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Poor Eddi - Possible Fungal?

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Swissgreys

Swissgreys

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Today at lunchtime when DD got Eddi out of the cage she noticed he had a sore on his tummy just above his 'boys bits'.
Closer inspection revealed a couple of small sores, and lots of very dry skin flakes, in the same area.
The rest of his skin is fine.
In himself he is fine - eating well, popcorning, and hasn't lost any weight.
He doesn't seem to be in any discomfort (although he does seem a bit fed up of me constantly looking at his belly)

He finished his course of Xeno for suspected Sellnick mites yesterday (3 treatments 8 days apart).

So could it be fungal?
I have left a message for the vet asking for an appointment and expect to hear back within an hour (it is still lunch time here), but she isn't a cavy specialist, so I would love to hear what others think.


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I'm torn, it does look like fungal but mites can also cause dry skin. It doesn't really look like ringworm at this stage so any test the vet does may not come up with a positive result anyway. Can you get Imaverol (Enilconazole) in Switzerland? does the hair come out easily if you tug it gently?
 
Thanks @helen105281 - it isn't a great photo.
He has a couple of other scabs with hair still attached, and the hair seems to fall out in small tufts, stuck to the scabs.
All of the other pigs are fine, and Eddi also seems quite happy.
I am not sure about Imaverol in Switzerland, but I have made a note of it to check with the vet.
 
Scabs and small tufts could indicate fungal. See what the vet says. They may recommend a cream instead or baths with a shampoo like Malaseb.
 
Aww poor Eddi!
One of the sanctuary pigs has got a small patch of fungal too. With a small area I've found using Daktarin cream has worked really well for him when applied twice a day!
Try to remove any loose dandruff and hair before application of creams etc if you can as fungal spores will live in those (ew). Hope little Eddi gets better soon!
 
I've heard Daktarin is good too - BUT I would also advise a vet check . My sow recently had a skin problem similar to Eddie's . I took her to the vet who took samples and advised to wait for the results before starting treatment . I was recommended to use Daktarin by a fellow Guinea Pig owner ( not anyone on this forum ) . The scrape results took a month and it turned out it was ringworm.
 
Thanks again for all the fast and helpful replies.
I have spoken to the vet, and we have an appointment for tomorrow morning.
She did ask if I felt it was urgent and wanted to be seen today, but I used every ounce of self control I possess and said it could probably wait until tomorrow.
Although obviously I personally feel that I wouldn't be overreacting at all to race him in now with a full police escort....

Poor Eddi - I know it isn't anything major compared to what some are dealing with right now, but I just feel like this poor pig is plagued with niggley health issues at the moment.
DH helpfully suggested it is probably the stress of living with 3 girls and their endless chatter and never ending hormonal drama, and then beat a hasty retreat to the office, which is probably just as well.
 
Poor little dude. Another convert to Imaverol here for fungal our vet swears by it. So worth asking about think it goes by the drug name Enilconazole on our bottle

Sending lots of vibes, you have caught it early x
 
Poor Eddi, he has been through the mill recently. Its definitely due to blueberry deficiency, ( he paid me to say that).
Seriously, l hope he gets well soon x
 
So a quick update after our vet visit today.

The vet thinks it is probably fungal, although it isn't 'typical' fungal.
So she has taken a few skin samples for culture, and in the meantime given ointment to massage into the affected area twice a day.
She also shaved his bottom area, which Eddi was most unimpressed about (poor boy - it's not a very dignified procedure).

The ointment is Surolan, and she said that although it is marketed for cats and dogs, she has actually had some good results using it in rodents too.
It is antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory so designed to cover all of the bases really.
If it is fungal it is quite mild, so she is optimistic that the ointment will be enough to get it under control. Plus she said the antibacterial should stop the sores getting infected, because they are in the worst possible place when it comes to keeping them clean.

If anything changes, or any of the other pigs show any signs of it we are to call immediately. If not we have a follow up appointment on Monday.
 
Adelle said:
Surolan is what I use for mild fungal, works a treat. Get well soon Eddi xx
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Thanks @Adelle - I feel so much better if a health guru like you says it's ok. :nod:
Seriously, I am sure some of the people on here (yourself included) have more piggie experience and knowledge than my vet (although she is lovely and I do trust her, but it's always nice to have the 'real experts' back her up).;)
 
Swissgreys said:
Thanks @Adelle - I feel so much better if a health guru like you says it's ok. :nod:
Seriously, I am sure some of the people on here (yourself included) have more piggie experience and knowledge than my vet (although she is lovely and I do trust her, but it's always nice to have the 'real experts' back her up).;)
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I'd be hopeless without my vets! One in particular has extensive Guinea pig knowledge. When I look back a few years when I was with a non cavvy savvy vet and had limited knowledge- it terrifies me to wonder what would have happened with my girls if all this had happened back then. Neither of them would probably be here now.

Your vet sounds like she's doing just fine :-)
 
@Swissgreys my Violet was also treated with Surolan in the summer when mites treatment had no impact but her skin scrapes came back clear. It did the trick.
 
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