. Just don't know whether I am doing the right thing. He's such a sorry looking piggy I just want to give him a good home

 

[Tigermoth]

I don’t know about the inside the ear being black, but a bald patch behind the ear is pretty normal I believe.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi. I have just adopted a 9 month old boy today because he was left on his own when his mate died 2 days ago. The owner didn't want him left on their own. After I got him
Home I've noticed he has bad hair loss behind his ears and inside his ear is very black. I got him to go in with my recently bereaved sow and about to get a baby on Tuesday. Now I am really concerned he's not healthy. The refuge I got him from have been very good. They were rehousing him for somebody. He's been neutered. They called the previous owner and they said he's always had bald patches behind his ears. And that she had got him checked out at the vet before. But that quite concerns me. They have agreed to give me my money back to pay for a check up appt. I don't want to give up on him but am I asking for trouble by putting him in with my other pigs (eventually)? I recently had issues with my piggy that has just sadly died and it cost me well over £500 in the end. Just don't know whether I am doing the right thing. He's such a sorry looking piggy I just want to give him a good home

Hi!

Guinea pigs regulate the body temperature via the blood flow through their ears. Any hairs in that area would act as insulation so most piggies have a bald ears and a bald area behind the ears. As long as it has the same individual shape behind both ears, then all is OK.

Are you sure that the inside of the ear hasn't simply got black skin? Markings in different skin colours do run across nipples, ears, eye lids, lips, feet and genitals. They are more obvious because they are all hairless areas.

This link here helps you to learn what is normal and what not in a piggy body: Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

 

[Stockyanna]

Hi!

Guinea pigs regulate the body temperature via the blood flow through their ears. Any hairs in that area would act as insulation so most piggies have a bald ears and a bald area behind the ears. As long as it has the same individual shape behind both ears, then all is OK.

Are you sure that the inside of the ear hasn't simply got black skin? Markings in different skin colours do run across nipples, ears, eye lids, lips, feet and genitals. They are more obvious because they are all hairless areas.

This link here helps you to learn what is normal and what in a piggy body: Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?

Thank you. Yes both patches look quite symmetrical actually. And he isn't itching or anything. Well he does look like he's got black skin one side and perhaps white the other. And it could be his skin that is black. Yes very petrified of me at the moment as the first day. I think I'll take him for a check anyway. But that has put my mind at rest a bit more, thank you

 

[Stockyanna]

I don’t know about the inside the ear being black, but a bald patch behind the ear is pretty normal I believe.

Thank you. Yes they seem to be same on both sides. But black one side. But yes could Just be his skin colour that side