HELP! Really BAD fungal!

[HarlowDarling]

I had my guinea pig for 6 years and he died 2 months ago leaving behind his cage mate who is 3. Two weeks after my guinea pig died, completely out of NOWHERE his friend got a fungal infection. It started with a patch on his ear and then thinning fur. It was crazy because I have had my guinea pigs for years and during this time nothing has changed with their living arrangements. My guinea pigs NEVER had fungal, or mites, and never had contact with other guinea pigs.

I took him to the vet and the vet prescribed Betadine for his ear, and Malaseb shampoo for him to be bathed in twice a week for two weeks. He also advised that I clean ALL of his things with bleach, which I did very diligently. The vet also gave him Ivermectin to rule out mites.
Unfortunately it was all horrible timing and I had to go overseas for 6 weeks. I finished the Malaseb shampoo treatment, the fungal ear went away quickly with Betadine. I arranged for my guineapig to go to the ACS (a guineapig shelter) to board for the 6 weeks I was away.

When I picked him up from the shelter he had a big bald patch on his rump! Clearly the treatment hadn't worked AT ALL. I took him home and I've noticed that his fur is thinning and his new cage mate (who we adopted) his fur is thinning too. I don't know what to do! I feel like nothing is going to work anymore. I did everything! Disinfected EVERYTHING! I just don't know what to do anymore.

I feel so hopeless and seeing him loose his fur is killing me. Can anyone help me? The vet seemed assured that if I treated him with the shampoo and Betadine it would go away...Could anyone recommend anything else?

 

[*Nibbles&Nugget*]

I think it might help if you could give some photos so people can recommend the best treatments.

This page has some good info about hairloss which might help you - http://www.guinealynx.info/hairloss.html

This one helps you identify which problem your piggy has - http://www.gorgeousguineas.com/indentification.html

I do know that my vet recommended to keep treating for a week after there were no symptoms as sometimes it can linger (my piggy had the fungal infection ringworm)

~ Amy

 

[Jerrybelly]

It sounds like a different treatment is needed. Do you know if the person that looked after your pig while you were away diligently kept up the treatment? Skin problems can be very tricky to treat, and it's important that the full course is given.

Where are you based? Perhaps someone can recommended another vet who could help him.

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Have to agree with Jerrybelly and would seriously have to question the boarders you used Can only find ACS in Australia ?
Please do not beat yourself up, you did what you had to do with good faith.
Definitely see a Vet asap and explain your concerns - maybe the proper treatment from start to finish will do the trick.
Healing vibes to your boys x

 

[helen105281]

I'm sorry that you are having such a tough time with this. First of all I would restart the Malaseb baths, I have used this recently on my own pigs and it was really effective. I would follow with Imaverol dips, not sure which country you are in, but the ingredient in Imaverol is Enilconazole, here is a link:

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Imaverol-100ml/productinfo/IMAVEROL/

Also I think it is time to ask the vet for oral fungal medication, such as Itrafungol - active ingredient is Itraconazole. The vets I use recommend using the same treatment plan as for a cat which is 7 days on 7 days off for 3 rounds (would take 6 weeks in total but 3 of those you would not be giving the Itrafungol, however it would still be working). The dose we use is 0.5ml twice a day but you would need your vet to agree to this.

http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/itrafungol_1_19832.html

Unfortunately, if left untreated fungal can become systemic as they ingest the spores, so I would also recommend treating his friend.

 

[Wiebke]

Ringworm (fungal) is very contagious and not so easy to get rid of. It was such bad luck that your long holiday fell into that time!

Please try to hunt up an antifungal disinfectant like your vet uses; bleach is not recommmended. You will need to be very careful in disinfecting everything thoroughly twice - once at the beginning of the treatment and then at the end of it to prevent re-infection (which takes 10-14 days to show up).

Please use disposable gloves and a dedicated apron or pullover when handling your piggies and their stuff. Ringworm is one of the few things that transmits to humans and other pets. Wash any fabrics in potential contact with fungal at a minimum of 60 C or higher (including the towels needed for bathing and your clothing).

I can also recommend imaverol dips; they did the trick when I had an outbreak of ringworm in my group of 12 piggies. Speak to your vet about itrafungol/systemic fungal. You need to treat both piggies. I am sure that with diligence, you can get on top of it this round.