Newbie...Help & Advice please?!

[Kazlar]

Hiya, I'm a Newbie here, so please be gentle with me...

I have been reading & searching the threads on here and still haven't quite found the answers to my questions..so I'm hoping someone can help me.

I got 2 very lovely little guinea pigs almost 3 weeks ago now from Pets at Home (I know, having read some threads, I realise it may not have been the best place to get them from ) However, within a few days both were showing a bald patch on their sides. I got some Xeno and treated them for mites, I also purchased some Beaphar Anti Fungal Spray..some Canesten and some Kwench lotion from GG...to treat for Fungal also.

It appeared to be doing the trick..however, they still seem to have very large amount of dry flaky skin. I cut the hair back a few days ago so I could monitor it..there appears to me no redness or soreness and they seem very happy, but I'm wondering whether this is part of the healing process or should I take them to the vets? I know fungal takes a long time to heal, but should the flaky/peeling skins still be this bad 2/3 weeks on?:{

Any advice would be hugely appreciated...thanks x

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Well done on treating them quickly, i am now getting one of my babies over a small fungal infection.

Sadly it isn't uncommon that PAH are selling sick animals, ( they are known for a ringworm problem) i think maybe a vet visit to check that all is well other than the fungal infection.

What bedding do you have them on?

 

[Wiebke]

I would take them to the vets as soon as you can get an appointment. Please make sure that they are piggy savvy (exotics).

It sounds like fungal; depending on how bad it is, you may need stronger treatments, if necessary even systemic fungal. P@h are known to have a ringworm problem (which is not easy to get on top with).

Please have your pets always seen by a vet and do not home treat unless your are absolutely sure what you are dealing with; you can do more damage than good and end up with higher cost in the long run! Neither mange mites nor ringworm can be taken lightly; you also need the appropriate strength of meds for the size and age of a piggy.

 

[Kazlar]

Thank you so much for your replies...I have just called the Vets and I'm taking them this evening.

I would have taken them sooner, but I thought I had it under control I'm so upset...I hope they're going to be ok and that I haven't made the situation worse:0 We absolutely adore them, so just want them to get better.

As far as bedding goes, they are in a very large cage indoors and they were on shavings and hay, but I now have them on newspaper as I'm disinfecting the cage etc every night..we have just been giving them bundles of Timothy Hay to eat rather than using it as bedding.

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Shavings can cuase dry skin in piggies so i would suggest perhaps changing that, fleece lining is very popular and easy to clean.

I would also ring the PAH you got them from and tell them what has happened and tell them they should encur the cost of the vet fee's! They will tell you to return them for a refund but obviously you arent going to do this. Good luck hun, dont worry, with the right treatment you'll get it sorted! hugs xx

 

[Kazlar]

Ahhh, thanks ToffeeWoffee..I must confess, I'm feeling a tad anxious - they are my babies and I will be gutted if I've made things worse for them

I have spoken to Pets at Home and they said they will refund all the vets costs, plus the cost of the treatments I have already used on them, so that's one piece of good news I suppose.

To be honest, I'm not so worried about the money, I just want them to get better and feel very bad that I didn't take them sooner, but as I said, I thought the treatment I was giving them was working...

Anyway, please keep everything crossed for me and I will let you know how I get on at the Vets x

Ohh, re the fleece. Where would I get that from? I have noticed people talking about that on the forum, but I've been so obsessed with the fungal & mites posts I haven't had the capacity to delve into the world of 'fleece' as of yet!

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Just any ordinary fleece, dunelm do a good range! Its easy to poop pick and when it needs to be changed just chuck it in the washing machine! So get a few bits so that you have spare for when its in the wash.

Dont worry hun, the treatment you gave them may well be working, however depending on how bad it is depends on weather they need antibiotics etc, they will be fine, its always worth a vet check at a Cavvy Savvy vets when buying pets just to make sure all is well as they do disguise ilness bery well but go downhill quickly! The vets will know what to look out for.

If you have any other questions or anything your not sure of dont hesitate to ask.

Good luck at the vets. xx

 

[AndreaJane]

You can buy fleece by the metre off ebay as well, in all sorts of patterns ( usually 150cm wide ) I got some for £3.99 a metre the other day. Make sure you read through the forum threads on what to sorts of things to put underneath and pre-washing it for effectiveness etc
Hope their skin clears up soon, good luck at the vets.
x

 

[AudioHeart]

Sorry I don't have any advice regarding the skin condition, just wanted to give my love to your pigs and hope everything goes well at the vets xxxxxxxx

 

[CandyFloss]

Hi. Welcome to the forum. Hope you get on okay at the vets - try not to worry - you are doing the right thing for them,
Keep us posted
x

 

[Wiebke]

Fleeces you can get from lots of places - supermarkets or primark, or even a market. Look for polyester bed throws or baby plankets.

I use a thick watertight mattress cover as underlay, which I have cut to size and seamed - the same we bought for my mother-in-law. That way, it is very quick to change.

Alternaively, you can use cheap towels and newspaper, shredder paper between two layers of newspaper if you have free access to loads of shredded paper.

Please note when using fleeces that you need to prewash at least 2-3 times in order to get the fabric sealing softener out; only without softener will fleece wick away any dampness. You also have to be careful of not overloading your machine, so your piggy stuff won't come out stinking worse than when it went in! You will also have to think about getting some hay tray with preferably higher edges to minimise the mess on the fleece. The hay tray can double up a toilet corner.

I could not have as many piggies in my living room without fleece.

 

[Kazlar]

Hi all!

Thanks you so much for your replies & support.

Well it turns out that the vet thinks its a bacterial infection. She told me that I had done all the right things and that initially it was probably a mite problem. Even though the Xeno I gave them may have got rid of the mites it's possible that a bacterial infection has been left behind. She has given me Baytril? and I have an appointment to go back next Tuesday. If the antibiotics haven't worked then the next step will be an injection for mites, but obviously she is reluctant to do that at this stage.

Regarding whether there is a fungal issue, she said there is no point taking a culture at the moment as due to the treatment I have already given them, there is probably very few spores to get an accurate result. The vet obviously recognised the dismay on my face at this and told me not to worry as my girls are fit and healthy despite this skin issue and that she thinks it's more likely to be mite related anyway.

So, the long and short of it is, they are treating for a bacterial infection first and hopefully the antibiotics will do the trick...

I'm just so pleased I took them to the vets..hopefully now they are on the road to recovery!

 

[elmoscavypigs]

Hi p your little piggles in your avatar look absolutely gorgeous drool I hope they get over their skin problems soon -here's some get well soon vibes for them ~~~~~~