Please Help! Pepito Is Ill!

[Pepito&Micia]

Hello everybody, I need your help for my Pepito (4 years old,castrated). Here in Italy guinea pigs are not very common and not all vets are expert of exotic animals. Two weeks ago my pet Has had scabs with hair loss that I've worked with a fungicide. The strange is that my other pig's not been infected (Micia, 7 month old). He is lively and hungry but he lost weight and fur is thinned. His feet are very red. I'm using Hydrogen peroxide and aloe vera. Is there somebody who can help me?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi!

Could you please take pictures so we can have a look at the hair loss pattern and at the feet. It is difficult to make a judgment and give you tips just from your description. We could easily make things worse than better. I would strongly urge you to seek veterinary care, especially if you are dealing with an infection in the feet. Are they swollen?

Here are guides for posting pictures: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/videos/ or http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-post-photos.112751/
here is our hand feeding guide to help keep your boy going: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/complete-hand-feeding-guide.115359/

Could you please add your country to your details, so we can take that into our consideration straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thanks!

 

[Pepito&Micia]

Here are Pepitos pics.
Thanks!

 

[Wiebke]

His feet are looking rather inflamed; it would be good if you had them seen by a vet and treated with an antibiotic. Even a normal vet can do that.

However, there could however be an underlying condition that could lower the immune system and cause the weight loss and all the secondary problems like fungal and foot infections.
I am tagging our difficult cases specialist @Pebble for you.

 

[Pepito&Micia]

I started few days ago with vitamin C. Initially I didn't bother because I thought he was a little bit old. But now, every day that passes a new symptom appears. I love my pigs, especially Pepito that live with me for many time and I sincerly regret that I did castrated him because I went against nature and I think I did the wrong thing for his healt. Now I try to contact the old Vet; as I said before, here in Italy there is a lot of ignorance for the subject. Pet shops feed cavies with food for hamster and if you' re not expert you risk to buy something like that 'cause on the food box there is the picture of guinea pigs but the content is quite the same of the hamster one. Many many thanks and sorry for my bad english!

 

[helen105281]

That does look sore. Just to add, Bumblefoot (if that is what it turns out to be) can be caused by circulatory issues, 2 of my own pigs have had Bumblefoot for that reason. The bald patches could be the result of mange mites or a fungal issue, which can both strike when the immune system is compromised. I know you have treated for fungal already though.

 

[Wiebke]

I started few days ago with vitamin C. Initially I didn't bother because I thought he was a little bit old. But now, every day that passes a new symptom appears. I love my pigs, especially Pepito that live with me for many time and I sincerly regret that I did castrated him because I went against nature and I think I did the wrong thing for his healt. Now I try to contact the old Vet; as I said before, here in Italy there is a lot of ignorance for the subject. Pet shops feed cavies with food for hamster and if you' re not expert you risk to buy something like that 'cause on the food box there is the picture of guinea pigs but the content is quite the same of the hamster one. Many many thanks and sorry for my bad english!

You are doing fine! I think that the hair loss by the legs and the inflamed soles could also actually be rather due to him no longer being able to clean himself and to lying in his pee a lot; that is not at all unusual in older piggies. Please give him a bum wash with hand warm water daily or at least every other day and use aloe vera or nivea cream for the skin. It can be a sign of arthritis, as can be the weight loss. If he is diagnosed with arthritis, some of our members with experience with their own piggies can give you tips for additional care. How old is he exactly?

Can you clean out the sleeping area daily or bed him on soft vetbed or softener free fleece which you can change once or twice daily to keep him as dry as possible?

 

[Pepito&Micia]

When I bought Pepito he was very very little, no more then 2 months. I suppose that next month will be his fourth bday!
Well, vitamin C, a warm bath... Maybe with starch.. And aloe vera!
Now I use fleece blanket but untill last week I used pallets.... As I said here pet shops don't sell anything else! I made myself several blanket as shown on youtube! Many thanks to everybody! I hope to send you soon good news!