Ringworm - treatment and fleece bedding

[Flinty]

Hi there!
I'm sure there have been tonnes of posts on this before so point me in the right direction if so.
One of my three guinea pigs was found to have ringworm before Christmas and so all of them were treated orally for this. She just had a small flakey patch on her ear and a bit of flakiness inside which all cleared up. This week I noticed it has returned, though is very small, and so I put coconut oil on it and rubbed the scab away. Surprise surprise, I spotted it again this evening! Before Christmas i made sure to clean super regularly and will now do so again.
All three live together in a large C&C cage with fleece and an area of carefresh.
I'm looking for tips on how to clean the fleece liners to remove fungal issues, as well as generally how to get rid. They have one wooden hidey - wondering if I absolutely have to chuck this or is there a way I can clean it so It can be saved? Also wondering if I will have to throw away their wooden tunnels?
The infection has been incredibly mild and hasn't surfaced on the other two or myself or my partner, but I'm aware that it's most probably still lurking.
Any help greatly appreciated!

 

[Wiebke]

Hi there!
I'm sure there have been tonnes of posts on this before so point me in the right direction if so.
One of my three guinea pigs was found to have ringworm before Christmas and so all of them were treated orally for this. She just had a small flakey patch on her ear and a bit of flakiness inside which all cleared up. This week I noticed it has returned, though is very small, and so I put coconut oil on it and rubbed the scab away. Surprise surprise, I spotted it again this evening! Before Christmas i made sure to clean super regularly and will now do so again.
All three live together in a large C&C cage with fleece and an area of carefresh.
I'm looking for tips on how to clean the fleece liners to remove fungal issues, as well as generally how to get rid. They have one wooden hidey - wondering if I absolutely have to chuck this or is there a way I can clean it so It can be saved? Also wondering if I will have to throw away their wooden tunnels?
The infection has been incredibly mild and hasn't surfaced on the other two or myself or my partner, but I'm aware that it's most probably still lurking.
Any help greatly appreciated!

Hi!

Ringworm is highly infective and transmittable. The tiny and invisible spores can stay alive for up to 18 months.

You need to start a full course of antifungal again and treat any piggies in contact with each other, but please invest in a good and proven vet grade disinfectant like F10 and please follow all our hygiene tips in the ringworm guide. Over the last decade or so we have found just about all the ways ringworm can be transmitted and how to address them, from spores sitting in the coat to cage and hideys to any fabrics in contact with the infected guinea pigs (bedding as well as your own clothing) to what to do yourself to not catch it.
You can find all the detailed advice (including washing temperatures) in this link here: Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

I had a ringworm outbreak in a room with 30 piggies last winter but managed to keep it to that one piggy, so our tips really work to help you get on top of it once and for all!

All the best!