Skin/hair issues?

[Chunky_Pig]

My skinny pig, turbo, has recently been scratching her nose more often and is now losing patches of fur. The skin where there isn't fur anymore is dry and flaky. I'm not sure if it's mites, fungus infection, allergies, or dry skin. My parents can't afford going to the vet currently as my dad is struggling to find a job, so I don't know what to do.

(I'm currently writing this on my computer and cannot get a picture of turbo)

 

[Piggies&buns]

While I appreciate that it is hard for you, I'm afraid the only thing you can do is see a vet.
If there is an issue, we cannot tell you what it is - mites and fungal infections present very similarly but need different treatment. We don’t recommend any home treatments - Using pet shop products won’t help as they are too low dosed and using the wrong one will mean the issue just gets worse.

 

[Wiebke]

My skinny pig, turbo, has recently been scratching her nose more often and is now losing patches of fur. The skin where there isn't fur anymore is dry and flaky. I'm not sure if it's mites, fungus infection, allergies, or dry skin. My parents can't afford going to the vet currently as my dad is struggling to find a job, so I don't know what to do.

(I'm currently writing this on my computer and cannot get a picture of turbo)

Hi and welcome

Try to upload the picture via the attach file button underneath your post when you write it. Our forum is not part of social media (which has other advantages) so not all formats are necessarily supported. The traditional file upload always works.

I am very sorry about the situation.

 

[Storm1974]

My skinny pig, turbo, has recently been scratching her nose more often and is now losing patches of fur. The skin where there isn't fur anymore is dry and flaky. I'm not sure if it's mites, fungus infection, allergies, or dry skin. My parents can't afford going to the vet currently as my dad is struggling to find a job, so I don't know what to do.

(I'm currently writing this on my computer and cannot get a picture of turbo)

Can you not try and get some Ivermectin paste (It's relatively cheap compared to vets!) and put a tiny bit on each of Turbos' ears? Then if it is parasites of some kind, the Ivermectin will deal with that. This is what Saskia from LA Guinea Pig Rescue does all the time and it is definitely effective, and so much cheaper than going to a vets!

Obviously though, if the itching doesn't go away after a week or so, then it could be caused by an allergy of some kind, so then you may need to look at a vets visit, or at least try eliminating some things that he eats/hay type, to see if the itching stops that way.

If you get the liquid Ivermectin, you do have to be careful not to overdose your piggie and only put a tiny drop on each ear. If you look up the rescue on YT, she has plenty of videos showing how to give the Ivermectin to pigs.

 

[Storm1974]

Fungal infections on the skin (If that is what is causing the itching) can also be treated effectively with unrefined coconut oil rubbed into the skin.

I know that admin on here don't advocate home remedies being used, but when somebody cannot afford to take their piggy to the vet and it's not a life threatening illness that the poster here is dealing with, surely it's better to try something that won't do any harm, but is most likely to help a lot, and won't cost very much, than to just let the animal suffer because they can't afford the vet visit.

Of course, in an ideal world, vets wouldn't charge as much as they do/everybody would have enough money to take their animals to the vets any time they needed to, but sadly, we don't live in that world.....Not yet anyway!

 

[Chunky_Pig]

Fungal infections on the skin (If that is what is causing the itching) can also be treated effectively with unrefined coconut oil rubbed into the skin.

I know that admin on here don't advocate home remedies being used, but when somebody cannot afford to take their piggy to the vet and it's not a life threatening illness that the poster here is dealing with, surely it's better to try something that won't do any harm, but is most likely to help a lot, and won't cost very much, than to just let the animal suffer because they can't afford the vet visit.

Of course, in an ideal world, vets wouldn't charge as much as they do/everybody would have enough money to take their animals to the vets any time they needed to, but sadly, we don't live in that world.....Not yet anyway!

I wish vets would be cheaper! I feel like the issue might have come from the heat over here in the US, since currently in Oklahoma it is 104 Degrees Fahrenheit and very humid!

 

[Wiebke]

Fungal infections on the skin (If that is what is causing the itching) can also be treated effectively with unrefined coconut oil rubbed into the skin.

I know that admin on here don't advocate home remedies being used, but when somebody cannot afford to take their piggy to the vet and it's not a life threatening illness that the poster here is dealing with, surely it's better to try something that won't do any harm, but is most likely to help a lot, and won't cost very much, than to just let the animal suffer because they can't afford the vet visit.

Of course, in an ideal world, vets wouldn't charge as much as they do/everybody would have enough money to take their animals to the vets any time they needed to, but sadly, we don't live in that world.....Not yet anyway!

Hi

Before I give any advice like yours, I wold prefer to make very sure that the poster is not dealing with ringworm; first and foremost. That is why I have asked for a picture and have told the poster how to best upload it.

Please be aware that advice like yours can be the cause for long running ringworm sagas because cocnut oil is not effective against it. Our ringworm guide contains appropriate advice for people in other countries who do not have easy vet access, by the way; but we do not not give out home cure advice on spec on this forum. I would kindly ask you to respect this.