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Help - ringworm?

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JayneG

JayneG

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hi all.

After losing one piggy today, I've now discovered a scabby patch on my other piggys tummy low down next to his nipple. I think it's ringworm (can't work out how to put a pic on here). There's hairloss and a reddish scab about 1.5cm wide.

What can I do? Should he go to the vet or can I get something to treat it? He doesn't seem in discomfort but obviously it needs to be treated and he must be scratching it.

I'm aware it's probably time for mites, but this doesn't look like that I don't think?
 
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Why is it so difficult to post photos? I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong? Can someone please help. I'm panicking...
 
Ok I can't be much help with your piggie at the moment, but I might be able to help with the pics :)

I've found the easiest way to get pictures on here is to set up a photobucket account, upload the pics to there, then copy the codes, into the window here, if you have a look at the help bit on the main page here there is some advice on how to do it that's worded much better than I'm able to mallethead
 
Best to take your piggy to the vets for them to check it out and confirm whether it is mites vs fungal :) do you have a cavy savy vet as we could help you find one if not!
 
Guinea pigs <3 said:
Best to take your piggy to the vets for them to check it out and confirm whether it is mites vs fungal :) do you have a cavy savy vet as we could help you find one if not!
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Thanks. Hmm I'm actually looking for a new vet that's good with piggies. I'm in Chingford in East London but have a car. If you have any recocomendations I would love to see them :-)
 
That doesn't really look like ringworm to me but it's hard to tell the difference between parasitic irritation and fungal y sight - hairloss and sore skin is usually mites though and they're easy to treat.

My experience of ringworm is that you get a bald patch with flaky skin that is red around the edges. Mine also had scabby ears.

You need to go to the vet really - they will probably treat for mites first but will prescribe cream if they think it's fungal or the mite treatment doesn't help.
 
One of mine had something like that on her nose - it was treated as fungal,she got a steroid injection,and an anti inflammatory and i think ivermec too,I also had to wash her with malaseb - it is an anti fungal shampoo for cats and dogs.

The reason she has the first two injections was because she was doing more damage to her skin by scratching

I reckon he will have to see the vet!

Hope he is ok!

Sorry to hear about your other guinea pig!x
 
My first pig Max came with mites, and my second Ruby came with ringworm. Max was covered in sores, dandruff, hair fell out and was breaking off. The vet first had me treat him for Scurvy since the people I rescued him from were feeding him gerbil food, no supplements or fresh foods, he perked up in a few days but his skin got worse. @ injections later he was all better. Ruby lost all the hair on her head and her skin was dark grey and crusty, her eye was oozing a tad. The vet started her on some anti-fungal medicine. It was expensive as I had to go to a pharmacy and get it, it only came in a big bottle. Hope that was helpful, and hope your little one is okay.
 
It does look like a fungal infection - but with any skin condition i would seek veterinary advice to first get a firm diagnosis and second to get proper treatment.

Until you have seen a vet, please keep handling to an absolute minimum and only when necessary - ringworm can be passed from guinea pig to human - so plenty of thorough hand-washing and disinfecting of toys/cages - anything can can be disposed of, do so. While your pig(s) are being treated i would recommend using toys/houses that can be thrown away - cardboard boxes and toilet roll tubes filled with hay are good ones.
 
Thank you all so much for your replies. Shall be on the phone to make an appointment this morning and let you all know. This website and you guys are great xx
 
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