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Is this a fungal infection? Advice needed

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kay_xx

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I recently bought a baby boar from a highly recomended breeder. He is 6 weeks old but only 200 grams. He is eating well so should be putting on weight soon. However when I got him he had a bald patch on his head above the eyes and nose which the fur is growing back. Although after bringing him home I found quite a lot of small scabby spots in various places. He has a bit of a scab and dry skin on his ear too. You can feel his hips and he is really boney I'm really worried about him and the vets wont be open till next tuesday.

I got him to put with my other boar and they got along but as soon as I found all the scabs and bald patches I seperated them and have bathed my other boar ( the one thats healthy).

Don't think he has mites have tested it on paper towel and water.

I noticed all this within 3 days of bringing him home, really worried and annoyed that he has come away like this.


Oh and has been living in a hutch in a shed since he was born and is in a shed now, thinking of bringing him inside today is this necessary?
 
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You cant see mange mites. Not very good of the breeder to rehome him in that state.

I'd recommended getting some Xeno for mange mites (get the one thats for a weight of 800g or under).

You can also bathe him in some Gorgeous Guinea Shampoos for the Fungal - Believe its the neem oil one. But wait 48 hours after the Xeno.

Have you phoned the breeder to tell them whats happened?

Is he eating and drinking fine? Good stools?
 
I did let them know and they said that it is probaly fungal which is common for them if they live in a shed and can't be helped. They were not very helpful and I would of expected them to health check the piggy before selling especially if there ment to be a high quality breeder.

He is eating well, not been drinking a lot tho. He is pooing and weeing fine.
 
Highly recommended - by who?!

Jeez, 200g is the weight of the average 2 week old baby. The minimum rehoming weight is 400g. To knowingly move on any animal when showing signs of infection is a sure sign of a breeder who should be anything but recommended.

Your little one needs to see a vet, have a vet report made and the RSPCA informed.

Treatment for such a small pig can only be prescribed by a good cavy savvy vet. If you need one to be recommended please give your location.

Please be aware that ringworm (which this could very well be) is transmissible to other animals and humans.

Suzy x

ETA

Please bring him inside, it is simply too cold for such a small pig.
 
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I would contact the breeder, animals should not be homed in a poor state!
And yes take the little one to the vet asap.
 
When looking round for a breeder people have recomended this one and there piggys did look well looked after and the hutches were clean and when I told her about his weight they said that they have to leave the mum by 6 weeks old and the weight has never been an issue before. I wanted to take him back to his mum but they said there was no need to even tho he is underweight!

Some people have said about bathing him but I didn't want to because of his age and weight and also some of the scabs are like open wounds, did not want to risk making this worse.

Dad has said about taking him back to the breeder but the breeder seemed to not care when I told her and asked for advice so I'm more than happy to pay the vet bill so long as he gets healthy thats all that matters.

Cant get him to the vets till tuesday is there anything I can do till then?
 
kay_xx said:
When looking round for a breeder people have recomended this one and there piggys did look well looked after and the hutches were clean and when I told her about his weight they said that they have to leave the mum by 6 weeks old and the weight has never been an issue before. I wanted to take him back to his mum but they said there was no need to even tho he is underweight!

Some people have said about bathing him but I didn't want to because of his age and weight and also some of the scabs are like open wounds, did not want to risk making this worse.

Dad has said about taking him back to the breeder but the breeder seemed to not care when I told her and asked for advice so I'm more than happy to pay the vet bill so long as he gets healthy thats all that matters.

Cant get him to the vets till tuesday is there anything I can do till then?
Click to expand...

Doesnt sound like a very good breeder to me. Can you get any photos of the little one? so we can see his wounds and offer more advise on them and what you can do.
 
If you give your location hopefully we can find you a vet that is experienced with guinea pigs - they do provide cover for pets out of hours if you need them.

Not all vets are knowledgeable about piggies and we keep a list of the ones that are good.

Suzy x
 
Thank you suzy, is there any closer to the Hockley or Southend area?
Trying to get some pictures but there not clear, today there is less scabs just quite a few bald patches
 
Hello and welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry that you are experiencing all this hassle, all you want is a friend for your other Piggy, poor lad must be confused why you got him a friend then took him away again.
If you're bringing him inside, would it be an idea to get a pen big enough for the both of them ( a ferplast 100 or 120 would be an ideal size for two boys), Piggies are so much more responsive when inside and a lot more fun to be with.
As regards the 'breeder', I get the impression that they are trying to fob you off big style. No animal should be sold on with open wounds etc. Would it be worth asking your dad to go round with you as backup and request that she pays any vet bills. As Suzy (very knowledgeble lady) said "Your little one needs to see a vet, have a vet report made and the RSPCA informed" I would also find out if she is a member of a breeders association so that she might be reported to them too.
You did the right thing for him by joining the forum and asking questions. Good luck, we will be expecting pictures of the two boys soon :))
 
Yesterday it seemed a couple of the scabs were pretty open but today I have only found a few little spot like scabs but a fair few bald patches. He is inside now and away from my other boar, last thing I want is for him to get ill aswell. The breeder seemed lovely and genuine and really seemed to care for her piggies but definatly having second thoughts now. I payed £20 for him and wanted to go to a breeder to make sure I got a nice healthy piggy, really frustrated.

Will let him settle down in his new indoor home and get him out later on for another check and take pictures then.

If its ringworm how easily is it transmitted, my other boar has already met him and was grooming him before I found the scabs and bald patches. Given him a bath so hoping he hasnt been with the baby long enough to catch anything.
 
I've emailed the Southend Guinea Pig Rescue to ask if they can recommend a suitable vet for you - they may be unavailable as it's Christmas but hopefully we'll get an answer soon.

I would advise that in future should you need guinea pigs or want advice that you contact them.

Suzy x
 
Ok then thank you all for your help, will be keeping a close eye on him and make sure he eats and drinks well until I can get him to a vets.
 
I'm sorry you are having these problems, this is one of the many reasons I always recommend using a reputable rescue.

New pigs should always be quarantined most rescues do this before they re-home the guinea pig, if it is ringworm then it's likely your other boar will also become infected it is highly contagious and can also be passed to humans. Although the vet did say to me if you have had ringworm then you are less likely to become infected again.

As your new pig is so small and young he really does need to see a cavy savy vet.

Good Luck x
 
Kay - it would be very helpful if you could email me the details of the breeder as finding the source of any out break of contagious disease/illness is very important.

Please do not post the details on the forum as we are not permitted to name breeders or give links to their websites, this is a pro-rescue forum and we are all dedicated to the welfare of all piggies.

[email protected]

Suzy x
 
Hanwombat said:
You can also bathe him in some Gorgeous Guinea Shampoos for the Fungal - Believe its the neem oil one. But wait 48 hours after the Xeno.
Click to expand...

Please don't bathe him, he is way underweight & too young to use the Gorgeous Guinea stuff just yet, Chrissie advises 12 weeks & older.

If it is ringworm don't forget you can catch it, so can other adults , children & pets :)
 
Poppy'sMum said:
Please don't bathe him, he is way underweight & too young to use the Gorgeous Guinea stuff just yet, Chrissie advises 12 weeks & older.

If it is ringworm don't forget you can catch it, so can other adults , children & pets :)
Click to expand...

If he has fungal though then I don't see a tiny bit being harmful.

On her website she does state
'Mini-Pig Shampoo – designed especially for guineas under 12 weeks who need a gentle shampoo. Most guineas under this age do not require any kind of skincare unless they have some kind of a problem. DO NOT USE THIS SHAMPOO ON PREGNANT SOWS.'
 
Hello,
What an awful start for the wee one. Try to take comfort in the fact hes warm, safe and well loved now :).
If the breeder wants nothing to do with it then theres not a whole lote you can do. Concentrate on feeding the wee one up with lots of syringing and fresh veggies until you can get to the vet. Also he can and will get better, so try to stay calm. Your obviously very very concerned and he has a brilliant new mummy.
I'm no expert on skin conditions but I think photos would really help our more knowledgable members.
 
Thanks everyone for the help, had another look at him this morning and he seems a bit better theres less scabs but a fair few bald patches in circular shapes. Also weighed him and this time he was 215 grams. Still going to take him to the vets.

Not going to bath him in anything as I don't know for sure what is wrong and he is still really young and small, not worth the risk of making him worse.

He seems to be eating ok.

Will try at getting photos again.

Thanks again everyone and Merry Christmas :)
 
Finally got some pictures, quality is not very good will try to get some better quality ones later.

Pictures did not upload, how do you post pictures on threads?
 
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Trying again with the pictures:

You can sort of see the size of the bald patches, theres a few on him of similar size:
kay-xx


This one is so you can get a rough idea of his size in my hand:
kay-xx


Tried using photobucket still dont work?
 
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Are you copying and pasting the code beginning with I? I still cannot see the pictures.
 
Sorry this is taking so long never uploaded pictures to a forum hopefully this will work:

This is him in my hand:

DSCN0486.jpg


The bald patch, a few others on him of a similar size:
DSCN0464.jpg
 
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