Scratching Piggy?

[TheCavySlave]

Hi, haven't posted for a while, so anyway.
Duncan had a scratching session! Over a minute of scratching with his leg, his mouth, it was awful to watch. There are tiny white specks in his fur, is that related? I've asked mum to take them to the vet, aaaand... She says she doesn't want it to be a boy who cried wolf thing- we keep coming in on a whim, costing money, they think we're twits... Of course she would take them, don't get me wrong! She's not negligent, it's just she has a point- I'm always, always saying I'm worried about them. Their skin, fur, is Duncan too skinny, is Godfrey too chubby, is their cage big enough, etc, etc..but anyway, back on track- should we definitely go?
Actually, our nearby vet (we've been once recently for a checkup) is Pets First, anyone know anything about it at all? It's piggy care? I like to be prepared.
P.S We'd take Godfrey to check as well, and I'll keep my beadies on them of course.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! it is a tough life when you are such an observant, caring owner, isn't it? You notice every little change, usually well before a vet is able to diagnose!

Please keep an eye on your boy and see whether the scratching becomes more frequent and higher in intensity over the next days. See a vet if your boys are scratching every few minutes or if there are bald patches appearing in their fur. Fungal is typical in the face or around the ears, mange mites typically a v-shaped patch in the middle of the back; but both can also appear in untypical places. Whether it is mange mites or fungal, you should see things developing fairly quickly over the next 2-3 days. Then it is time to see a vet, as he should be able to diagnose.

With the onset of the heating season, it can well be that the drier indoors air can causes itchy skin. I notice that in my guinea pigs every year that they have a week or two where they scratch a bit more around this time of year before they get used to it. In this case, the intensity and frequency of scratching should not get much worse, and you should not see any bald patches appearing.
You might think about some humidifier, even if it is just something you hang in front of the radiator closed to the piggy cages. See whether that changes the itchiness.

Here is our recommended UK vets locator: Guinea Pig Vet Locator

 

[TheCavySlave]

Oh I know, nightmarw! Duncan's weight bothers me, he's a steady 940 grams whereas Godfrey is over a kilo...must make sure he isn't stuffing his cheeks with pelletsanyway, Duncan feels bony to me, but then I'm very bony. Maybe he feels bony because Godfrey feels chubbier? Aargh. Still, better than being oblivious to medical signs.