Mild Hair Loss, No Irritation

[Critter]

I'm confused, and so is the vet:
Penny-Pops is going a little thin all over her fluff-butt, and quite suddenly too. No patches of hair loss, no redness, no itching, no irritation, no signs of pain when I touch the area.... nothing. The vet can find no evidence of lice, it doesn't appear to be fungal. He feels the best thing would be to have an ultrasound done to see if it may be ovarian cysts, but it's not a classic sign of cysts either.
We agreed that I should take her home and bathe her in an anti-fungal just to see if she improves afterwards, before opting for further investigations, but he would be surprised if it is actually fungal.

Now - he couldn't FIND mites, but I do remember that Sunrise had mites for definite (though her symptoms were more obvious and she had sore bald spots on her back, and was clearly very itchy), and the vet couldn't actually find any mites on her either. I know they don't always appear under the microscope when you want them to!

But my question is, is it actually possible for a guinea pig to have either mites or fungal without causing any irritation? Can it occur in an overall mild thinning, in an even manner, like moulting, without any actual patches of fur loss?

She is perfectly happy in herself, so we're confused. Thank you.

p.s.... Penny, Mummy FORBIDS you to lose that gorgeous fluff-butt!

 

[Wiebke]

I'm confused, and so is the vet:
Penny-Pops is going a little thin all over her fluff-butt, and quite suddenly too. No patches of hair loss, no redness, no itching, no irritation, no signs of pain when I touch the area.... nothing. The vet can find no evidence of lice, it doesn't appear to be fungal. He feels the best thing would be to have an ultrasound done to see if it may be ovarian cysts, but it's not a classic sign of cysts either.
We agreed that I should take her home and bathe her in an anti-fungal just to see if she improves afterwards, before opting for further investigations, but he would be surprised if it is actually fungal.

Now - he couldn't FIND mites, but I do remember that Sunrise had mites for definite (though her symptoms were more obvious and she had sore bald spots on her back, and was clearly very itchy), and the vet couldn't actually find any mites on her either. I know they don't always appear under the microscope when you want them to!

But my question is, is it actually possible for a guinea pig to have either mites or fungal without causing any irritation? Can it occur in an overall mild thinning, in an even manner, like moulting, without any actual patches of fur loss?

She is perfectly happy in herself, so we're confused. Thank you.

p.s.... Penny, Mummy FORBIDS you to lose that gorgeous fluff-butt!

What breed is Sunrise?

 

[Critter]

What breed is Sunrise?

Sunrise is a Teddy, she's the one that had mites last year and had the classic signs. Ivermectin shots did the trick for her.

Penny is a Swiss

 

[Wiebke]

Sunrise is a Teddy, she's the one that had mites last year and had the classic signs. Ivermectin shots did the trick for her.

Penny is a Swiss

My Nerys had the same problem with exactly the same symtpoms; she drove me and the vets mad. She went through the whole gamut of fungal baths and two full courses of ivermectin for mange mites with no result.
@gizzy had a look at her bum as well and also diagnosed "teddy bum". Basically from what I can make out, this type of hair loss is caused by a very thick, badly ventilated coat in the area of the body that a guinea pig cannot reach for grooming. Teddy breeds are most prone to it. It should clear by itself after a while and the hair should grow back.

However, this should only be taken into consideration only after you and your vet have safely eliminated both fungal and mites etc. and if necessary treated for them. Here is a picture of Nerys' bum end when it was at its worst.

 

[Critter]

Teddies, I've read, are prone to dandruff and messy ears, which Sunrise has always had, without any bother to her, but I haven't heard of Teddy-Bum, so thank you very much for that information and for the picture.

Penny, however, is a Swiss, and she's the one with the issue, but being as she has masses of hair normally could this be what's happening to her, or is it more just Teddies, and Rexes perhaps?

 

[Wiebke]

Teddies, I've read, are prone to dandruff and messy ears, which Sunrise has always had, without any bother to her, but I haven't heard of Teddy-Bum, so thank you very much for that information and for the picture.

Penny, however, is a Swiss, and she's the one with the issue, but being as she has masses of hair normally could this be what's happening to her, or is it more just Teddies, and Rexes perhaps?

Teddy-bum is my own, highly unscientific name for this kind of patchy hair loss with or without dandruff that is not caused by any of the usual suspects and that seems to be breed specific.

The vet and I could also not find anything that would have linked the hair loss to a deficiency or some kind of skin irritation or allergy - as you say, there is no indication whatsoever that the skin is in any way irritated.

It is mostly teddies due to their much denser coat compared to rexes, but Swiss teddies are a comparable new breed that has only recently become more widespread as pets, so there are not yet many experiences out there. They certainly have got a dense coat!

 

[Critter]

Haha, well Teddy-Bum is a good name! Thanks again for the info.
Well, I've given the cage a thorough cleaning and Penny (and my legs - thanks Penny) and had a bath in dilute Hibiscrub as recommended to me, and she's taken herself off to bed to sulk.
I'll keep you updated, we'll see if Swiss can get Teddy-Bum

Of course if she shows signs of any irritation I will take her straight down for an Ivermectin shot.

 

[Wiebke]

Haha, well Teddy-Bum is a good name! Thanks again for the info.
Well, I've given the cage a thorough cleaning and Penny (and my legs - thanks Penny) and had a bath in dilute Hibiscrub as recommended to me, and she's taken herself off to bed to sulk.
I'll keep you updated, we'll see if Swiss can get Teddy-Bum

Of course if she shows signs of any irritation I will take her straight down for an Ivermectin shot.

All the best! I know that she is in good hands with you and is getting all the vet care she needs.

 

[Critter]

Oooh sorry, quick question please:
As I'm treating for fungal as a precaution, how many baths should she have, and how many days inbetween each one?
Thank you

 

[Wiebke]

Oooh sorry, quick question please:
As I'm treating for fungal as a precaution, how many baths should she have, and how many days inbetween each one?
Thank you

I would see how she is after a couple, spaced between 3 day to one week. A one week interval is for milder fungal while 3 days for more severe fungal infections. It also depends on the product and any recommendations on the label.

 

[Critter]

I would see how she is after a couple, spaced between 3 day to one week. A one week interval is for milder fungal while 3 days for more severe fungal infections. It also depends on the product and any recommendations on the label.

Thanks once again It doesn't say on the tub, it's designed to be used neat on areas being prepped for surgery, but I know to use it diluted 1:10 for fungal in piggies. It's Hibiscrub.
Cool, I'll monitor the situation and aim for a week, but will bring it forward if I feel she needs it.