Snickers Has Ringworm!

[Adrianne88]

So Snickers was treated for lice and a respiratory infection and is doing better, BUT now she was diagnosed with ringworm which upsets me because I suggested she had that when I first took her to the vet 3 weeks ago. So she could've been being treated for this awhile ago. She now has lesions on her nose and baldness on her belly too. I feel so bad for her. It's been one thing after another for her. I don't want her to die. She's eating and drinking normally and still seems so happy. I just hope it goes away so she can live a happy life with me. Her new antibiotic is called itraconazole, she has to take it onone day for 28 days. Then she will have to go back for another culture. Obviously she's still being quarantined from my other guinea pig but I'm still nervous about it spreading to myself and to jellybean. I've been wearing gloves and making sure not to touch jellybean after touching Snickers. But is there anything else I can do? Just looking for advice on what I should expect and wondering if it's normal for her to be scratching and itching still so much. Makes me so sad that this is going on.

 

[Wiebke]

So Snickers was treated for lice and a respiratory infection and is doing better, BUT now she was diagnosed with ringworm which upsets me because I suggested she had that when I first took her to the vet 3 weeks ago. So she could've been being treated for this awhile ago. She now has lesions on her nose and baldness on her belly too. I feel so bad for her. It's been one thing after another for her. I don't want her to die. She's eating and drinking normally and still seems so happy. I just hope it goes away so she can live a happy life with me. Her new antibiotic is called itraconazole, she has to take it onone day for 28 days. Then she will have to go back for another culture. Obviously she's still being quarantined from my other guinea pig but I'm still nervous about it spreading to myself and to jellybean. I've been wearing gloves and making sure not to touch jellybean after touching Snickers. But is there anything else I can do? Just looking for advice on what I should expect and wondering if it's normal for her to be scratching and itching still so much. Makes me so sad that this is going on.

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Hi! Itraconazole is very effective; it is usually given as an oral medication whose UK brand name is itrafungol. So your vet has given you the best.

Please follow the tips in this thread here. Once on treatment and unless it is a really bad case the acute phase is over in 1-2 weeks. You will notice it by there being no new exudations (white crusts) forming. At first it will get worse as all the affected hairs around the fungal areas will come out.
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
If you are in the US, here is a list of more brands that can be used for fungal infections: Guinea Lynx :: Fungus

I would recommend to also get hold of a fungal shampoo and to give Snickers a bath/dip now to help getting rid of the crusts and infected hairs (the fungal sits at the roots), then again at the end of the acute phase to prevent her carrying any sporesor infected hairs into the 2 weeks quarantine phase. Finally before you put your girls together again, a fungal bath for both of them to make sure that nothing is carried across, including a deep clean/thorough disinfecting of all their stuff.

It may be a bit overkill, but I had an outbreak in my herd once because ringworm spores were carried in in the fur of an otherwise unaffected new guinea pig. If you can't get hold of an anti-fungal shampoo, even a normal shampoo will help to wash out spores in the coat to prevent an accidental transmission.
We have found a product based on enilconazole very good for the dipping/bathing, as it is mild enough to not irritate the eye (please use a syringe or cotton but around any sensitive organs), but very efficient for guinea pigs of all ages and frailties; but as your piggy is on a systemic fungicide, it doesn't matter too much what shampoo you use as as your piggy is treated from the inside out and not just on the surface, so all areas are reached.
For a dip, you do not rinse but let the eniconazole dry on the skin to kill the spores that are sitting on the piggy.

 

[Adrianne88]

Thank you so much for that information. Snickers hasn't even been introduced to Jellybean yet. She's been so sick I haven't been able to let them meet yet. I will definitely get some shampoo for her. I can't stand seeing her so uncomfortable. She's literally chewing on herself. Should I call the vet for the shampoo or will over the counter head and shoulders dandruff shampoo work? I read that a lot of people use that but I want to make sure it's safe.

 

[Adrianne88]

One more thing I meant to add, is that I'm cautious about giving her a bath because she just barely got over a respiratory infection. I'm a little worried about her getting sick from a bath.

 

[Wiebke]

One more thing I meant to add, is that I'm cautious about giving her a bath because she just barely got over a respiratory infection. I'm a little worried about her getting sick from a bath.

If necessary, give her just the one bath before you move her into contact with Jellybean to make sure that Snickers hasn't got any ringworm spores in her coat that can be shed. You can use nizoral from a pharmacy, but for that job you can also just use a regular guinea pig ph shampoo if your piggy has been on a systemic and not just topical treatment. Wee Companions rescue is San Diego sell guinea pig ph shampoo in their shop, which is also online. Wee Companions Small Animal Adoption, Inc. - Healthy Food, Animal Shampoo, and Accessories

Make sure that you wrap Snickers well in a new dry towel once you have gently soaked up the water from her skin after you have rinsed her. Keep her out of any draft while she is not dry. You can use a drier on the lowest setting and from at least a foot away, but it can freak out some piggies. The water should be elbow test warm, like a baby's.
How To Bathe Guinea Pigs - Including Ears & Grease Glands

It is tough to see a beloved pet in discomfort, but take heart that in a week's time the ringworm should be over or mostly over and the discomfort gone. It just takes 2-3 days for it to kick in fully and get to work, so the very worst it going to be over soon!

Ringworm is not a killer, just very unpleasant. it is one of these opportunistic things that often hit when the immune system is weakened and cannot fend it off.

 

[VickiA]

Intrafungol really is the best treatment. It worked wonders in my piggy Mabel who had a fungal infection last year. I know how hard it is to see them in discomfort but after a couple of days it will stop spreading, she will stop scratching and things will start to turn around from there.

 

[Adrianne88]

If necessary, give her just the one bath before you move her into contact with Jellybean to make sure that Snickers hasn't got any ringworm spores in her coat that can be shed. You can use nizoral from a pharmacy, but for that job you can also just use a regular guinea pig ph shampoo if your piggy has been on a systemic and not just topical treatment. Wee Companions rescue is San Diego sell guinea pig ph shampoo in their shop, which is also online. Wee Companions Small Animal Adoption, Inc. - Healthy Food, Animal Shampoo, and Accessories

Make sure that you wrap Snickers well in a new dry towel once you have gently soaked up the water from her skin after you have rinsed her. Keep her out of any draft while she is not dry. You can use a drier on the lowest setting and from at least a foot away, but it can freak out some piggies. The water should be elbow test warm, like a baby's.
How To Bathe Guinea Pigs - Including Ears & Grease Glands

It is tough to see a beloved pet in discomfort, but take heart that in a week's time the ringworm should be over or mostly over and the discomfort gone. It just takes 2-3 days for it to kick in fully and get to work, so the very worst it going to be over soon!

Ringworm is not a killer, just very unpleasant. it is one of these opportunistic things that often hit when the immune system is weakened and cannot fend it off.

I gave her a bath in Nizoral and it seems to be helping a little bit. She seems a little more comfortable. She didn't like the blow dryer at all at first but after awhile I think she enjoyed it. I also purchased some monistat cream and applied it to the lesions and I've noticed she's not scratching it so hopefully it all helps. Thank you so much for your help.

 

[Adrianne88]

Intrafungol really is the best treatment. It worked wonders in my piggy Mabel who had a fungal infection last year. I know how hard it is to see them in discomfort but after a couple of days it will stop spreading, she will stop scratching and things will start to turn around from there.

It's been so tough because she's had one thing after another. She was very underweight when I adopted her too. But she's growing like a weed now so that's good. She got over her respiratory infection and managed to overcome lice too. But now she has ringworm. Poor little thing. Shes so strong and sweet. I can't wait to introduce her to my other piggy jellybean. The quarantine period is just taking a lot longer than I had hoped for. I know Jellybean is incredibly anxious to meet her.