Patch of hair loss

[beautifulcat83]

Hi
I’ve had guinea pigs in the past but it’s been at least 10 years since my last piggies passed. We have since adopted three girls who are three years old. Fuzzy my teddy piggie has lost a patch of fur - I haven’t noticed any scratching etc ... any ideas?
Thank you x

 

[Nassala]

Most likely culprit is mites, even with no scratching. Easily taken care of - your vet will be able to give you Ivermectin in the correct dose and check it's nothing more serious, like a fungal infection.

 

[Cavy Kung-Fu]

It’s definitely worth a vet check, as mentioned above it could be mites or fungal.

As it doesn’t look red/inflammed or scratched and with it’s placement I’m also wondering if it could be a hormonal issue, such as ovarian cysts. That can cause hair loss on a girlies sides.

Have you got a cavy savvy vet you can see? If not there are some listed on the vet locator on the forum

 

[beautifulcat83]

Okay so I posted a while back because one of my three guineas had a bald patch on his back... it seemed the fur was growing back and none of the other piggies had anything. Today we have them out and the bald patch is back and bleeding as if she’s been scratching. It’s about 2” diameter I’ll get a photo but she’s hiding in a tunnnel right now and I don’t want to disturb her. I’m about to pack up and take her to the vets but I thought I’d ask if anyone had any ideas as I’m getting ready. If it was mites would the others not have it,? She’s just come out so here’s a picture thank you x

 

[beautifulcat83]

 

[Abirose]

Hi, what did the vet say? I Hope she is ok?

 

[beautifulcat83]

Hi all
We went to the vets and they have us antibiotics and anti inflammatory medication as well as recommending aqueous cream. Thought it was getting better but today it's got worse, more red patches and more bald spots. I'm worried especially with it being good Friday tomorrow. Any ideas as I'm getting g very worried thank you x

 

[beautifulcat83]

Okay so here’s the update.it looks so much worse Going to put another thread up for ideas xx

 

[beautifulcat83]

Okay so fuzzy went to the vets on Wednesday and got antibiotics and anti inflammatory medication. She had a bald spot with a scab (picture 1) I feel it’s getting worse today and I’m worried (picture 2) she lives with two other female sisters and they’re both done. Any advice or words of wisdom as I’m worried thank you x

 

[Wiebke]

Okay so fuzzy went to the vets on Wednesday and got antibiotics and anti inflammatory medication. She had a bald spot with a scab (picture 1) I feel it’s getting worse today and I’m worried (picture 2) she lives with two other female sisters and they’re both done. Any advice or words of wisdom as I’m worried thank you x

Hi!

Please see another vet who can determine whether you are dealing with mange mites or with ringworm or a combination of the two. In any case, you are dealing with an advanced case of either.

You can find more information on mange mites and on ringworm in this guide here: What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Could you contact North East Guinea Pig Rescue in South Shields? The lady who runs this well established rescue closest to you is very experienced with guinea pigs in a bad state.
You can find them on our recommended rescues locator: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues

 

[beautifulcat83]

Thank you so much. I realised I had a typo there and I meant to say the other two pigs show no signs and have been absolutely fine. I don’t know if this makes any difference to your reply but I live in Shields now so that’s fantastic info thank you x

 

[Lady Kelly]

I have merged your three threads. We do ask that all posts about the same illness are kept to one thread so that all your answers are in one place and so that members giving advice can see everything that has happened and been suggested previously

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much. I realised I had a typo there and I meant to say the other two pigs show no signs and have been absolutely fine. I don’t know if this makes any difference to your reply but I live in Shields now so that’s fantastic info thank you x

Please contact Layla by email, but be warned that she is not very good in answering promptly. But she or members of her invitational group are hopefully able to help you on a local level.

 

[beautifulcat83]

Brilliant thanks. Sorry I haven’t used the guinea pig forum since about 2010 so just getting used to how to navigate around. I’ll certainly do that because to be honest I’m starting to worry about her. I keep looking up things like ovarian cancer and cysts I don’t know but some of the example pictures look the same but I’m praying it’s a skin condition, thank you again it looks just as bad today

can I also ask, we have separated her from the other two for the past couple of days in case the others aggravate it, will this harm their bond as sisters, I’d hate to think once she went back in the others would shun/ pick on her? Strange question I know but I do worry thank you. X

 

[Wiebke]

Brilliant thanks. Sorry I haven’t used the guinea pig forum since about 2010 so just getting used to how to navigate around. I’ll certainly do that because to be honest I’m starting to worry about her. I keep looking up things like ovarian cancer and cysts I don’t know but some of the example pictures look the same but I’m praying it’s a skin condition, thank you again it looks just as bad today

can I also ask, we have separated her from the other two for the past couple of days in case the others aggravate it, will this harm their bond as sisters, I’d hate to think once she went back in the others would shun/ pick on her? Strange question I know but I do worry thank you. X

Ovarian cysts usually don't cause your piggy to bite open the skin.

Please leave your piggy with her sisters as much as possible. They will usually not do anything to it.
If they are not catching anything, then it is either due a lowered immune system in the affected piggy or it is another underlying problem. It can be very difficult to work out in piggies once your vet has closed off the obvious angles.

My Pili Pala had a bad mange mites patch on the side of her back, which she kept biting open again and again long after the mites had gone. I had to wait nearly 5 months and had the reservation cancelled twice when she reopened the just healed closed patch yet again. In the end, her vet decided that it was a nervous habit - and she was right. Within 3 weeks of arriving here, the patch had healed shut again, never to return in the 5 years she lived with me (although her hair never regrew because the roots had been destroyed).
If not, I'd have her seen by my own piggy specialist in case microbes etc. had got into the open wound and were cause her the discomfort.