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Ringworm?

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*Nibbles&Nugget*

*Nibbles&Nugget*

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I'm just a little worried. One of my newest piggies Bingo has developed a bald patch just under his eye. The skin is very white but doesn't seem to bother him. He's eleven weeks and a rescue piggy (an unwanted P@H piggy). I'm worried it might be ringworm. There has been a lot said out piggies from P@H having it but as they were with the rescue ten ush days wouldn't it have shown before? I called the rescue but they're not piggy people. Someone just left two piggies in a box on their doorstep with a note.

I've seen pictures but they're not clear enough for me to be sure. I want to take him to the vet but I need some evidence of what it might be to convince my parents to take me. Is ringworm dangerous or very common? I will almost certainly get him to the vet over the weekend but I would like to be better informed.

Thank you in advance.


Amy
x
 
Sounds like ringworm. Please take him to a vet to have him properly diagnosed. Ringworm can make an appearance a few weeks later (as I have just learned myself!)
 
Does sound like ringworm. Your vet can give you a product that will sort it out really fast.

yes can take upto 6 weeks to show up.
 
does sound like rw, but the thing is its very contagious, even to humans and other animals! maybe if you explain how contagious it is to your parents theyll help him get to the vet sooner rather than later.
 
Thanks. I'm calling the vet to take them tonight or tomorrow morning.

Really quite worried. Is it very contagious? How long is it contagious for? Are my other piggies likely to get it?

Amy
x
 
If it is ringworm it is contagious through contact, so your other piggies could be infected you can become infected and so can any other animals you own so take precautions against that. Don't panic though, I'm just saying this as a worst case scenario you should be aware of. In any case ringworm is fairly harmless if treated so your piggy should be fine. :)
 
well thats a funny question. piglet, one of my boars, had it twice. neither of my other two pigs caught it, but i did. so idk if you have to be more susceptible, like an immune system thing,or if it wad just a coincidence. the second time piglet got it, we scrubbed everthing down with bleach, anything he would have got in contact with, and both piglet and i had topical medication we used. never came back...so idk if that answered your question. its not very dangerous if caught early, more of an inconveinence.
 
Ringworm is one of the few things that can travel between species and that humans and other pets can get, so be careful about separating a piggy with ringworm and using the precaution of bathing, feeding, handling etc the piggy last, so you minimise the chances of transmittance. Ideally, you also bathe the companion and any next door piggies with a fungal bath as a precaution.

You will also need to disinfect the cage very carefully. Suzy recommended using F10 (available on the internet; ebay).
 
Bingo seems happy and is eating fine and drinking. It just looks really sore. Just called the vet. No appointments for tomorrow so they're going 6:20 tonight. Will let you know how they do.

(We're taking Buddy too just to be in the safe side.)


Amy
x
 
Just got back. The vet we saw was very nice and said she thinks its mites. We're treating them with spot on but after research I am a little skeptical. It does look fungal to me.

We'll try the spot on treatment but will be taking them back if it gets any worse.
Thanks for the advice. Will keep you posted.

Amy
x
 
So we gave them a spot on mites treatment this morning which obviously they hated. They spent the next hour sulking then messing up their clean cage. However when I went out to look at them just now Buddy is holding his head on one side. I tried to get a picture and he seemed to straighten up again then seconds later his head was on one side again.

Is it normal for this to happen after spot on treatment? If yes how long will it last? If no then what could be wrong?

Thanks

Amy
x

Here's a picture I got of him with his head tilted. Apologises for the bad quality as I'm on my phone.

2012-01-14163431.jpg
 
I'm more worried now as he didn't make a sound when I gave them fresh hay. Bingo squeaked the place down but Buddy just sat there with his head tilted further sideways, completely silent. He made no move to go to the hay so I tried to pick him up and he let me hold him for awhile then when I put him back he went and got a drink then just lay down and watched me.

He is making me so paranoid. I have a follow up appointment for next Friday but I don't know if I should take him sooner. They're just worrying me silly!


Amy
x
 
UPDATE Buddy still has a slight head tilt but not all the time. I would like to take him to the vets over the next couple of days but if anyone knows what it might be their advice would be greatly appreciated. He mainly does it when we are talking to him or he's eating if that help.

Right I'm going to have breakfast then call the vets and see what we can work out.


Amy
x
 
Head tilt can be a sign of ear mites - the vet will need to have a very good look in the ear to see if it is. Fungal can also affect the ears (crusty inside) and the discomfort makes them hold their head to the side.

Otherwise it can be an ear infection which needs very quick treatment as it can become very serious. This will cause discomfort too - but can progress to balance problems, walking in circles sometimes, twitchy eyes as they are dizzy. If your pig shows any balance problems he needs to be seen very quickly.

Suzy x
 
Thank you. You've given me lots to think about. I'm not able to get to the vets today but I will ask my dad to take me tomorrow.

If it is ear mites (which seems most likely) what if any treatment will be needed?

He doesn't appear to have any balance issues but does keep.trying to rub his ear on the floor. I just feel so sorry for my poor little boy.


Amy
x
 
Most vets will prescribe all-in-one ear drops like surolan, which treat ear mites as well as fungal complaints.

I hope that the head tilt goes away. In a more worrying way, it can signal the beginnings of an ear infection, which needs to be treated with antibiotics.

Please have him seen by a vet as soon as you can! Only he can decide what is Buddy's problem.
 
Tilted head can be caused by ear mites, but it can also be caused by a neurological problem (I'm afraid I've seen this quite a lot, although maybe I've been unlucky). If it is a neurological problem then it's very serious indeed. So yes, back to the vet.

Best of luck!
 
I'm not to worried as he seems to be eating and drinking fine now but I will get him to the vets tomorrow. I've calmed a bit now I have an idea of what might be the problem. Things are always less scary when you can put a name to them.

I can't see anything in either ear but Bingo seems fine now and the bald patches that started all this look much better today.


Amy
x
 
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