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Possible worst nightmare situation - but who to treat?

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Doeylicious

Doeylicious

Adult Guinea Pig
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I am very worried I may have my first case of fungal :{

My herd were out in the run this afternoon while I cleaned them out, and when I picked JoJo up he started to freak out - he kept trying to bite me and scratch. I quickly popped him down on the garden table so I could work out what was wrong, see if he had an ant on him or something, and he went nuts, trying to bite himself, and scratch, he managed to flip himself over he was so bad, I was quite scared and anxious he was fitting or something :{

He suddenly stopped and started looking around as if scared, I very carefully picked him up making sure not to touch the areas that had seemed sensitive before, and had a look at him. He has definitely got some flaky skin and when tugged (gently of course) some did come out.

It is on his back though, his eye and nose area is totally clear.

I am on the Gorgeous Guineas site now and on the verge of ordering the coco melty stuff, as I know other members have had a lot of success with this, but would it be advisable to treat:

Just JoJo?

All the pigs he lives with?

ALL my pigs?

And if more than just Jo, would I use the melt or just the shampoo? Noone else has any symptoms, there is some barbering going on but I know that's Tulip being Tulip (she likes to nom on everyone else)

Any other special care I can give him? They are all outdoor guineas and bringing indoors is not an option.
 
i've not been thru this but i wanted to send you some BIG HUGS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
i'm sure most other people treat the ones they've come in contact with........ :{
GOOD LUCK LOVE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
and some healing wheeeeeeeks to JoJo from the girls and I xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Thank you lovely, can you send some of that Oz sun over too to help dry off my little monsters when they have their baths?!

I'm now also going to have to buy a hairdryer with a cool setting as mine has broken!
 
Poor little Jo :(

Am I right in thinking that you have squillions of piggies?! Were all of your pigs out in the run together with Jo?

I'm not an expert (so this may be an overreaction) but I'd be inclined to shampoo them all if poss. I'd use the CocoNeem Melt and Manuka & Neem Shampoo on Jo and treat the rest with just the M&N Shampoo. (Make sure you check out the Special Offers section of the GG website as they have deals on these products.)

Do you think Tulip may have had a go at Jo's hair recently? Not sure how likely it could be that she's ingested fungal spores but it's something to bear in mind.

Does Jo have any sores or is it just flaky skin? When you go to pick him up ready for his bath etc, maybe try picking him up with a cool wet flannel as this apparently helps when fungal pigs hurt to be picked up.

Not sure if F10 veterinary disinfectant would be suitable for cleaning wooden hutches but I know it's highly recommended for killing fungal spores.

Hope you can get everything sorted quickly x
 
I would honestly treat them all. If they dont' come in contact with one another, they might still come in contact through you(r hands)!

But I remain this opinion: when in doubt call a vet for advice!
 
Suzygpr said:
Hi Doey

Give me a ring.

Suzy x
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Hi Suzy,
For my own future reference I'd be really interested to know what you'd advise in a case like this (and I'm sure many others also value your experienced opinion too!) If you get a mo please can you share your recommendations? Thank you! x
 
Hiya

First of all a definitive diagnosis is needed, by a vet preferably, I'd rather a conversation as I talk a lot faster then I type so that each individual case can be discussed in depth.

In general I use Sporal D shampoo, Imaverol fungal dip, occasionally anti fungal creams and F10 sporicidal disinfectant on the cages etc.

Suzy x
 
Just spoke to the vet on the phone, as was due a phone call about Honey and her mysterious urine anyway (another story!). She is more inclined to treat for mites first and see how we get on, as she asked if the skin was red and it's not at all, in fact apart from the dandruff its a lovely colour.

Bumble is also a bit irritable, I gave him and Pixie a haircut today and both were a bit itchy. After I finally burrowed down to Bumble's skin (he's a Swiss so a lotta hair there) it also doesn't look red at all, just flaky, and his most definitely did not come out when tugged gently.

Flipping skin conditions, without a scraping I am none the wiser obviously and can't get over to the vets this week anyway, I also really am not a fan of scrapings and neither is my vet as it tends to cause a lot of distress for something she finds a trial and error method can help.

Suzy I will give you a buzz tonight when my free landline calls kick in to discuss anyway xx
 
You have my utmost sympathy as we are still going through this at the moment.

I blame the horrible summer we've had - I never had a problem last year, but it's been going on since March this year with Bernie.

I have treated all the piggies. First for fungals - with Sporal D then Imaverol, now they are all being treated with ivermectin. My vets were sure it is a fungal but because skin scrapes come back negative (and they say the scrapes nearly always don't show mites) we've gone that way first. Now we are treating for mites, despite still no evidence.

I honestly hope we get to the end of this and you also :)

The reason I have treated all is because they share floortime space. Be it outside or inside and I've seen small pockets on the other piggies skin now.

I only have 5, so you really do have my sympathy with the lots you have :{

Jo x
 
Thanks Jo xx I am very pleased I bought a bottle of the Xeno 450 equivalent back when I wasn't poor - now all I have to do is find it!

I'm going to treat the lot of them with the ivermectin, I only weighed them last night so I know who needs what and will pick the bottle up from Mum's tomorrow and get dropping...I have a feeling if it is mites it has come from my new batch of hay, which ironically is lovely and soft and snuggly and they are eating like it's going out of fashion!
 
LordBernieBouffant said:
You have my utmost sympathy as we are still going through this at the moment.

I blame the horrible summer we've had - I never had a problem last year, but it's been going on since March this year with Bernie.

I have treated all the piggies. First for fungals - with Sporal D then Imaverol, now they are all being treated with ivermectin. My vets were sure it is a fungal but because skin scrapes come back negative (and they say the scrapes nearly always don't show mites) we've gone that way first. Now we are treating for mites, despite still no evidence.

I honestly hope we get to the end of this and you also :)

The reason I have treated all is because they share floortime space. Be it outside or inside and I've seen small pockets on the other piggies skin now.

I only have 5, so you really do have my sympathy with the lots you have :{

Jo x
Click to expand...

I hope you don't mind me asking but have you tried lifting the hair on his rump & getting a piece of sellotape & trying to get a sample just above his grease gland? That's where static lice like to sit near the hair shaft, if he has dark fur in that area they are very hard to see, but will come off on the tape. If he has some white hair there they show up as tiny black flecks at the bottom of the hair shaft. If you pop that under a microscope if you have access to one, or look under a magnifying glass then you will see them waving at you with their little legs rolleyes
 
Poppy'sMum said:
I hope you don't mind me asking but have you tried lifting the hair on his rump & getting a piece of sellotape & trying to get a sample just above his grease gland? That's where static lice like to sit near the hair shaft, if he has dark fur in that area they are very hard to see, but will come off on the tape. If he has some white hair there they show up as tiny black flecks at the bottom of the hair shaft. If you pop that under a microscope if you have access to one, or look under a magnifying glass then you will see them waving at you with their little legs rolleyes
Click to expand...

Ahh but if it were so simple - yes we've done that - me and my vet - now 3 times on piggies affected in that region or others and no signs of anything at all mallethead plus skin scrapes from the worst areas.

Thank you for posting though because any information is great to know, so much appreciated for all. I will update on Lord Bernie's itchies though :).

Jo x
 
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