New Pig Mum - Ringworm And Guinea Pairs

[Ann&Ted]

Hi all,
I am new to the forum and a new pig mum, i got my two sows a month ago, Ann is the younger aged 12 weeks, and Ted is 16 weeks. Recently, i noticed that Ann has a bald patch on her nose which quickly developed into a scabby looking sore. I took her to the vets on Saturday, and got her treatment sorted (one medicated bath and daily oral medication for two weeks) but now i have her home i am struggling with what to do. I have a second hutch coming tomorrow - my girls live in a converted stable which has a large hutch where they tend to go and hide, then a large 'outdoor' (it is still in shelter and safe from all the wild animals that live nearby) run with all their toys and tunnels. I have been advised to split the pair to prevent Ted from catching the infection, but i worry how Ann will cope on her own as they already have a very strong bond. Ann enjoys being handled and will run over to my hand, but i won't be handling her like normal to again try and prevent it spreading, so i am worried she will feel lonely. Ted seems like she will cope better alone, shes not as forthcoming with cuddles and tends to go and have some time out from Ann every now and again, and when i was at the vets with Ann, apparently Ted was eating and playing as normal.
Any advice would be helpful as i havent kept pigs before and i would hate to be causing them any added stress or illness.
I will also add i got them from PAH - they have fully refunded the vet costs and ive asked for advice on their hutch as it is wooden and i heard the virus can live in the wood - is their any truth in this?

Any advice would be welcome. One other unrelated thing was about the 'purr' and 'rumble'. How do i tell the difference? I dont want to be upsetting my pigs. When i handle Ted she does a continual vibration that is audible, when she is being stroked. She carries on doing it after i stop and nudges me and i dont know if she is saying dont do that again or please do that again! She sometimes licks my hand when i am stroking her too.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all,
I am new to the forum and a new pig mum, i got my two sows a month ago, Ann is the younger aged 12 weeks, and Ted is 16 weeks. Recently, i noticed that Ann has a bald patch on her nose which quickly developed into a scabby looking sore. I took her to the vets on Saturday, and got her treatment sorted (one medicated bath and daily oral medication for two weeks) but now i have her home i am struggling with what to do. I have a second hutch coming tomorrow - my girls live in a converted stable which has a large hutch where they tend to go and hide, then a large 'outdoor' (it is still in shelter and safe from all the wild animals that live nearby) run with all their toys and tunnels. I have been advised to split the pair to prevent Ted from catching the infection, but i worry how Ann will cope on her own as they already have a very strong bond. Ann enjoys being handled and will run over to my hand, but i won't be handling her like normal to again try and prevent it spreading, so i am worried she will feel lonely. Ted seems like she will cope better alone, shes not as forthcoming with cuddles and tends to go and have some time out from Ann every now and again, and when i was at the vets with Ann, apparently Ted was eating and playing as normal.
Any advice would be helpful as i havent kept pigs before and i would hate to be causing them any added stress or illness.
I will also add i got them from PAH - they have fully refunded the vet costs and ive asked for advice on their hutch as it is wooden and i heard the virus can live in the wood - is their any truth in this?

Any advice would be welcome. One other unrelated thing was about the 'purr' and 'rumble'. How do i tell the difference? I dont want to be upsetting my pigs. When i handle Ted she does a continual vibration that is audible, when she is being stroked. She carries on doing it after i stop and nudges me and i dont know if she is saying dont do that again or please do that again! She sometimes licks my hand when i am stroking her too.

Hi and welcome!

You may find our ringworm hygiene thread helpful. Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

Your girls can go together, provided that you give the companion a medicated bath once a week during the acute phase, and both girls an antifungal bath at the end of the treatment and then again after the 2 weeks quarantine phase. This should prevent the companion coming down with ringworm even though she may already be infected. It will also prevent them from accidentally carrying any spores across in their coat; this has once caused an outbreak in my own guinea pigs.

I would strongly recommend to wait with moving them to their new hutch until they are completely and safely free of ringworm and so nicely avoid any problems with a deep clean to get into each nook and cranny of the new hutch. Just make sure that the girls are completely dry after each bath before you move them back to their current housing unless they are already indoors. You can deep clean the cages at the end of the acute phase and then again at the end of the quarantine phase, so you can use them again safely. The extra care you are taking now means that you are most unlikely to have to worry about ringworm again.

As you are obviously from the UK, I would strongly recommend to use F10 for disinfection and the occasional deep clean; it is the only disifectant that is proven to also kill ringworm spores.

Since we have got members from all over the world, we find it helpful if you please added your county and/or county to your details, so we can always tailor any advice and - where possible - local recommendations straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location.

You can find our recommended UK vets locator on the top bar.

How big is the hutch you have bought?

 

[Ann&Ted]

Hi and welcome!

You may find our ringworm hygiene thread helpful. Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

Your girls can go together, provided that you give the companion a medicated bath once a week during the acute phase, and both girls an antifungal bath at the end of the treatment and then again after the 2 weeks quarantine phase. This should prevent the companion coming down with ringworm even though she may already be infected. It will also prevent them from accidentally carrying any spores across in their coat; this has once caused an outbreak in my own guinea pigs.

I would strongly recommend to wait with moving them to their new hutch until they are completely and safely free of ringworm and so nicely avoid any problems with a deep clean to get into each nook and cranny of the new hutch. Just make sure that the girls are completely dry after each bath before you move them back to their current housing unless they are already indoors. You can deep clean the cages at the end of the acute phase and then again at the end of the quarantine phase, so you can use them again safely. The extra care you are taking now means that you are most unlikely to have to worry about ringworm again.

As you are obviously from the UK, I would strongly recommend to use F10 for disinfection and the occasional deep clean; it is the only disifectant that is proven to also kill ringworm spores.

Since we have got members from all over the world, we find it helpful if you please added your county and/or county to your details, so we can always tailor any advice and - where possible - local recommendations straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location.

You can find our recommended UK vets locator on the top bar.

How big is the hutch you have bought?

Thank you for replying I am really pleased that I can keep them together, is there anything I should know about bathing them or is it straightforward? I have bought some f10 so will get to work with that when ready.
The new hutch is huge, 6ft long and then it has a ramp down into a 6ft x 10ft pen – I want to eventually hopefully get a few more, but not until I have learned all I can about introducing new pigs. I am a doggy person having worked with them for years in rescue, so I am finding it fascinating learning all about a new species J (I keep my dog separate from my pigs but she is not interested in them at all anyway luckily).

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for replying I am really pleased that I can keep them together, is there anything I should know about bathing them or is it straightforward? I have bought some f10 so will get to work with that when ready.
The new hutch is huge, 6ft long and then it has a ramp down into a 6ft x 10ft pen – I want to eventually hopefully get a few more, but not until I have learned all I can about introducing new pigs. I am a doggy person having worked with them for years in rescue, so I am finding it fascinating learning all about a new species J (I keep my dog separate from my pigs but she is not interested in them at all anyway luckily).

What have your been prescribed? Please read the information that comes with it and follow the instructions.
Here are our bathing tips: How To Bathe Guinea Pigs - Including Ears & Grease Glands

We have got lots of information at the top of our various Care sections which you may find helpful, but you are always welcome to ask any questions you may have in those sections; we answer them all!
When your girls go back together, you have to brace yourself for bonding dominance behaviour at first.You can find more about that in the sow behaviour thread below.

Please be aware that dog poo is poisonous to guinea pigs and that they should ideally have a fenced off section of lawn.
Feeding Grass And Preparing Your Piggies For Lawn Time
This here is our information bundle for new owners, which you may find helpful:
" Starter Kit" Of Information Threads For New Owners