Help Identifying What Is Wrong

[Steekster]

Hey guys! First post here. I just had a piggy pass away from a URI, and we got another and now he’s sneezing and it sounds like he has a bit of the sniffles. But he also has some dried blood on his nose and the skin looks like it may have a rash. I’ll include a photo:
Should I start the left over baytril that I have from my piggy that died? I don’t have a lot of money to go back to the vet right now($220 last time)

 

[Wiebke]

Hey guys! First post here. I just had a piggy pass away from a URI, and we got another and now he’s sneezing and it sounds like he has a bit of the sniffles. But he also has some dried blood on his nose and the skin looks like it may have a rash. I’ll include a photo:
Should I start the left over baytril that I have from my piggy that died? I don’t have a lot of money to go back to the vet right now($220 last time)

View attachment 80106

Hi! It looks like your new piggy has got ringworm. By presenting the vet bill together with the sales receipt,
you can reclaim any vet cost from the pet shop if symptoms have shown up within 2 weeks of the sale and you have him see promptly because exposure and infection have happened at the shop.

Please be aware that ringworm is highly infective and transmissive - including to humans. You need to treat both piggies and be very careful yourself. Good hygiene and a vet grade antifungal disinfective are necessary (regular disinfectants are only antibacterial); ideally one that also kills ringworm spores. Sadly ringworm is very common in new shop piggies, as is URI.

Please take the time to read this guide here; you will find it very helpful. Be aware that we cannot and - like any online places - are legally not allowed to replace a hands-on vet visit. We do not support treating on spec.
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

 

[Fishtails]

Baytril is an antibiotic not an antifungal, so it won't resolve the issue. Plus, Baytril can cause GI stasis and unbalance your pig's GI microbiome, so it's not typically a good idea to use it without first speaking to a vet.

If you can't afford to see a vet right now, there are a number of over-the-counter projects you might consider trying. For example, Athlete's foot and "jock itch" are types of ringworm (tinea pedis and tinea cruris, respectively), and a lot of products marketed for those two conditions seem to help treat the other types of ringworm. I would be careful using these, since some may be toxic when ingested. It might be a good idea to ask your pharmacist, or to phone your vet and ask for their opinion. Either way, be sure to watch your piggy so that he doesn't lick or rub it off. You should apply the cream at least every 12 hours.

You can also try some shampoos/conditioners. For example, 'Head and Shoulders' and 'Selsun Blue' blue contain ringworm antifungals. Again, its best to speak to a vet before going this route, but its better then nothing. Just be careful not to get the shampoo in your pig's eyes, and make sure that they are rinsed off well.

Abby had ringworm when I got her -- I used a combination of Lamisil cream (mine was a prescription, but you might be able to get it OTC, depending on where you live) and oral itraconazole, in addition to regular baths in Selsun Blue. It cleared up pretty quickly, and it hasn't come back (and hopefully won't )

 

[Swissgreys]

Baytril is an antibiotic not an antifungal, so it won't resolve the issue. Plus, Baytril can cause GI stasis and unbalance your pig's GI microbiome, so it's not typically a good idea to use it without first speaking to a vet.

If you can't afford to see a vet right now, there are a number of over-the-counter projects you might consider trying. For example, Athlete's foot and "jock itch" are types of ringworm (tinea pedis and tinea cruris, respectively), and a lot of products marketed for those two conditions seem to help treat the other types of ringworm. I would be careful using these, since some may be toxic when ingested. It might be a good idea to ask your pharmacist, or to phone your vet and ask for their opinion. Either way, be sure to watch your piggy so that he doesn't lick or rub it off. You should apply the cream at least every 12 hours.

You can also try some shampoos/conditioners. For example, 'Head and Shoulders' and 'Selsun Blue' blue contain ringworm antifungals. Again, its best to speak to a vet before going this route, but its better then nothing. Just be careful not to get the shampoo in your pig's eyes, and make sure that they are rinsed off well.

Abby had ringworm when I got her -- I used a combination of Lamisil cream (mine was a prescription, but you might be able to get it OTC, depending on where you live) and oral itraconazole, in addition to regular baths in Selsun Blue. It cleared up pretty quickly, and it hasn't come back (and hopefully won't )

I just wanted to add that on this Forum we strongly recommend NOT treating problems like this with otc medication.
This can often mask the symptoms without really fixing the problem, which results in a more difficult to treat problem further down the line.
Plus without a proper diagnosis you have no way of knowing if the medication you are using is appropriate.

As @Wiebke (one of the most experienced members on the Forum) said earlier, the pet shop should pay for all veterinary treatment as you piggy was clearly already infected when you bought her.
Please take your piggy to see a vet so she can get the appropriate treatment, and also follow the guidelines Wiebke linked to, to prevent the spread of fungal to otehr members of your household.
If you are orried about the costs then maybe speak to the pet shop first to see if they have a vet that would prefer you to use, and then maybe they can pay the vet directly on your behalf.

 

[Reenie]

Hey guys! First post here. I just had a piggy pass away from a URI, and we got another and now he’s sneezing and it sounds like he has a bit of the sniffles. But he also has some dried blood on his nose and the skin looks like it may have a rash. I’ll include a photo:
Should I start the left over baytril that I have from my piggy that died? I don’t have a lot of money to go back to the vet right now($220 last time)

View attachment 80106

Please follow the advice from @Wiebke and @Swissgreys , and do not use over the counter or human treatment, which could make matters worse. I hope you get her sorted out soon x

 

[Fishtails]

I just wanted to add that on this Forum we strongly recommend NOT treating problems like this with otc medication.
This can often mask the symptoms without really fixing the problem, which results in a more difficult to treat problem further down the line.
Plus without a proper diagnosis you have no way of knowing if the medication you are using is appropriate.

As @Wiebke (one of the most experienced members on the Forum) said earlier, the pet shop should pay for all veterinary treatment as you piggy was clearly already infected when you bought her.
Please take your piggy to see a vet so she can get the appropriate treatment, and also follow the guidelines Wiebke linked to, to prevent the spread of fungal to otehr members of your household.
If you are orried about the costs then maybe speak to the pet shop first to see if they have a vet that would prefer you to use, and then maybe they can pay the vet directly on your behalf.

While I agree the use of OTC medication is not ideal, my exotic vet recommended these products to treat ringworm, and prevent further re-infection. The only reason I mentioned them was because they were recommended by a vet.

In Canada, prescription strength (vet grade) anti-fungals can be prohibitively expensive, particularly if the infection is re-occurring. For example, a single trip to the vet to get my pig's ringworm diagnosed and treated cost me over $400. I think it's important to have a vet fund to cover the costs of unexpected (and expected) medical bill, however many people do not. I also don't advocate diagnosing or treating conditions without visiting a vet first. In this case specifically, however, the use of the OTC products I mentioned is better than allowing the infection to spread, or treating it with an inappropriate class of medication -- particularly if a vet visit is not an option at this point in time. That being said, I strongly believe that everyone should take their pigs to the vets for regular checkups, and that you consult a veterinarian prior to using any OTC drugs.

 

[Wiebke]

While I agree the use of OTC medication is not ideal, my exotic vet recommended these products to treat ringworm, and prevent further re-infection. The only reason I mentioned them was because they were recommended by a vet.

In Canada, prescription strength (vet grade) anti-fungals can be prohibitively expensive, particularly if the infection is re-occurring. For example, a single trip to the vet to get my pig's ringworm diagnosed and treated cost me over $400. I think it's important to have a vet fund to cover the costs of unexpected (and expected) medical bill, however many people do not. I also don't advocate diagnosing or treating conditions without visiting a vet first. In this case specifically, however, the use of the OTC products I mentioned is better than allowing the infection to spread, or treating it with an inappropriate class of medication -- particularly if a vet visit is not an option at this point in time. That being said, I strongly believe that everyone should take their pigs to the vets for regular checkups, and that you consult a veterinarian prior to using any OTC drugs.

You may find this link helpful: Guinea Lynx :: Fungus

You can still reclaim any cost that have arisen from a pet shop illness and report the branch to your local authorities for selling damaged ware, i.e. infected and potentially infected animals without warning to the customers.

 

[Steekster]

Thanks everyone for the help! RJ is doing great and his nose is healing and the hair is growing back in the worst effected area. Just used OTC clotrimazole