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Hormonal hair loss

piggyme234

piggyme234

Adult Guinea Pig
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Sorry this is going to be a long one. I had 3 piggies living together, Jemima, a bossy 5 year old, Elizabeth, a fairly timid 3 year old and Max who was frail and poorly. Jemima in particular was a bit much for Max so he moved out to live with two baby girls who were not as pushy. All 5 were living closely so that we could keep the bond and join them back together in the future. Shortly after Max moved out Elizabeth started to lose some hair on her sides. The vet has been unable to find any ovarian cysts which was my first assumption as even though she had not been different behaviourally she had crusty nipples. She was treated with a course of ivermectin just in case and the vet said it could be due to the upheaval of her living arrangements, not being with Max and having the new girls so close. A few weeks ago Max unfortunately passed away after a short stay at TEAS. The little girls are again living nearby but not at the moment in direct contact with the bigger girls until I am sure that everyone is ok, then I want to introduce them. Elizabeth hasn't lost any more hair in the last month but non has grown back either. The ivermectin course is now finished. I just realised last night when I was cuddling her that this all started when she lost Max. Could he have been the catalyst for this change in her. Assuming next time she goes to the vet he still can't find anything what do people suggest. Spaying her just to be on the safe side sounds a bit drastic but introducing her to new piggies, male or female in the hope that she will settle sounds a bit unfair if she could get worse.
 
Sorry you lost Max x

Any sign of dandruff or is the skin clear?
 
I had a similar issue with Truffles... Lost her fur for no other reason than possibly stress.. 31948903_1816116381781948_7187266657595686912_n (1).webp

It did grow back, after two years... 45079380_2068329999893917_3772351646743396352_n.webp

Only change was a neutered male added to the group, she loves him, and is much happier
 
Thanks, @sport_billy her skin is clear, only one little scurfy area about the size of a penny where there is a clump of hair on her back.
@BonBon2010 it does look very like what Truffles had. Was Truffles fuzzy on her bald patches? Elizabeth is bald in some bits and fuzzy in others, her tummy has almost no normal hair, just fuzz.
 
piggyme234 said:
Thanks, @sport_billy her skin is clear, only one little scurfy area about the size of a penny where there is a clump of hair on her back.
@BonBon2010 it does look very like what Truffles had. Was Truffles fuzzy on her bald patches? Elizabeth is bald in some bits and fuzzy in others, her tummy has almost no normal hair, just fuzz.
Click to expand...
Where bald she had smooth skin, and the odd patch of short or long hair. This went on for two years, then it just grew back after i paired her up with a neutered male. Only thing that stands out is the cyst she had on her rump that burst last spring and didn't come back. I really think some of it is hormonal, as well as psychological. I'd be looking at getting a new neutered male and introducing her to him first, and see how she reacts
 
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