New Black Mark On Pews Skin.

[SweetJo]

Hiya, it's been a while since I last posted but I'm looking for some advice. Any opinions will be much appreciated!

I took Dilly and Peanut to the vet today. Last summer Dilly got a bald patch/shorter hair area on her back. The vet treated for mites, then said it was probably self barbering. I noticed a small round black/dark brown pigment on her skin in the middle of the bald area about half the size of my small finger nail. I didn't really think anything of it. Over the winter her hair grew back.

Last month her hair started thinning again in the exact same place. We got new toys in case she was bored. My husband pointed out that the black mark has doubled in size. The centre is darker however none of the area is raised.I looked online to try and find out about it but I could hardly find anything.

I treated for mites on Tuesday night.
I took them to the vets tonight and as I expected the vet didn't know what it was. She said Peanut probably has mites (very small clumps of hair coming out) but Dilly doesn't have any signs. There are no sores and to the naked eye skin looks great. She was lovely but didn't seem concerned.

Our options are:
1.Take a sample of hair to see if it is ringworm. The Vet didn't think it is ringworm so thinks it would be a waste of time and money.
2. Put Dilly under anaesthetic and take a skin sample to try and find out what it could be - the vet suggested this once I threw melanoma into the conversation. She didn't recommend it though due to risks of anaesthetic.
3. Leave her be because she seems happy.

What would you do? I've put some pictures on so you can get an idea of the mark. After looking online at 3am the other day I've got melanoma in my head....

Dilly is a 2 year old female PEW with some himalayan in her. We got her from a rescue when she was 6 months old so we don't know her full history.

 

[Wiebke]

I don't think that it is ringworm, either - that is a classic mange mite V. Please don't treat on spec and throw the kitchen sink at something just for the sheer sake of it.

If you have had mages mites in the same area, you have to be aware that there are always eggs left in the skin which cannot be reached by ivermectin. They are usually kept under control by a fully working immune system, but can make a comeback when it is lowered for some reason (illness, stress or the loss of a companion). Just treat whenever that happens.

Personally I think that it is however worth having that coloured skin patch investigated, but you have to have confidence in your vet.

 

[SweetJo]

Thanks for your reply. Next week I am going to contact a vet that is recommended on here and quite local to me.

If Dilly goes get ill because of the mark and I didn't do anything about it I'd feel guilty for ever.

Xx

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for your reply. Next week I am going to contact a vet that is recommended on here and quite local to me.

If Dilly goes get ill because of the mark and I didn't do anything about it I'd feel guilty for ever.

Xx

Please book he in sooner and also have that mites patch checked. Do not treat on spec with low-dosed shop brands. If you have treated already, you need to wait at least for a week.

 

[SweetJo]

The exotics vet thinks the skin marking is a reaction to the mites/scratching so that is a huge relief!

She was happy with the treatment I had used and has said I can reuse it if needed.

She took some skin debris from Dilly's hair and looked at it under the microscope and confirmed it was just skin, nothing crawling. I know mites wouldn't have shown up but it was the first vet I've been to that put in some effort!

It only cost £14 and she checked over Peanut too.