Help! Hair loss around the nose

[Pangolin]

Hi, first time owner.

I've only had my young female pig for about a month now. She hasn't lost any weight, in fact she's been gaining because she's still young.

But today, I noticed that she's becoming a little patchy around the nose. It's not very much right now and a thread on another website said this can occur when piggies are given too much acidic fruits. Indeed, I have been spoiling her of late with grapes because I had to cut her nails for the first time.

BUT, she's also scratching a fair bit. So it could be mites. I haven't noticed any hair loss (though I've heard this isn't considered a symptom of mite infection).

Ringworm?

Her nose doesn't appear to be runny, her appetite is normal and she is very energetic as usual.

Can anyone give any advice? Has this happened with anyone before?
I will take her to the vets if I have to, but I just don't want to pay the vet to tell me I've just been feeding her too much citric acid (if it turns out to be this).

I have some photos, but I'm not sure how to upload. Can I upload them directly? I don't want to open a photobucket account.

 

[Pangolin]

The best I can do right now is to use my avatar to show you.
The patches appear greyish in the photo, it's not very clear because they are very small.

 

[Wiebke]

I would have her checked out by a vet for the right diagnosis and a "MOT" to make sure that everything that needs to be addressed is done and that you have peace of mind otherwise. Please try to find a good, guinea pig savvy vet who is experienced with treating exotics (as which piggies as classed)!

You have come up with most of the likely possibitilies already, but without seeing the piggy in more detail, we cannot tell you what it is and I would strongly advise against home treatment until you know exactly what you are about!

My suspicion is ringworm rather than cheilitis (inflammation of the lips).

 

[*SRH*]

There is no real way to tell if it is ring worm or a fungal infection without seeing a dermatologist first. (They can be seen at the vets.) Do they eat apple? If they do then a fungal infection is a likely cause.

 

[Pangolin]

Update: I took Anua to see a vet ast monday (I cannot say if she specialises in pigs but I live in nowheresville where there very few vets), she gave her a quick lookover and said it wasn't ringworm and gave me some Ivermectin.

It is Saturday now and CLEARLY, it is not mites because the Ivermectin isn't working and poor Anua has started to draw blood from scratching her nose. I am not a qualified vet but her skin condition has many parallels with ringworm, or at least a fungal infection. Note: her behaviour and appetite are still normal right now, it's only her nose that appears affected.

Now, I know I should consult the vet again, but I'm rather furious that I have paid for incorrect treatment (considering I am unemployed and have recently paid >£3000 for this year's tuition fees). How much will I be charged for having her scraped and diagnosed, and more importantly, how long will diagnosis take? I don't want to wait weeks for the fungal cultures to grow before I can treat her.

Also, after reading about people and rescues treating pigs using Daktarin/Canestan and Nizoral, I'm wondering if I can do the same? Can I put antifungal cream on her open wound? Won't she be able to reach it and wipe if off?
I am becoming increasingly disturbed from seeing her little hairless nose. Any help and advice will be very welcome.