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Mites? Fungal infection?

Abbie Brooks

Abbie Brooks

Junior Guinea Pig
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Before I start I am taking Acorn to the vets tomorrow (earliest available appointment) I’m just looking for some advice. I got back from my holiday and collected acorn from a relative and they showed us acorn had a bald spot on her shoulder, it has a few red spots the largest the size of a pea and her skin is quite flaky. I just wondered if anyone else has seen this before? Any experiences shared would be greatly appreciated just so I can sort of know what to expect. Thanks
 
Hi Abbie, good to see you are going to the vets tomorrow. It's not an emergency so can definitely wait until they are open. I have dealt with both fungal and mites but the only time I have seen full bald spots has been with fungal. Is the skin starting to go scabby at all?
 
Well worth getting this checked out, please let us know how you get on
 
Lady Kelly said:
Hi Abbie, good to see you are going to the vets tomorrow. It's not an emergency so can definitely wait until they are open. I have dealt with both fungal and mites but the only time I have seen full bald spots has been with fungal. Is the skin starting to go scabby at all?
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it is hard to tell, it doesn’t look it but I can’t get a throrough look when she’s on my lap. I’m hoping the vet can see better. It’s sort of underneath her shoulder.
 
This was the best picture I could get, it’s on her left shoulder and I can’t really get a good picture since she moves a lot. I was under the suspicion that the red was where it was itchy and she has scratched too hard? There are a few other small red spots and some are slightly darker.E80CB728-C0EA-4D88-BF1D-DC807B9470F2.webp
 
Looks like a bite mark to me. She may well have bit herself when itching from mites
 
Abbie Brooks said:
Does a fungal infection itch too? Or is it only mites?
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Fungal infection itches as well. When mine had it the scabs were proper scabs as opposed to the bite mark yours seems to have. Mine have had mites that resulted in bite marks before as well
 
Lady Kelly said:
Fungal infection itches as well. When mine had it the scabs were proper scabs as opposed to the bite mark yours seems to have. Mine have had mites that resulted in bite marks before as well
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Acorn has a lot of flaky bits in her fur too, not sure which one that goes with. I have not seen anything moving on her (not sure if you can see it when they have mites)
 
Abbie Brooks said:
Acorn has a lot of flaky bits in her fur too, not sure which one that goes with. I have not seen anything moving on her (not sure if you can see it when they have mites)
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No you can't see mites so could be either. When's your vets appointment?
 
Update: I’m not sure what I think of the vet he was quite vague and prescribed ear drops usually used on dogs. He said it was either a bite mark - she’s a lone guinea pig so nothing could bite her apart from herself or early ringgworm which from my knowledge I thought shows on their ears and nipples? I’m not 100% though. I thought it looked like mites or fungal infection because of the bald spot but I know vets are medically trained and are the experts I just am not sure.
 
Abbie Brooks said:
Update: I’m not sure what I think of the vet he was quite vague and prescribed ear drops usually used on dogs. He said it was either a bite mark - she’s a lone guinea pig so nothing could bite her apart from herself or early ringgworm which from my knowledge I thought shows on their ears and nipples? I’m not 100% though. I thought it looked like mites or fungal infection because of the bald spot but I know vets are medically trained and are the experts I just am not sure.
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Sounds like the vet doesn't know what they are doing. Have you looked on our vet locator for a more knowledgeable vet nearby? I have never used ear drops on my piggy but a lot of meds are for cats and dogs due to the limited medications actually licensed for piggies. Fungal can come up anywhere. Usually on the face first but daisy had it come up just inside her front leg when I first had to deal with ringworm
 
Lady Kelly said:
Sounds like the vet doesn't know what they are doing. Have you looked on our vet locator for a more knowledgeable vet nearby? I have never used ear drops on my piggy but a lot of meds are for cats and dogs due to the limited medications actually licensed for piggies. Fungal can come up anywhere. Usually on the face first but daisy had it come up just inside her front leg when I first had to deal with ringworm
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Oh ok, yes I will check the vet locator and see, there aren’t many exotic vets that I know of near me.
 
Abbie Brooks said:
Oh ok, yes I will check the vet locator and see, there aren’t many exotic vets that I know of near me.
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They don't have to be exotics vets. Sometimes practices specialise or have an interest in small animals. Mine does that and they refer on when it's out of their knowledge level
 
Poor little little love nothing worse than having, unbearable itching (I know) she must be so sore. If you get a good exotic or small animal vet they should tell you what it is.
Then go back to the first vet for a refund as he obviously wasn't clued up. lol
This isn't urgent but for piggys comfort I really would get her back to a vet, the last thing you need is to get infection set in.
Are you going to get Acorn a mate. What a lovely name.
 
Tiamolly123 said:
Poor little little love nothing worse than having, unbearable itching (I know) she must be so sore. If you get a good exotic or small animal vet they should tell you what it is.
Then go back to the first vet for a refund as he obviously wasn't clued up. lol
This isn't urgent but for piggys comfort I really would get her back to a vet, the last thing you need is to get infection set in.
Are you going to get Acorn a mate. What a lovely name.
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Yes acorn is getting a buddy - we were in the middle of the adoption process when this came up, I’ve been on holiday pretty much since she lost her pal. Thanks I made a giant page of names before I decided 👍
 
Tiamolly123 said:
Poor little little love nothing worse than having, unbearable itching (I know) she must be so sore. If you get a good exotic or small animal vet they should tell you what it is.
Then go back to the first vet for a refund as he obviously wasn't clued up. lol
This isn't urgent but for piggys comfort I really would get her back to a vet, the last thing you need is to get infection set in.
Are you going to get Acorn a mate. What a lovely name.
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The medicine he prescribed I was told would help if it was itchy but I don’t know whether I believe it or not.
 
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