• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Need Help Identifying A Skin Problem!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Katie B

Katie B

New Born Pup
Joined
Dec 7, 2013
Messages
2
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Location
NJ
Hi, my name is Katie and I have a young female pig named Phoebe. I recently adopted her about a week or two ago. I have had several guinea pigs in the past, but Phoebe is the only pig I have currently. When I adopted her, I noticed that she has a bald spot on her side. I was wary about this because I have heard about fungal infections and have also dealt with mites in the past. Within the past few days I noticed that Phoebe has a scab on her face underneath her right eye. I wasn't sure if she scratched it on something so I waited a day or two to see if it would clear up. She has now completely lost the hair in that spot and now the scab seems to be getting worse. I am having trouble identifying the problem… I have researched several guinea pig skin help sites and I can't seem to figure out if it's mites or fungus… therefore I am not sure how to treat it. The bald patch on her side does NOT have a scab or flaky skin, just no hair. I never see her bothering with the spot on her face, but she could surely do that when I'm not looking. Help would be much appreciated! photo 2.webpphoto 1.webp
 
Poor Phoebe, am sorry she is unwell. First of all I think a vet visit is a must. The patch on the face looks and sounds like ringworm, please note that this is contagious to you and any other animals so you will need to be careful when handling her, and change your clothes afterwards, I also recommend an antifungal handgel or wash such as F10. When you go to the vet ask for oral fungal medication such as Itrafungol, my vet uses the same course of treatment as for a cat which is 7 days on 7 days off, for 3 repetitions and the dose is 0.5ml twice a day though other vets may dose differently. This dose however, has been verified by the company who make it. I would also ask about Imaverol which can be used as a dip or applied topically. You can buy this online but you need the diagnosis from the vets first. If the patch seems sore, please ask about pain relief too such as Metacam. Please note that ringworm needs to get worse before it gets better.

As for the other patch, it could also be ringworm but from the photo looks more like mange mites. Does the hair look broken half way down the shaft? It is possible that she could have both a fungal condition and mites as mange mites thrive when a pig's immune system is compromised. Treatment for mites would be Ivermectin, ideally this should be given by the vets by injection (3 doses around 7 days apart) as spot on treatments are not as effective. Please note that any baths or dips that you do need to be 48 hours apart from any dose of Ivermectin and that you would need to patch test any shampoos or Imaverol for 48 hours on the bald spot behind the ear to see if there is a reaction.

I hope that helps, is a lot to take in I know.

Please also note that you need to discinfect the cage with an anti fungal discinfectant like F10 and remove anything wooden. Anything fleecy or vet bed needs to be washed at at least 60 degrees, preferably hotter.

Are you in the US? if so the names of the products I have mentioned may be different. The active ingredient in Itrafungol is Itraconazole and the active ingredient in Imaverol is enilconazole.
 
Hi! I completely agree with Helen that the spot by the eye looks like ringworm. I've dealt with ringworm cases starting out very similarly. the good news is that if you treat properly and straight away, you can get over the acute phase in about a week to 10 days. Please also give any piggies in contact with her or things she's touched a fungal bath to prevent a spread. After the end of the treatment, you need to wait two weeks before she is safe to go with other uninfected piggies again.

Ringworm will always get worse first before it gets better as the affected hair in the area around the bald patch needs to come out, too.

Please use disposable gloves and an old pullover/towels when treating her, and remember to wash them at a high temperature, too! The incubation period for ringworm (tinea in humans) is 10-14 days. It is highly infectious and not at all uncommon in stressed out, neglected or recovering piggies. Please use good hygiene throughout and use a disinfectant that is also anti-fungal, not just anti-bacterial. there are also anti-fungal hand gels out there.



Here is more (US) information on how to treat ringworm: http://www.guinealynx.info/fungus.html
 
Thank you both for the insight! I have scheduled a vet appt. for Monday. Helen, I am from the US but I'm familiar with that medication. I appreciate the responses! Hoping Phoebs gets better soon :)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top