My New Guinea Pig Has Dry Skin And A Bald Spot?

[Asher&Gideon!]

So on Wednesday I bought two guinea pigs from a breeder a couple ours away from me. one is a nine month old Texal the other is a six week old American I believe. The young one is doing great and seems perfectly fine. the older one has flaky skin and a dry bald spot.. I didn't notice this till the day after I got him.
He had peed on the way home while curled up in my coat so he had pee on his bottom from sitting in it, I gave him a bath the next day when he was settled more. I then discovered the bald spot and that he was actually very white and not a light cream color..
I have noticed by watching him he sits in his litter box a lot or his house where there is poop and pee could this cause dry skin and a bald spot? or is it something else I should be really worried about? And lastly what can I do to treat the dry skin and make the bald spot that is a little bigger then a 50 cent piece go away?

 

[helen105281]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Where abouts is the bald spot?

 

[Wiebke]

So on Wednesday I bought two guinea pigs from a breeder a couple ours away from me. one is a nine month old Texal the other is a six week old American I believe. The young one is doing great and seems perfectly fine. the older one has flaky skin and a dry bald spot.. I didn't notice this till the day after I got him.
He had peed on the way home while curled up in my coat so he had pee on his bottom from sitting in it, I gave him a bath the next day when he was settled more. I then discovered the bald spot and that he was actually very white and not a light cream color..
I have noticed by watching him he sits in his litter box a lot or his house where there is poop and pee could this cause dry skin and a bald spot? or is it something else I should be really worried about? And lastly what can I do to treat the dry skin and make the bald spot that is a little bigger then a 50 cent piece go away?

Hi and welcome!

Please have your guinea pigs checked by a vet. They have likely got highly infective ringworm, which is sadly not at all uncommon with breeder and shop guinea pigs.
Please don't treat on spec, as you may make things worse in case they have got mange mites instead (which you PLEASE don't treat wiht a cheap low dosed shop product!) In either case, you will need to treat both guinea pigs in order to prevent the other one coming down with it, either.
Here are tips on what you need to do when dealing with ringworm to prevent further transmission and a return. VERY important!
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
You can find a recommended UK vet locator on the top bar.
Here is a link to recommended vets in other countries, courtesy of Guinea Lynx: Veterinarians - The GLX-Files

As we have got members from all over the world, we find it helpful in being able to adjust especially any medical advice to products and care available where you live if you please added your county, state/province or UK county to your details. otherwise, we have to keep any advice general. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

 

[Asher&Gideon!]

The bald spot is on his side towards the bottom. I'll got take a picture of and post it in a minute

It isn't ringworm I've seen that in a lot of other animals and it looks nothing like it..

 

[Asher&Gideon!]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Where abouts is the bald spot?

This is his bald spot. The yellow looking stuff around it is Bag Balm I put on it so it wasn't so dry.

 

[Wiebke]

View attachment 41981

This is his bald spot. The yellow looking stuff around it is Bag Balm I put on it so it wasn't so dry.

Where it is, it could be either ringworm/another form of fungal or mange mites; it is not in a textbook place for either ringworm or mange mites. As you have already put stuff on, it is very difficult to diagnose. Please be aware that we cannot diagnose safely online, we can only give you avenues to pursue with a vet, who can test further. Anything is else would be irresponsible.

 

[Asher&Gideon!]

Where it is, it could be either ringworm/another form of fungal or mange mites; it is not in a textbook place for either ringworm or mange mites. As you have already put stuff on, it is very difficult to diagnose. Please be aware that we cannot diagnose safely online, we can only give you avenues to pursue with a vet, who can test further. Anything is else would be irresponsible.

Yes understand that he can not be diagnosed online.
I am just looking for ideas on what it could be and what or how it was caused. Also a few suggestions on how to help him..

In my town there are two vets office they are mainly livestock, cat and dog vets though..
They know very little about Guinea pigs and rabbits. So I will not being taking him to the vet unless it is a last resort and this doesn't heal up or look better soon..

 

[artcasper]

View attachment 41981

This is his bald spot. The yellow looking stuff around it is Bag Balm I put on it so it wasn't so dry.

that looks very much like what my Pippin had, which was diagnosed as ringworm. hers was on her leg and in a similar place to your photo.... hers got very bad, very quickly.

 

[Wiebke]

You can find information on ringworm and fungal in our link as well as this link here; it still looks to me rather like that than mites: Guinea Lynx :: Fungus
More information on mange mites: Guinea Lynx :: Mange Mites
How to tell fungal from mites: Gorgeous Guineas
Gorgeous Guineas: Photo Gallery

Please be aware that you need to leave 48 hours after any topical (on the skin) treatment before you can use any other product, be it fungal shampoos or mites spot-on. We generally recommend if a vet wants to treat for both to either switch to injections or oral treatment for one of the issues, for obvious reasons.

I would also strongly stress to please be very careful with the hygiene and disinfection as long as you cannot count out ringworm. Please be aware that lab tests can come back negative, but your guinea pig can still have fungal and that the ultraviolet test for mange mites is also not conclusive.