• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Is this ringworm?

Guinea Whisper

New Born Pup
Joined
May 21, 2014
Messages
37
Reaction score
50
Points
200
Location
Indiana IN USA
I just recently purchased another pig at my local petstore, and while the employee very confidently ensured me that this wasn't ringworm, I wanted a second opinion. The bald spot feels smooth, and hair is growing in it so I don't think it's ringworm, but I still wanted another opinion before I introduced her to the herd.
IMG_1860.webp
 
I’m afraid we can’t diagnose from a photo. It does almost look like the centre of a crest but those are simply tiny spots where the hair parts in a parting, so I would doubt it. If in doubt, see a vet. That’s the best advice we can give you.
 
Is this the only bald spot? Has it changed in size at all? I ask this because it looks like you have a crested piggie, so she'll have a little bald spot in the centre of her crest anyway. Here is my crested Pumpkin for comparison. IMG_20190810_181011.webp
If you are worried the bald spot still seems too big, a vet check up should sort things out, and is never a bad idea anyway before you introduce a new pig.
 
I've never seen an abyssinian with a crest before. I dismissed the idea, but that might be it. Is it even possible for crazy haired pigs to have a crest? I thought it was only shorthaired that have crests.

And no, it hasn't changed in size, and it's the only bald spot.
 
I've only seen smooth haired crested too, I'm not sure of the genetics so couldn't say if a floofy crested is possible. I'd recommend a vet check just to be sure.
 
Aww she's gorgeous :love:

I think I would get her checked out at the vets. It looks in the right area to be the centre of a typical crest, but it looks too big - crest/rosette centres are usually only a few millimetres wide at most.

Does the skin look normal in the bald patch--or does it look redder, scabby, scaly, flakey or spotty?
There are other forms of fungal, not just ringworm.

I would get her vet checked & sorted before adding her to the rest of your guineas as a precaution, it will save you a lot of time, money and stress if it turns out to be fungal & you've quarantined her :)

I have a long haired, abyssinian mix with only a few rosettes in her hair, where she's so long haired they don't look like typical rosettes/crest but her hair sticks up in clumps, the hair going off in all directions (with a cute comb-over look on her head)!

I'm not sure of the consumer laws in the States, but in the UK if you've bought an ill animal that needs veterinary treatment, the pet shop where purchased is required to pay for treatment if it's within a short time (allow for an incubation period of a fungal outbreak).
As impersonal & unsensitive as it sounds, in the UK it's basically purchasing damaged stock and they are required to refund, repair or replace!

I think I read of a US member that had to surrender her pig back to the store for treatment, but claimed their guinea back afterwards (although personally I'd be apprehensive to do it this way & worry I didn't get her back). In the UK submitting vet receipts is usually the way it's done.

Good luck & let us know how your pretty lady gets on :wub:

Xx
 
Back
Top