My new pig has thin hair- is this normal?

[Elsie's pigs]

Hi, I adopted 2 rescue pigs around 3 weeks ago, one of them is a ginger and white Teddy who is around 1 year old. She was rescued from a hoarding situation and had ringworm, lice and mites. She was treated for all of these and given the all clear by the rescue’s vet. Before they came to me they were both given a dose of Xeno spot on.

I noticed straight away that the Teddy has thin hair, especially over her shoulders. It is much more noticeable on her white side than on her Ginger side (because of the skin colour underneath), although the amount of hair is the same.

Could her thin hair be caused by her presumably poor diet before she was rescued? Are the mites back? She does scratch a little more often than my other pigs, I don’t know if I’m a bit paranoid about it and looking for it though!

Can anyone tell me if this is a normal amount and pattern of hair for a white Teddy or is it suspicious and time for a vet visit?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi

I would recommend to have your gorgeous girl vet checked. This is not normal.

However, before you can start talking about 'teddy skin' (irregular areas of hair loss, which can happen in some teddies and for which there is no cure; these patches come and go throughout their lives in those with the genetic disposition), but you really need to have excluded any other possible skin issues first.
New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

 

[Truffolo]

Welcome to the forum I'm not a healthy expert, but someone knowledgeable should be sling soon. Just want to say congratulations on your new piggies. I hope they bring you lots of joy. Could you take them to the rescue vet for a check up? Just to put your mind at ease.

 

[Merab]

I would be inclined to take her to the vet.
I have a black teddy with oddly growing fur but your girl’s fur loss isn’t normal.
I hope it’s nothing serious.
Teddies are simply the cutest piggies and you girl is beautiful

 

[Elsie's pigs]

Right, vet visit it is! Thanks all for your advice.

She is a beautiful piggy, she was (understandably) very timid when she came to us. It has been lovely watching her come out of her shell and start to trust us, she will even take food from my hand now.

 

[Merab]

Hope the vet visit goes well.