Looks like we've got fungal...but why?

[AudioHeart]

Hello piggie forum,

I haven't been on in a while (life, as always, busy!) however I've been drawn back to the lovely piggie photos and stories and another slight issue which seems to have occurred in a matter of days!

Coby I noticed on Saturday had a small bald patch on his nose, the skin underneath looking a little red and pimpley, and his cage buddy tabby too had a small bald path but her skin was white and pimply underneath. Then on sunday i noticed Harvey (lives in a separate cage with Artie) had a bald patch too, but his skin was smooth, Arthur has no symptoms. Now i've phoned the vets this morning and ive got an appointment for 8 am tomorrow morning for all four piggies to go down. However I'm trying to rack my brains on how this has occurred, they haven't got any other symptoms. Weights are fine, hair is glossy, eating as always, they've got no signs of dandruff (apart from harvey but since ive owned harvey hes suffered from dry flaky skin) and they were given mite/lice treatment four months ago.

I think they've got fungal (but wont know for deffos till tomorrow) what can i do to prevent it? Will i need to chuck any of their wooden toys/run/hutches/vetbed/cages?

many thank yous for taking your time to read this

Laura xxxxx

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Hello Honey

Could it be ringworm? This can be spread between piggies by you, if for example you were holding coby, then went and cuddled Harvey it could be passed on...... its highly contagious. I dont really have much advice, but i would say everything wooden will need throwing and the hutches/cages deep cleaned with f10..... fingers crossed you've caught it early and it will be easily treated.

xx

 

[AudioHeart]

I'm hoping its not ringworm! I've been reading about it and scaring myself with it. The only thing is i always handle harvey and artie first, use anti-bac rinse then handle coby and taby. One for hygiene and the other two stop the boars fighting. unless its been lying in harvey and has come out in coby first? I guess i wont know till tomorrow.

Thank you for your advice my dear, i was going to treat them to a new hutch this summer too so ill get them one earlier rather than later.

Will keep you posted x

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Sorry to hear this Laura and cannot offer any advice but just wanted to say how lovely it is to see you back on here p
Hope you get the advice you need and the piggies get well soon - it sometimes doesn't matter what precautions we take or how cautious we are with them, things manifest which leaves us with burning questions
Keep us posted and sending hugs xx>>>

 

[AudioHeart]

Sorry to hear this Laura and cannot offer any advice but just wanted to say how lovely it is to see you back on here p
Hope you get the advice you need and the piggies get well soon - it sometimes doesn't matter what precautions we take or how cautious we are with them, things manifest which leaves us with burning questions
Keep us posted and sending hugs xx>>>

Thank you for your kind words, I'm glad to be back too and see some old faces (well usernames ) its awful I'm so strict with my hygiene, but what you say is true sometimes these things happen.

Will let you know how tomorrow goes, thankfully daves off so he can help me take four pigs to the vets haha! x

 

[piggyfan]

Oh no! I have not had any experience with this but it sounds awful. I really hope it goes quickly.

 

[biscandmatt]

ches had fungal and the vets took a culture from it and he went on meds and cream. the results came back with ringworm! throw all wooden items away and wash all bedding at 60 degrees. i caught the ringworm off ches, however maisie didn't thankfully and she lived with him! hope the vets goes ok tomorrow. sounds like you have caught whatever it is early anyway.

 

[helen105281]

If you run your hand through their hair backwards does it fall nicely back into place or stick up slightly still? this is a good indicator of fungal. Also does the hair come out easily if you tug slightly? It could even be a combinaton of fungal and mites as pigs get run down from fungal which makes them susceptible to mites. Don't let the vet use spot on if they diagnose mites ivermectin is best given orally or by injection and pigs can have a reaction to spot on. If it does turn out that they all have fungal then it may be an idea to ask for oral fungal medication such as Itrafungol. Also dispose of anything wooden and clean everything else with F10. Anything fleecy needs to be washed at the highest temperature possible. I would also invest in some F10 handwash or handgel.

 

[AudioHeart]

ches had fungal and the vets took a culture from it and he went on meds and cream. the results came back with ringworm! throw all wooden items away and wash all bedding at 60 degrees. i caught the ringworm off ches, however maisie didn't thankfully and she lived with him! hope the vets goes ok tomorrow. sounds like you have caught whatever it is early anyway.

Ohh goodness! Is ches okay now? Hope he's recovered well and is enjoying life back with maisie, thank you for the advice with ask the vets for a culture too tomorrow

 

[AudioHeart]

If you run your hand through their hair backwards does it fall nicely back into place or stick up slightly still? this is a good indicator of fungal. Also does the hair come out easily if you tug slightly? It could even be a combinaton of fungal and mites as pigs get run down from fungal which makes them susceptible to mites. Don't let the vet use spot on if they diagnose mites ivermectin is best given orally or by injection and pigs can have a reaction to spot on. If it does turn out that they all have fungal then it may be an idea to ask for oral fungal medication such as Itrafungol. Also dispose of anything wooden and clean everything else with F10. Anything fleecy needs to be washed at the highest temperature possible. I would also invest in some F10 handwash or handgel.

Ooo it sticks up slightly, doesn't fall straight back down. And the hair doesn't come out if you tug it gently (first test i did! ) oOO thank you helen will remember that for tomorrow, where can i get hold of f10? At the vets? or should i order it online?

many thank yous for all your advice and thoughtful words will have a browse online for some f10 handwash!

x

 

[furryfriends (TEAS)]

I have recently dealt with two piggies with ringworm using itrafungal. In both cases it cleared up within about a week to ten days.

 

[helen105281]

It does sound like it may be fungal then. You can get F10 online, mine is from Ebay.

 

[AudioHeart]

I have recently dealt with two piggies with ringworm using itrafungal. In both cases it cleared up within about a week to ten days.

Ooo thats good to know that it'll clear up in days i was expecting it to be a few months! Will ask the vet tomorrow about itrafungal thank you! xxxxx

It does sound like it may be fungal then. You can get F10 online, mine is from Ebay.

Yep, thats what i was thinking too I've found the concentrate 100ml and the handwash so going to buy both on express delivery. Will let you know how it goes tomorrow hopefully ive caught it just in time....

 

[AudioHeart]

I have recently dealt with two piggies with ringworm using itrafungal. In both cases it cleared up within about a week to ten days.

Ooo thats good to know that it'll clear up in days i was expecting it to be a few months! Will ask the vet tomorrow about itrafungal thank you! xxxxx

It does sound like it may be fungal then. You can get F10 online, mine is from Ebay.

Yep, thats what i was thinking too I've found the concentrate 100ml and the handwash so going to buy both on express delivery. Will let you know how it goes tomorrow hopefully ive caught it just in time....

 

[AudioHeart]

Evening my lovelys

We all had a trip to the vets this morning annnd....the vet doesn't think its fungal or ringworm as they don't have the typical symptoms and the bald patch isn't exactly a patch (its more of a thin bald line with a raised area) and its only on Harvey, coby and tabby. She thinks what they have is something like a callus, when they get fed (three times a day) they're rubbing their noses against wire on the cage this might explain why the hair loss is in a line shape and has made the skin quite hard. It'll explain why its only on three of the pigs have it as arthur waits until i disappear to feed.

However to be on the safe side, she's prescribed Surolan to apply twice daily for one week and then we're going back after a week. If more bald patchs appear we're going to do a skin scraping Oh and the vet said everyones very fit and healthy! yay!

 

[helen105281]

Is there any chance you could post a photos of one of their noses, as I still think this could be fungal as we see lots of pigs at clinic with fungal strips on their noses which are a dead straight line and crusty, my own pigs have had it too. Am trying to think if we have a photo but I recently had a bulk upload to photobucket so may not be easy to track down.

 

[biscandmatt]

Ohh goodness! Is ches okay now? Hope he's recovered well and is enjoying life back with maisie, thank you for the advice with ask the vets for a culture too tomorrow

the meds and cream cleared up the ringworm. he had treatment for 4 weeks to make sure it had cleared completely. sadly he became ill not long after with a tumour so is now at rainbow bridge. x

 

[helen105281]

Does it look like this?:

 

[AudioHeart]

Hmmm.....no its length ways across on all of them (like a rainbow shape), and sore looking like a scratch - red and inflammed? Don't know if thats helpful.....:S

 

[helen105281]

Not really, would need to see a photo. It's just strange that all 3 have it and it not being fungal.

 

[AudioHeart]

Hmm...well the vets got good experience and owns piggies herself, so what ill do is keep everyone updated on the progress and see if this Surolan cream will do the trick, if not next week when i go back we'll be doing skin swabs!

P.s will try and pinch a camera off someone!

 

[Hanwombat]

Hopefully you can find out what it is, but yes photos would most certainly help

 

[helen105281]

Ok, does your phone note have a camera? You could then upload to Photobucket directly from the phone if you have a smartphone?

If anything is sent off for cultures please be aware that this would only produce a reading for Ringworm, other types of fungal do not show up in cultures.

 

[AudioHeart]

Ok, does your phone note have a camera? You could then upload to Photobucket directly from the phone if you have a smartphone?

If anything is sent off for cultures please be aware that this would only produce a reading for Ringworm, other types of fungal do not show up in cultures.

My phone is donkey years old (had it seven years now) and since lost the camera lead whatsit. But i will ask my friends if i can borrow one of there cameras. I'll certainly keep you update on their progress, thank you for all your help and advice so far hunny! If i fear that the vet we're seeing now is giving us wrong information or advice i will take them to another vets

 

[AudioHeart]

I'm back, my friends coming over with her camera So ill upload some pictures tonight yay!

 

[AudioHeart]

Ta-dah! Their noses look abit shiny as ive just applied the cream (about 15 mins ago)

I've not re-sized them to a smaller size so you can zoom in and out.

My friends, whose also a member on here and has lots of piggles too think that on tabby and harvey they look like grazes and not too sure about coby
First up Artie, no symptoms but still applying gel just in case!



Second up Tabby, can you see the small line which curves at the top?


Third up Coby, a patch in the shape of a you (sorry won't let me put the letter 'you' in a sentence- odd!)


Coby from the front:


Going to get another one of Harvey, he wouldn't sit still and he's got a huge chuck of gel on his nose<3


Harvey and Artie


And this is what gel i've been prescribed, rubbing it in with gloves!

 

[helen105281]

Thanks for posting photos Laura, it is fungal but of the candidia strain and is a yeast called Chelitis. If there are scabs these can be a secondary bacterial infection. Surolan is ok topically but as Candida in pigs starts in the gut, when they eat their special poos they are at high risk of reinfection, therefore oral fungal meds are needed and in this case Nystatin (Nystan) would be the best one to use. If your vet needs any information I can give you my contact details or Karen who runs the piggy clincs. She is an expert on fungal matters.

 

[AudioHeart]

Thanks for posting photos Laura, it is fungal but of the candidia strain and is a yeast called Chelitis. If there are scabs these can be a secondary bacterial infection. Surolan is ok topically but as Candida in pigs starts in the gut, when they eat their special poos they are at high risk of reinfection, therefore oral fungal meds are needed and in this case Nystatin (Nystan) would be the best one to use. If your vet needs any information I can give you my contact details or Karen who runs the piggy clincs. She is an expert on fungal matters.

No problems and thank you so much for all your information, help and advice you're a star! Theres no scabs atm but I'll keep an eye in their mouth and lips, I've just been reading up on the infection on the internet do i need to up their vit. c? they get pellets and fresh veg twice daily. Ooo and ill take a browse on that forum you suggested

 

[helen105281]

Thank you, am happy I can help. I would think a course of Metatone vitamin tonic may help them all, you can get it in Sainsburys etc and the dose is 0.5ml once a day for 1 week and 0.3ml once a day for a further week. This is brilliant for boosting pigs that may be a bit run down.

 

[AudioHeart]

Thank you, am happy I can help. I would think a course of Metatone vitamin tonic may help them all, you can get it in Sainsburys etc and the dose is 0.5ml once a day for 1 week and 0.3ml once a day for a further week. This is brilliant for boosting pigs that may be a bit run down.

Brilliant thank you Helen, i think i might need the tonic too had flu twice since november and ive constantly got a cold! I've probably made the piggles run down too But ive got that D10 handwash now so will be using that from now on (instead of anti bac) and will also get the piggles a vet appointment for friday and ill ask for them to be put onto Nystatin - the vets usually good and will research into things shes unsure of i know when percy-roo was ill she phoned a few vets for their advice and opinions. Its lovely when you can work with someone whose flexible.

THANK YOU again Helen, for all your advice,and support. me and the piggies really appreciate it