Ringworm

[scpiggy]

I noticed a bald scabby patch on the top of Sherbets head. She's never liked the top of her head being touched which makes me think she's had it for a while. I took her to the vet. She said that it was probably ringworm and took a sample. We should know for sure in 10 days.
I tried to get a picture if anyone had any other ideas as to what it could be but Sherbet wont let me get near it to take a pic. She was so stressed and the scab was so tough she had to be put under anaesthetic
Any info on ringworm in piggys would be very usful, i already know its contagious and with 20 furries plus the people in my house that could get infected, its not looking good.

 

[sophiew (EAGPR)]

Ringworm is fungal, i.e spread by spores - and you're right, it can be caught by anything in contact (even by air) including you, and your other animals.

Treatment is usually relatively straightforward, if tedious! Malaseb baths (shampoo, leave for 10 mins, dry) every 3 days to start with then weekly I think. It's really important that you treat the environment as well as the animal - using something like Virkon (which you can buy in tablet form from sph supplies) to spray out the hutch / cage.

Wear gloves when treating the infected pig and put 'quarantine' in place - whilst it's likely the other pigs in contact with this pig might have it, it's not always the case - but treat them all as if they has, is safest. Feed and clean the infected pig last

Sophie
x

 

[scpiggy]

One worry about quarentine Sherbet is that she's only just been bonded with my other guinea pig. Would separating them now mean i would have to re-bond them or would they be fine being put back together once her treatments over?

 

[Wiebke]

It would be better if you had another introduction on neutral ground with a big plate of food, just to be on the safe side, but hopefully, they'll get on really well really quickly.

 

[Vikki]

If your other pig has been in contact with Sherbert and it is ring worm they will both need to be treated as the spores will have been in contact with the new piggy and in the environment they have been housed in. If Sherbet has only just met the other pig are you sure it is not a bite wound? Have a look on Gorgeus guineas site as they have a great page on various skin conditions

 

[scpiggy]

If your other pig has been in contact with Sherbert and it is ring worm they will both need to be treated as the spores will have been in contact with the new piggy and in the environment they have been housed in. If Sherbet has only just met the other pig are you sure it is not a bite wound? Have a look on Gorgeus guineas site as they have a great page on various skin conditions

Its not really the right size or saped to be a bite wound and she was having problems around that area before i got her.
I'll have a look at the gorgeous guineas website, thanks.

 

[lovelygirl]

surely if it is contagious shebet would have already caught it, in which case you might as well keep them together surely?

 

[scpiggy]

I have decided it would probably be best to keep them together since Sherbet is quite a nervous piggy i don't think she'd be very happy being alone. I'll just have to keep a close eye on the other two and bath them too.

 

[alcesterpigs]

Don't bother with quarantine, just treat all of them, if you think about it carefully anything else is a waste of time.
Ringworm can be diagnosed from it's clinical presentation, a skin test is not necessary, certainly not if it involves a general anaesthetic. A scab can be easily removed if it is first loosened by massaging in some Aloe Vera ointment.
As for re-introducing them just put them back together, that is all I do with mine. I suspect that "neutral territory" may be part of guinea pig folklore handed down from one generastion of pig owners even unto the next generation, without question.
Time to take cover, again!