Ringworm - not clearing up

[Chloe Hunnisett]

Hi, this is my first post. It's long, apologies and thanks in advance! I got a pair of baby boars about a month ago, they're now about 10 weeks old. I got suckered by the lady I bought off who said they had 'the start of a bit of lice from their hay'. Covid so wasn't able to inspect thoroughly. Turned out to be ringworm (least it wasn't sarcoptic mange as I first thought!). I've tried to treat and follow hygiene as well as possible, following the guide on here. Vet did a test and confirmed ringworm. Initially bathed with Malseb (whilst waiting for test results), they're now on oral Itrafungol. They are def improving but slowly.

Of course I and my 7 year old son now have it (must have been first few days as we now wash religiously with F10 hand wash, disinfect the case every 2 days). I'm having much less success treating us than the pigs! 2 creams from pharmacist didn't work. Just wondered about experiences of owners who caught it off their piggies please? Any tips? Any treatments that work better?

Vet advised not to handle til they were better but they're new pets and I have a besotted 7 year old who 'loves them more than anything in the world!'. I'm not prepared to not handle but have been washing with F10, washing clothes etc. Is this ok or will the spores still get us?!

Also I binned all wood toys but had spent lots on fleece cage liners. Been washing at 90 degrees. Is this still ok or do I need to bin them and use disposable please? Thanks very much!

Am trying really hard to do my research but it's a steep learning curve I wasn't expecting with the ringworm!

 

[Siikibam]

I’m sorry you were missold. Unfortunately breeders (I’m assuming that’s what she was) don’t have the greatest reputation when it comes to the health of the piggies.

Have a read of the guide I’ve linked below on ringworm. I believe ringworm will get worse before it gets better. But any improvement is better than none.

How long have you been treating yourself and your son? Perhaps go back to the pharmacist if it’s not getting better. I would hold off handling to be honest - only doing so for weekly weigh in and administering any meds.

I hope you turn the corner soon, both yourselves and the piggies.
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, this is my first post. It's long, apologies and thanks in advance! I got a pair of baby boars about a month ago, they're now about 10 weeks old. I got suckered by the lady I bought off who said they had 'the start of a bit of lice from their hay'. Covid so wasn't able to inspect thoroughly. Turned out to be ringworm (least it wasn't sarcoptic mange as I first thought!). I've tried to treat and follow hygiene as well as possible, following the guide on here. Vet did a test and confirmed ringworm. Initially bathed with Malseb (whilst waiting for test results), they're now on oral Itrafungol. They are def improving but slowly.

Of course I and my 7 year old son now have it (must have been first few days as we now wash religiously with F10 hand wash, disinfect the case every 2 days). I'm having much less success treating us than the pigs! 2 creams from pharmacist didn't work. Just wondered about experiences of owners who caught it off their piggies please? Any tips? Any treatments that work better?

Vet advised not to handle til they were better but they're new pets and I have a besotted 7 year old who 'loves them more than anything in the world!'. I'm not prepared to not handle but have been washing with F10, washing clothes etc. Is this ok or will the spores still get us?!

Also I binned all wood toys but had spent lots on fleece cage liners. Been washing at 90 degrees. Is this still ok or do I need to bin them and use disposable please? Thanks very much!

Am trying really hard to do my research but it's a steep learning curve I wasn't expecting with the ringworm!

Hi and welcome

You can report that lady to the local authorities over trading standards. If they sell, then are liable to them. Whether it is ringworm or skin parasites, knowingly selling diseased animals is not on. The RSPCA is unfortunately not allowed to step in unless a vet has come to the conclusion that lives are at acute risk or deaths caused by neglect have being diagnosed.
Unfortunately anybody can call themselves a breeder or a rescue without licensing and control in this country, and the results can be accordingly - especially with for sale backyard breeders. You have more legal purchase if you end up with ringworm piggies from a chain pet shop (and some branches are sadly selling them).
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

Please speak to your pharmacy and/or gp; you may need an antibiotic to clear your human ringworm; especially in children who are more prone to get it badly.
It takes about 10-14 days between acute outbreak and infection but once you have an acute patch, it needs to run its due course.
Here is the link to the NHS advice on human ringworm treatment: Ringworm

Washing any bedding at 60-90 C is taking care of any ringworm in the fleece but it is shrinking it rather badly.
The F10 should take care of any hard surfaces. I would recommend a last body wash with malaseb (as you have it at home) to remove any possible spores sitting loosely in the coat that could work their way down to the skin or eventually fall out and cause another outbreak when picked up. I had ringworm carried into my piggies twice this way.

The good news re. piggies is that any acute ringworm should be stopped within a week on itrafungol, so you are at least almost there in that respect.

 

[Chloe Hunnisett]

Thank you for the replies. She didn't seem like a breeder, she sold them to me as family pets that had babies, but in hindsight she probably was a breeder. Thanks for confirming fleece is still ok, I don't mind if it shrinks them (although they seem surprisingly ok so far despite saying to wash at 30) as long as I don't have to bin them.

Will do another malaseb bath in that case, thank you.

I'll call GP today.

 

[Freela]

Ringworm is something that doesn't get better overnight and can take a few weeks of treatment (you are supposed to continue treating cleared patches for 2 to 4 weeks even after you can't see the rash.... that's how persistent those little spores can be.)

I sympathize, I have ringworm on my wrist right now (and I didn't even catch it from my pets, I was wearing a silicone watchband on my Fitbit that clearly wasn't giving my skin enough of a chance to breathe.) Now just trying not to infect my pets and family!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for the replies. She didn't seem like a breeder, she sold them to me as family pets that had babies, but in hindsight she probably was a breeder. Thanks for confirming fleece is still ok, I don't mind if it shrinks them (although they seem surprisingly ok so far despite saying to wash at 30) as long as I don't have to bin them.

Will do another malaseb bath in that case, thank you.

I'll call GP today.

No, no need to bin your fleeces.

Give the last malaseb bath after any new fungal crusts have stopped forming (i.e. the end of the acute phase). No new crusts on the skin mean no new spores, so that is the time for rinsing out anything that is stuck in the coat. While your piggies are drying, you best deep clean the cage one last time, so your spore-free piggies come into a spore-free environment. Wash the soiled bedding one last time at 60 C (which is sufficient for ringworm) so you have a totally clean slate and are done with the whole thing as far as your piggies are concerned.

All the best! You will get through this.

 

[Chloe Hunnisett]

No, no need to bin your fleeces.

Give the last malaseb bath after any new fungal crusts have stopped forming (i.e. the end of the acute phase). No new crusts on the skin mean no new spores, so that is the time for rinsing out anything that is stuck in the coat. While your piggies are drying, you best deep clean the cage one last time, so your spore-free piggies come into a spore-free environment. Wash the soiled bedding one last time at 60 C (which is sufficient for ringworm) so you have a totally clean slate and are done with the whole thing as far as your piggies are concerned.

All the best! You will get through this.

Thank you very much! When you say crust, does that mean bald patch or actual crusty/scabby skin? Only one has an obvious patch left, the last one to form, on top of his head. It still has bare dry-looking skin, I assume this still counts as acute phase even if not actually scabby?

My vet has advised to do 3 rounds of itrafungol, with 7 days treat, 7 day break (so 3 weeks with 3 weeks gap, alternating). but he admitted this is advice for cats and he doesn't know whether it applies to guineas. Any idea whether this is correct, or is it better to just dose daily until after it's cleared up? Many thanks, really appreciate the advice! Luckily they are lovely friendly happy piggies and worth the ringworm! Husband might not agree however!

 

[Chloe Hunnisett]

Ringworm is something that doesn't get better overnight and can take a few weeks of treatment (you are supposed to continue treating cleared patches for 2 to 4 weeks even after you can't see the rash.... that's how persistent those little spores can be.)

I sympathize, I have ringworm on my wrist right now (and I didn't even catch it from my pets, I was wearing a silicone watchband on my Fitbit that clearly wasn't giving my skin enough of a chance to breathe.) Now just trying not to infect my pets and family!

Ah sorry to hear you have it too! It doesn't really bother me, just makes me stressed about spreading it, and every time I think about it I fee itchy all over which I'm pretty sure is just psychological!

 

[Deleted member 139433]

Having just got through a ringworm outbreak (luckily only one pig and myself caught it) I understand the nightmare and the battle!
You’ve been given amazing advice on here, so I’ve nothing more to add. Just wanted to reassure you, that you can do this. The ringworm battle can be won! keep going

oh, and I felt “psychologically itchy” for weeks!

 

[dan3008]

My piggies came from the petshop with ringworm. And we got it too... our gp prescribed athletes foot cream and shower gel hope you clear up soon

 

[Freela]

Ah sorry to hear you have it too! It doesn't really bother me, just makes me stressed about spreading it, and every time I think about it I fee itchy all over which I'm pretty sure is just psychological!

I just don't want to spread it... luckily it's on my wrist so it's really easy to cover with sleeves. I can just see myself having to medicate two guinea pigs, two hamsters, my spouse, my kids... NOOOO!