Help! Excessive Scratching And Bald Spots

[Katie1988]

Hi
I have been watching my two girls today and noted that they are itching quite a bit. I've started putting them outside since we've started having some dry weather.

I noticed the girls behaviour being quite odd over the last week, Peri had a gash on her ear which I've treated with tea tree oil. Today I found them both to have a mark on each of their noses... I put this down to a dominance indifference thing because Peri is turning adolescent now and Kiwi is still putting her foot down.

Anyway, I just checked Peri's fur and she has bald spots! I pressume from her tearing it out with the itching! There's scratch marks too, I've put animal tea tree oil the cuts which has seemed to have stopped the itching. I couldn't see any insects, is this the dreaded mites?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi
I have been watching my two girls today and noted that they are itching quite a bit. I've started putting them outside since we've started having some dry weather.

I noticed the girls behaviour being quite odd over the last week, Peri had a gash on her ear which I've treated with tea tree oil. Today I found them both to have a mark on each of their noses... I put this down to a dominance indifference thing because Peri is turning adolescent now and Kiwi is still putting her foot down.

Anyway, I just checked Peri's fur and she has bald spots! I pressume from her tearing it out with the itching! There's scratch marks too, I've put animal tea tree oil the cuts which has seemed to have stopped the itching. I couldn't see any insects, is this the dreaded mites?

Please have them checked for ringworm/fungal. See a vet for a proper diagnosis and don't treat on spec, as fungal and mites require different treatments and you can do more harm than good with treating with the wrong, low dosed shop or home remedies. Also don't put anything on their bald patches before seeing a vet as you are making a diagnosis much nore difficult!
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

Also be careful in putting out indoors guinea pigs that are not yet acclimatised to the outdoors and be aware that the nights have still been very cold! Treat indoors guinea pigs like tender plants in spring and autumn and only put them on the lawn when the ground has been warm and dry to your bare feed for 5 minutes and only for as long as your feet stay warm. Otherwise, their immune system can lowered very quickly and they become more receptive to illnesses, parasites and fungal.
Feeding Grass And Preparing Your Piggies For Lawn Time