Skin problems

[CharlieH]

So I'm off to the vet with my little Dumpling in about half an hour.

Poor little thing, she recently had a lump removed from under her arm and is still living alone following this (In a cage between 2 pairs of piggies - I have tried to reintegrate her but the pigs she used to live with wouldn't take her back !). I'm sure this has stressed her out and she's had a flare up of a skin problem.

I'm not sure if it's mites or fungal but I think there may be an element of both in there. Her hair just comes out in scabs in one section on her back. It's very localised and there aren't large areas affected but she does seem to have a few scabs on her lower back too.

Is it possible to treat for mites and fungal at the same time? I'm sure there's an element of both..

My poor brown piggy

 

[helen105281]

Good luck at the vets. It is possible to get both together especially if a pig is run down. Ask for Ivermectin injections for the mites. Is it possible you post pics of the possible fungal? Please note that fungal is not just ringworm there are many other types.

 

[sport_billy]

Hope all goes well, love to beautiful Dumpling. Let us know how it goes love to you both x

 

[Lilly]

Poor Dumpling, she seems to be going through a lot at the moment. I haven't had to face any skin problems yet so have no advice but hope the vet can sort her out.

 

[sport_billy]

How did Dumpling get on at the vet? x

 

[CharlieH]

Hi all, thanks for your replies!

Thankfully, the vet doesn't think it looks fungal at all, she thinks it's mites, so we're treating for mites and will make another appointment in about a weeks time, if the treatment seems to be working, we'll take all of the others in to be treated too...!

I'll take a photo asap, we combed out all of the bits we could find while at the vets yesterday so that she could have a look under the microscope at them so there isn't much to see at the mo!

Poor little brown, I got her home and she just lay out looking sorry for herself on her platform, poor little .

 

[Pigjes]

All piggies need treatment for mites, as it's useless without doing that

 

[CharlieH]

All piggies need treatment for mites, as it's useless without doing that

Is that even if they're living away from one another and my hygiene between cages is very good? She's on her own right now.

Am happy to treat them all if needs be but didn't realise it needed doing at the same time if they're all separate..

 

[piggyfan]

Get well soon beautiful Dumpling.

 

[sport_billy]

Hope Dumpling can get well soon. x x

 

[CharlieH]

So, this continues...

We sent off a slide with some of the scabs and hair on for analysis as to whether mites were present, phonecall from the vets today... they're not.

So we've been back into the vets a few times since I started this thread but forgot to update it....

The section on her back is pretty bald now where the vet took some samples but has been horribly crusty all over and the occasional bloody area when she itches too hard (will take some pics when there's something to show again!). We've sent it off for fungal analysis too, so that should be in in a few days time, probably the end of next week. What we're currently treating her with is Canesten to the affected area twice a day and an area wash with Malaseb once a day - she's also currently on Septrin for a pink wee incident following going to the vets, we think it's stress cystitis but are going to investigate it further once she is looking in better condition as Septrin seems to clear it up with little problem.

Poor darling dumplepie.

 

[piggyfan]

Aww poor baby. I really hope she is better soon.

 

[helen105281]

Will be intertesting to see what the fungal tests come back with, please note though that lots of fungal will not show up when cultures are done. Is it possible to post photos?

 

[CharlieH]

I'll be interested to see too, last fungal test we had done on one of our guineas was an interesting chat with the vet as it was unusual, but we have had the discussion that it may not come back with anything, the vet did think it looked quite unusual in presentation!

I'll take some photos of what I can tomorrow as we've combed out the scabs during washing her back this afternoon so I'll get some fresh pictures. They're sort of yellow in colour and take out big tufts of hair!