My guinea pig has recently lost hair on its ear

[Grace100]

Hi I’m new to owning guinea pigs. My two girls are around 3 and been with me about six months.
Alice has suddenly lost hair around her ear seems otherwise healthy. Could this be caused by my other guinea pig Gladys ?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome!

If the hair loss is affecting only one ear and the bald areas are not matching anymore, then please have your guinea pigs seen by a vet for a potential fungal infection.

If your vet confirms this diagnosis, please follow our very detailed hygiene advice. Note that you will have have to treat both piggies to prevent an outbreak in the companion. Also note that is ringworm is suspected, you will also have to consider the risk of transmission to humans and other species pets. Please be aware that there are other, less infective forms of fungal skin infection, which a lab test will not check for.
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

 

[Grace100]

Thankyou ...I’ve been researching what it might be and I think you’re right it does seem like ringworm as my other one now also has a similar problem.... I will take them both to vets.....

 

[Grace100]

This is a picture of poor Alice and her bald ear.

 

[Wiebke]

All the best! If it is ringworm, please really take care with the hygiene rather than skint on it and invest in some F10 disinfectant (the only one proven to kill ringworm spores) - it is well worth it than a recurring battle. In a dozen years of experience we have just about discovered all the angles in which the infection can be transmitted the hard way and have found ways how to address them that work.

 

[Grace100]

I thought I was doing well but perhaps not good enough..... I will get the girls fixed up. Thanks