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Skin Problems

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Tammy

Tammy

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone! Just looking for some advice really...

I got two lovely piggies about 6 weeks ago, just about 10 days ago I spotted a bald patch under one of my boys back legs. It was about the size of a 5p and had flakey skin and a couple of very small scabs.

Naturally we rushed to the vet who told us it was probably ring worm and gave us a shampoo to use on both Cinnamon and Vanilla. We've just done the final treatment (we were to shampoo them 3 times with 4 days between each treatment).

We had a good look tonight and Vanilla's bald patch has stayed the same size but seems redder now and another bald patch has appeared on the other back leg..:(:no: he's also gone from loving cuddles wrapped in his blanket to being a little crabby pants, he even bit me today for the first time!

So well be back at the vets asap! Weve been reading a lot and we think it might be mites, but were not sure what to do and whether we should go to the vet or just try to treat mites with something over the counter and see how it goes, or if its even mites or ringworm or what in the first place!?
 
Oh bless him. First of all when you go back ask for pain relief to make him more comfortable. Is it possible to post a photo please? It could well be ringworm, mange mites or both. For mange mites the treatment would be with Ivermectin, at least 3 dose no more than 10 days apart. Injection is most effective. It is quite common to get a mange mite and fungal problem at the same time as their immune system is compromised. Do you know the name of the shampoo they gave you?

Please could you post which country you are in and update your profile so we can advise the correct products etc.
 
Hi Helen,

I took a quick pic on my phone but seemingly it wont upload from my tablet because it is too large. Pics will shortly follow from my pc.

The shampoo I got from the vet was imaverol. I researched it before put it anywhere near the piggies and saw it was fairly commonly used for ringworm/ fungal things. We done our last bath with it tonight and in fairness Vanilla is looking a little better and he actually seems a little more comfortable with me touching the skin near his bald patch.

Iv updated my profile also and I'm in scotland.
 
Imaverol is good stuff, did you leave it on or wash it off?
 
The vet told us to dilute it in water and then bathe them both in it, we didnt rinse them and we kept them apart to let them dry.

I made sure to specifically sponge the bald bit though they both were dunked.

Hi Bekki :) wavesback from Glasgow!
 
Youre probably a bit far for cheap train fare bit there's a forum meet in York on the 8th March I think the train from Edinburgh goes to York so it might be doable if you're interested x
 
Ah good, that's the right way. I would keep up with the Imaverol until you go to the vets as it is gentle enough to keep using. The thing with ringworm is that it does get worse before it gets better and it is good for all the hair to come out as it gets rid of the infection.
 
Just spotted the photo, it does look more like fungal to me than mites. There are other types of fungal as well as ringworm. Did the vet use an ultraviolet lamp to diagnose? Was the scabbing round the edge?

Have a look at a recent thread called "Is it fungus?" did it look like the photos in this thread at all?
 
Thanks Helen! Luckily weve got a great vet just round the corner so illbe there tomorrow if I can get an appointment.

It sounds silly but it does actually look a bit better compared to when he went for his little bath earlier so hopefully he'll start to pick up a bit soon.

The wee soul is a bit self conscious of his baldy bit, he keeps covering it up with his back leg when we look at it lol
 
Ha ha bless him. The vet does sound good, not all vets would prescribe Imaverol. It also looks like it's healing to me.
 
The vet did use a lamp to diagnose and the scabs were around the edge. Its not at all dissimilar to 'is it fungus' so I think it must yave been ringworm after all. Looks like it'll be more imaverol baths for the boys...

It really does look a good bit better now compared to earlier and over the past few days
 
I do think it is was ringworm then. Glad the Imaverol has helped.
 
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