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Rash

AJT

New Born Pup
Joined
Jul 19, 2020
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Location
Bristol
Hi
I’ve had 2 guinea pigs for 2 weeks (about 22 weeks old) and completely new to all this. One has developed a rash on her back. Size of a 1p coin, scaly and red. She hasn’t been scratching at it and the other female guinea pig is well and they don’t seem to fight. Does anyone know what this is please ☹
 
We can’t tell you what it is with no photo. But in any case get them both to the vet next week. Where did you get your piggies from?
Vet Locator
 
I think you had better get her vet checked. New piggies can sometimes come with health problems from where they have been previously and it can take a couple of weeks to become apparent. They are stressy creatures and their immune system can be compromised when they are stressed.
pare you able to post a photo?
It could potentially be mites or ringworm. You need the correct diagnosis and treatment from the vet to clear up the problem. I am going to link you our ringworm guide in case it is ringworm because ringworm is transmissible to humans and you may need to take precautions when handling. Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
 
I would be going to the vets as soon as they are open during normal opening hours. Sounds like it might be a fungal infection
 
Sorry. Couldn’t work out how to post a photo. At the vets now. Apparently not ringworm but could be mites and treatment prescribed. Thanks so much for replying so quickly 😁
Do you have any advise about how to prevent recurrence?
 
I don’t know that there is any way you can prevent it. Don’t give the treatment if they don’t have it as it could lead to immunity against it.

What treatment has been given and for how long/how often will you use it?
 
It’s drops on the neck weekly for 3 weeks called Panomec (ivermectin)
Thank you
 
Good. Do go introduce yourself and your piggies. We’d love to see some pictures. If you look on the bar just above where you post you will see an image icon. Tap that and it will give you an option to choose photo from your library (phone).
 
Thank you - I’ll do that. Very smitten so will definitely share proud photos 😃
 
Sorry. Couldn’t work out how to post a photo. At the vets now. Apparently not ringworm but could be mites and treatment prescribed. Thanks so much for replying so quickly 😁
Do you have any advise about how to prevent recurrence?

Hi and welcome!

Here is our parasite information including your customer rights as to who has to pay for any vet treatment resulting from selling infected guinea pigs. New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

You will have to apply three rounds of vet grade ivermectin to get on top of the mange mites.

After that it is mainly down to caring well for your piggies and a good diet. The best defence against skin parasites is a fully operational immune system, good health and a happy life. Normally the immune system is perfectly able to keep any parasites under control and to support in getting on top of them. Newly bought piggies are dealing with a not yet fully developed immune system when they are exposed to a stressful series of life changing situations and new environments, which makes them extremely vulnerable to whatever opportunistic bugs and germs are circulation at the breeder's or shop. Please keep in mind that there is usually a gap between contracting them and full outbreak.
Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs

Preventatively used ivermectin is only advised on vet recommendation in the case your piggy has got a known underlying health issue and an impacted immune system. Ivermectin cannot kill any encapsulated eggs burrowed in the skin but preventative dosages can unfortunately contribute to building up resistance to ivermectin.
It is much better to see a vet promptly and to hit the mange mites hard if or whenever they really make an appearance. If you do this promptly and correctly with good quality treatment, then they will never become more than a temporary nuisance at the worst and hopefully never make another appearance again at the best.

You may find our New Owners very useful information collection helpful as a bookmarked resource. The guide format allows us to keep our information updated and adapted at need, unlike a book. We are specifically addressing all the areas that new owners come up against in practical but precise detail, from the most common pitfalls to help with their care and keeping, as well as learning what is normal (and what not) to understanding your piggies' behaviour and how you can make friends with them (including a spot of 'piggy whispering') as well as spotting early signs of illness, when and how soon to see a vet and what to do in an emergency etc. Unlike so many books we are also not glossing over the sticky but crucial details that tend to throw a new owner! Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

Our full and even wider information collection can be accessed via the guides shortcut on the top bar but you are always welcome to open a thread in one of our Care sections. The most sensitive ones are specially monitored to make sure that hopefully no thread goes unanswered; we try to answer as soon as one of the monitors is coming on but please respect that we are all doing this for fee in our free time. We will still link in guides for further in-depth information or a more detailed step-by-step help.
Here is the direct link: Guinea Pig Care & Information Guides

PS: Here is is a link on how you can post pictures in several ways. If you still struggle please contact admin via the help desk.
How To Post Photos
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/forums/forum-technical-assistance.7/
 
This is fabulous. Thank you so much!

You will find our diet recommendations in the new owner link. Our diet guide looks at all food groups in detail.

A good grass hay based diet with filtered water, restricted pellets and a balanced mix of vet can really make the difference between a healthy piggy living to the lower or the upper end of (or even beyond) the average life span. You can also minimise the risk of some preventable issues like especially bladder stones/sludge that are very common in guinea pigs due to their naturally alikaline urine.
But if you wish to, here is the direct link to our diet guide: Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

All the best for getting on top the mange mites!
 
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