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Localised scratching

HeatherW

HeatherW

Adult Guinea Pig
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Guess who it is again with their favourite topic - scratching and hair loss!

Does anyone have any experience with localised scratching? Pickle is slowly giving herself a bald patch on the left side of her body. They went to the vet's right before Christmas for a separate issue, I've been treating them proactively with Xeno 450 as they're prone to mites, and Jasmine is doing fine; she's usually the first one to show an infestation.

Any ideas? I feel like a hypochondriac on behalf of my guineas, but this isn't normal. :(
 
Please have her vet checked; it can be a mild form of fungal, a pain issue underneath the skin (ovarian cyst?) or - but only after all other issues have been excluded - a dry skin problem.
How often do you apply the Xeno?
 
My pigs are floofy, so do have dry skin but again, Jasmine is always the one with the worst of it and she's not suffering from excessive itching.

I started applying it at the beginning of this month. Friday was the last of the treatment (once every two weeks for three times - so effectively a six-week course).
 
My pigs are floofy, so do have dry skin but again, Jasmine is always the one with the worst of it and she's not suffering from excessive itching.

I started applying it at the beginning of this month. Friday was the last of the treatment (once every two weeks for three times - so effectively a six-week course).
 
Update: Pickle seems a bit lethargic this evening. She seems keen to lie down and is squeaking when peeing again. I've checked her bald patches and I'm starting to see scabs appearing. Vet appointment shall be booked swiftly. :(
 
HeatherW said:
Update: Pickle seems a bit lethargic this evening. She seems keen to lie down and is squeaking when peeing again. I've checked her bald patches and I'm starting to see scabs appearing. Vet appointment shall be booked swiftly. :(
Click to expand...

All the best!
 
She saw the vet yesterday. The best they could suggest as a cause was some kind of stress response to something, although nothing's changed that I can think of for this to happen.

Either way, she's on 0.29ml of Sulfatrim (antibiotics) every 12 hours for 10 days, as well as 1ml(!) of dog Loxicom (metacam) for this period too.

I'm not sure about the prescription of antibiotics for an unknown illness, considering antibiotic resistance is a real concern and I'm wondering if I should have questioned it...
 
I think in cases like this where there is obviously an issue, but the symptoms don't pint to a clear problem, starting with a broad spectrum antibiotic isn't a bad idea.
It rules out lots of common issues without any invasive or expensive testing, and avoids a lot of stress for the piggy.
At least if it doesn't help you have already ruled out most types of infection, and the vet can make a more informed choice about further testing and the next steps.
 
Update: The treatment doesn't seem to have had much of an effect. She hasn't been scratching quite so much, but even though you'd expect the hair loss to continue for a bit, it's still coming out all too easily.

The vet has suggested the next possible cause as ovarian cysts, so Pickle's booked in on Wednesday for an ultrasound. If they do find cysts, then they'll put her under general anaesthetic and aspirate them. If they don't see anything obvious, then they'll carry out an x-ray on the same day. I can't remember exactly what was said about spaying, but it's something else that was mentioned.

I'm not worried yet, as if they do find cysts, at least we'll know what we're dealing with. Does anyone else have any experience with them?
 
My oldest piggy has ovarian cysts. She first got them a few years ago. They were aspirated and she got hormone injections. Last October, after 2 years, the cysts were back, but because she was almost 7 years old, she only got the hormonal treatment this time. She still has the cysts now, but she doesn't try to mount the other piggies anymore (she did that all the time before her treatment, drove the other piggies crazy).
If your piggy is still fairly young you could consider spaying, so that you don't have to deal with cysts anymore in the future (they have a tendency to return). There is a new type of spaying surgery in which only the ovaries are removed through flank incisions, which means that the intestines won't be in the way during surgery and piggies have a much better chance of survival/recovery.
 
OkiDoki said:
My oldest piggy has ovarian cysts. She first got them a few years ago. They were aspirated and she got hormone injections. Last October, after 2 years, the cysts were back, but because she was almost 7 years old, she only got the hormonal treatment this time. She still has the cysts now, but she doesn't try to mount the other piggies anymore (she did that all the time before her treatment, drove the other piggies crazy).
If your piggy is still fairly young you could consider spaying, so that you don't have to deal with cysts anymore in the future (they have a tendency to return). There is a new type of spaying surgery in which only the ovaries are removed through flank incisions, which means that the intestines won't be in the way during surgery and piggies have a much better chance of survival/recovery.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Pickle's just over two years old. She hasn't exhibited any of the mounting or hormonal problems associated with them, and when she went for her last check-up right before Christmas, the vet couldn't feel any either.

Whatever it is, I don't think it's cysts. However, an ultrasound and an x-ray might reveal something else.
 
Here are some photos. You can see it's worse on her left side, but it's expanding all the way around her ribs.

Left side
IMG_20200218_215906.webp

Right side
IMG_20200218_215913.webp

A clump of hair which came out
IMG_20200218_220059.webp
 
UPDATE: Pickle had her ultrasound today. She stayed so still that they didn't even need anaesthetic!

The vet found a cyst on her left ovary which is too small to drain/aspirate. Apparently it's unusual to find a cyst on just one ovary, and it seems we've caught it early, so it's been recommended that Pickle is spayed. I've booked her in for it two weeks today.

I actually feel relieved more than worried as at least we seem to have found the cause!
 
Poor Pickle but it must be a relief to have a firm diagnosis and treatment plan. Best of luck with her spay and hope that fixes things for her and her gorgeous fur grows back! X
 
Can I ask for some (hopefully) quick advice? It's now a week until Pickle has her spay. She's still behaving normally, seems happy in herself, is eating fine, etc. but she's dropped from an average of 1450g to 1386g in a week. Additionally, Pickle's continuing to scratch and lose even more hair despite the 0.10ml of Loxicom I'm giving her twice a day.

I booked her spay for next Wednesday because I've been away this weekend gone and will also be away for this coming weekend too, so if there are any issues, I'll be at home to sort them. However, based on the current circumstances, should I bring her operation forward? Thanks!
 
Have a chat with your vet about the situation.
They can advise whether bringing the op forward is necessary.


Hope it all goes well.
If you’re worried about weight loss why not try adding some grated sweet potato and oats. I’ve done that with post op piggies who needed a weight boost.
I also mixed some Critical Care and mashed banana into a ramekin dish and put that in the
cage.

I’ve had 2 sows spayed and both did really well. Just make sure the pain killer is adequate
 
Merab's Slave said:
Have a chat with your vet about the situation.
They can advise whether bringing the op forward is necessary.


Hope it all goes well.
If you’re worried about weight loss why not try adding some grated sweet potato and oats. I’ve done that with post op piggies who needed a weight boost.
I also mixed some Critical Care and mashed banana into a ramekin dish and put that in the
cage.

I’ve had 2 sows spayed and both did really well. Just make sure the pain killer is adequate
Click to expand...

What pain killer were yours on, and how much? I'm guessing the vet will give me Loxicom, but I think the amount they'll prescribed will be too low based on information I've got from this forum. Currently Pickle's on 0.01ml(!) of Dog Loxicom once a day, so I've taken the liberty of increasing it to 0.1ml twice a day. I've only done this because both Jasmine and Pickle have been prescribed 0.33ml a day previously, but I don't always see the same person.
 
You can ask the vet if you can increase the loxicom dose to help keep her comfortable but due to the cysts it's unlikely to stop her scratching completely. I wouldn't worry about the weight either unless she's losing large amounts very quickly. Try weighing every day or every other day to keep an eye on it but she started at a very good weight
 
Lady Kelly said:
You can ask the vet if you can increase the loxicom dose to help keep her comfortable but due to the cysts it's unlikely to stop her scratching completely. I wouldn't worry about the weight either unless she's losing large amounts very quickly. Try weighing every day or every other day to keep an eye on it but she started at a very good weight
Click to expand...

She's a porker indeed! :D I'm wondering how much of her weight is floof!
 
Pickle has had her spay today. She's very groggy, but the vet is pleased with her and, apart from refusing the Loxicom for now, she's doing fine.

Jasmine had an ultrasound as well because she's been losing hair recently too, and it appears she also has ovarian cysts. :(Jasmine's been booked in for her spay next Wednesday.
 
@Merab's Slave, could I ask how much metacam your piggies were on after their spays? How frequently did you give it to them, and for how long? My vet prescribed the same 0.01ml once a day for 5 days.
 
Trying to remember but I’m sure it was more than 0.01ml a day.
I certainly had twice daily for both Jemimah and Phoebe and 0.04ml stirs a distant memory.
I think I also had a boost of Vetegesic for Jemimah.
Sorry but I cannot remember the details now
 
Merab's Slave said:
Trying to remember but I’m sure it was more than 0.01ml a day.
I certainly had twice daily for both Jemimah and Phoebe and 0.04ml stirs a distant memory.
I think I also had a boost of Vetegesic for Jemimah.
Sorry but I cannot remember the details now
Click to expand...
Thanks! I've been reading the guides to check I haven't missed anything. Were yours both a bit hunched and quiet when you got them home? Just trying to see what's normal! She's booked in for a follow-up on Friday.
 
@Wiebke, is it normal for Pickle to still be very quiet and still? She's only picked at bits of her food, but she's not as hunched as yesterday.

Should I step in with syringe feeding? The vet only said to give her Loxicom, and they were happy with her progress. She's booked in for a follow-up appointment on Friday evening. I'm just trying to establish if this is normal or whether I should be concerned. Thank you!
 
I've done some syringe feeding and got her an appointment again in an hour with the vet.
 
HeatherW said:
@Wiebke, is it normal for Pickle to still be very quiet and still? She's only picked at bits of her food, but she's not as hunched as yesterday.

Should I step in with syringe feeding? The vet only said to give her Loxicom, and they were happy with her progress. She's booked in for a follow-up appointment on Friday evening. I'm just trying to establish if this is normal or whether I should be concerned. Thank you!
Click to expand...

Are you monitoring her weight daily so you know when to step in and offering extra feed? That is where daily weighing comes into play - it is the best instrument for keeping an eye on the true food intake now that is much more accurate and up to date than poo output. You need to factor in the normal daily weight swing though.
You can find it all explained in detail in this very useful guide here: Weight - Monitoring and Management
 
Yes, I weigh my pigs weekly, but it's her behaviour which has been concerning me as she was only picking at food last night and then refusing all of it this morning. Not a good sign, but I wasn't sure if this was normal and she'd improve overnight.

The vet prescribed her an opioid painkiller and advised me to give her another 4ml of Loxicom tonight in addition to the 2ml given this morning. Then I should give her 6ml every 12 hours from tomorrow morning.

Her follow-up appointment has been moved to tomorrow morning rather than in the evening. My OH is looking after her currently and she's no longer refusing food now the painkillers have started to take effect, so clearly my poor baby has been in pain all night. :( Hopefully this is all she needed to recover!
 
HeatherW said:
Yes, I weigh my pigs weekly, but it's her behaviour which has been concerning me as she was only picking at food last night and then refusing all of it this morning. Not a good sign, but I wasn't sure if this was normal and she'd improve overnight.

The vet prescribed her an opioid painkiller and advised me to give her another 4ml of Loxicom tonight in addition to the 2ml given this morning. Then I should give her 6ml every 12 hours from tomorrow morning.

Her follow-up appointment has been moved to tomorrow morning rather than in the evening. My OH is looking after her currently and she's no longer refusing food now the painkillers have started to take effect, so clearly my poor baby has been in pain all night. :( Hopefully this is all she needed to recover!
Click to expand...

Make sure that you give the painkiller every 12 hours and not just once daily; guinea pigs have a rather fast metabolism.
All the best.

Always switch to weighing daily instead of weekly with any piggy you have concerns about. It is really the best way for helping you to judge the level of support as you can't judge hay intake by eye - which is making the majority of the daily food intake. Just looking at veg can be very deceptive as I know from my own experiences from piggies lying in the hay tray and munching on crud in their mouth but not actually eating much.
 
Wiebke said:
Make sure that you give the painkiller every 12 hours and not just once daily; guinea pigs have a rather fast metabolism.
All the best.

Always switch to weighing daily instead of weekly with any piggy you have concerns about. It is really the best way for helping you to judge the level of support as you can't judge hay intake by eye - which is making the majority of the daily food intake. Just looking at veg can be very deceptive as I know from my own experiences from piggies lying in the hay tray and munching on crud in their mouth but not actually eating much.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I had a cry this morning because I didn't know to do and was late for work because I was trying to make sure Pickle got some food in her. I weighed her this morning and she's lighter than she is normally, but fortunately she's a bit of a chonk anyway. And I have to go through all this with Jasmine soon as well!
 
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