Jaffa has a bald patch

[Charlotte]

My little Jaffa has a bald patch, about the size of a 10p piece, on his side. I can't figure out if it's parasitic or fungal as he's not showing any of the classic symptoms. It's not red, no broken hair shafts, no greasy texture, no tide marks... it's just plain bald!

I'll treat for both... and poor little Pirate will have to have the same treatment...

Charlotte x

Jaffa on the left, Pirate's bottom on the right:

 

[Wiebke]

If you stroke gently over the bald patch (not with your bare hand, in case it's fungal) and he starts squirming, then it could be mites. Otherwise my guess would be rather fungal. Best wait until the more experienced member s come along.

Wishing you and Jaffa all the best and a quick sorting of the problem!
PS: I love that pic! Yet another dog hooked on piggy reality tv!

 

[Cavy2009]

In my RSPCA Care for your Guinea Pig book, it states that bald patchess can also be caused by an over rich diet. Therefore reduce pellet food and increase greens and hay.

Obviously if piggy is scratching parasitic.

Also if the itching is caused by something fungal, look at the skin colour. A very experienced piggy owner said normal piggy skin is pig, fungal infected is red.

 

[Char-x]

Is any of the hairs around it maulting or when you stroke him do hairs come out easily? If they do check the ends of the hairs that come out and see if they have peices of skin attached to the ends. Fungal infections as far as I'm aware (only read about never experianced though) look like dandruff.

Bald patches can be caused by many things from stress, to other guinea pigs barbering them, mites, fungal...

Keep an eye on him, if he seems to be excessivly itching or in any discomfort then maybe a vet trip is needed.

ETA: What kind of hard feed is he on?

 

[Charlotte]

No I'm sure it's nothing serious. I've had rescue pigs come to me before with fungal and parasitic but this is something different. It's just plain bald... the skin is a good colour, no tide marks, no broken shafts etc. I will treat for fungal and parasitic and see if it clears up.

He has a good diet and isn't kept on wood shavings.

Will keep you posted as to his progress.

Charlotte x

 

[Char-x]

I know my male Hoover lost a huge chunk of hair through stress at the vets, my vet was holding on to it to inject him and it just came out in his hands :shock:

 

[alcesterpigs]

If you can find nothing wrong then leave well alone for a few days, nothing untoward will happen.

 

[Charlotte]

Thanks AP, I will do that.

Charlotte x

 

[Charlotte]

Jaffa's bald patch had got a bit bigger, but still no redness or broken shafts or anything.

Anyway I decided to treat both Jaffa and Pirate for fungal and parasitic conditions. Here they are nice and dry and clean. I'll repeat in 7 days etc, as per Vedra's instructions.

Poor boys. They don't really like a bath, but they went out on the grass afterwards and soon forgot their ordeal!

Charlotte x

 

[Vikki]

Bless the boys! Sometimes rexed guinea pigs can lose hair through too much protein in their diet so this might be worth exploring hope they get better soon

 

[KingBoris&HisFollowers]

could it possibly be stress? as dogs/cats and people can lose hair when stressed so it may be possible for piggies too as wellxxxx

 

[Charlotte]

Thanks everyone. Oh no not stress that's for sure... these two are as cool as cucumbers! I will see if it clears up with the treatment and if not I'll pop them along to Vedra.

Gorgeous boys!

Charlotte x