Irritated bald spot from pulling hair out

[SimonandAlly]

My year old guinea Simon had some issues not too long ago. We assumed it was initially a bite from the other pig but it continued after we separated them. The vet did tests for mites and came out negative. We spent a lot of money on tests and they could not tell us what was wrong. They said it was maybe a food allergy but I doubt that since we changed the food and nothing changes. He is pulling his hair no doubt because the scabs itch. I've been spraying a medicine that the vet gave me but nothing seems to work. If anyone can please tell me what it is or what to do, I would be highly grateful. My baby needs his hair back!

 

[DM030819]

@SimonandAlly What was the spray that the vet gave you? I'd treat for mites even if the vet said they couldn't find any. I've had a pig with mites in the past which looked very similar.

 

[SimonandAlly]

They gave me Zymox. I paid $200 for tests and they said it was for sure not mites. How could they be wrong? How do I treat for mites?

 

[Wiebke]

My year old guinea Simon had some issues not too long ago. We assumed it was initially a bite from the other pig but it continued after we separated them. The vet did tests for mites and came out negative. We spent a lot of money on tests and they could not tell us what was wrong. They said it was maybe a food allergy but I doubt that since we changed the food and nothing changes. He is pulling his hair no doubt because the scabs itch. I've been spraying a medicine that the vet gave me but nothing seems to work. If anyone can please tell me what it is or what to do, I would be highly grateful. My baby needs his hair back!

Zymox is a hydrochloride spray to prevent infections.

It may even turn out be the beginnings of a fungal skin infection, which can look very similar to mites, especially in the early stages. Again, it can start with a bloody scab and hair loss in the area around. but again, labs will only test for ringworm as the most common, aggressive and transmittable form, but not any of the many other forms. Not all forms look textbook ringworm.
Guinea Lynx :: Fungus

If you want to treat for mange mites yourself (tests do not always comes up positive), you need a good quality ivermectin product.
As you mention dollars rather than pounds, I assume that you are US, Canada or Australian based? Since we have members from all over the world, it helps us a lot of you please added your country, state/province to your account details, so we can help you better in respect of finding piggy savvy veterinary care and products that available where you are or take climate related issues into account whenever necessary.
Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and to location. Without a location, we have to keep any advice as general as we can, so it works around the globe. Our default advice is UK based. Thanks!

Here is a link to US based mites treatment advice: Guinea Lynx :: Mange Mites

 

[Piggy1011]

It looks more fungal to me. I am definitely not an expect tho. I would recommend masaleb wash aswell maybe? A few days after any treatment for mites is given tho.

 

[SimonandAlly]

Zymox is a hydrochloride spray to prevent infections.

It may even turn out be the beginnings of a fungal skin infection, which can look very similar to mites, especially in the early stages. Again, it can start with a bloody scab and hair loss in the area around. but again, labs will only test for ringworm as the most common, aggressive and transmittable form, but not any of the many other forms. Not all forms look textbook ringworm.
Guinea Lynx :: Fungus

If you want to treat for mange mites yourself (tests do not always comes up positive), you need a good quality ivermectin product.
As you mention dollars rather than pounds, I assume that you are US, Canada or Australian based? Since we have members from all over the world, it helps us a lot of you please added your country, state/province to your account details, so we can help you better in respect of finding piggy savvy veterinary care and products that available where you are or take climate related issues into account whenever necessary.
Please click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and to location. Without a location, we have to keep any advice as general as we can, so it works around the globe. Our default advice is UK based. Thanks!

Here is a link to US based mites treatment advice: Guinea Lynx :: Mange Mites

If I treat him for mites and he doesn't actually have any, could that medicine hurt him? Or would he be okay? And where could I get some without making another bet appointment? Thanks for your help.

 

[Wiebke]

If I treat him for mites and he doesn't actually have any, could that medicine hurt him? Or would he be okay? And where could I get some without making another bet appointment? Thanks for your help.

We normally don't recommend self-medicating on spec at all but as you have already seen a vet and not got any more than a mild skin spray for the open wound I am making an exception.

Yes, you can treat without causing harm, but you need to do in any case 3 applications (i.e. a full course) at the interval stated on the product specific length on the package for optimal efficiency. You also need to follow the product advice re. the weight of your piggies. You can order ivermectin or selamectin products (as recommended in the guinea lynx link) online when you google for them.
Please stay away from low dosed broad spectrum pet shop brands that are too weak to more than temporarily suppress mange mites (and fungal symptoms) but won't heal them. It is just wasted money for you and unnecessary suffering for your piggy.

You always need to treat all guinea pigs in contact for transmittable issues like skin parasites and fungal skin infections.

Please be aware that with any topical (i.e. on the skin) treatment you have to allow two days for full absorption and effect before you can treat with something else (important when you are treating for both fungal and mites at the same time, as they require different treatments).
Gorgeous Guineas Identification

 

[SimonandAlly]

Thank you for your help. I'm still not sure its mites though. None of my other pigs have these spots or are itching like crazy. The vet said it was a food allergy or reaction from a soap I used.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your help. I'm still not sure its mites though. None of my other pigs have these spots or are itching like crazy. The vet said it was a food allergy or reaction from a soap I used.

We have never come across food allergy symptoms like these in the 12 years since this forum has been running and the literally tens of thousands of piggies that have passed through this section.
With soap you mean laundry detergent rather than what you use to wash your hands? Sorry, it is obviously one of the words with different meanings in the UK and the US. No, we haven't seen that from washing powder, either.

 

[SimonandAlly]

I mean a soap from washing his fur, not detergent. My bad. I used it only once though

 

[Wiebke]

I mean a soap from washing his fur, not detergent. My bad. I used it only once though

Please don't give your piggy any baths unless for medical reasons. it is not good for their skin. If they are really messey around the bum area, cutting off any matted hair and giving a gentle bum wash with baby warm water is usually sufficient. Too much bathing dries the skin out and allows bugs to get into any tiny cracks.
Malaseb shampoo, if it available in the US, would be the best treatment as it is effective against fungal, microbes and bacteria while still mild enough to not irritate the skin any further.

If in doubt, please see your vet or another vet again as what he has given you is clearly not effective.
We can only give you avenues to pursue, but we cannot and are not qualified to replace a hands-on examination by a trained vet.

 

[Merab]

Can’t offer advice but wanted to offer support