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Sudden hair loss on back end

Hank288

Hank288

Adult Guinea Pig
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So yesterday evening I went out to feed and noticed that cookie monster has lost a lot of hair from his backside. It almost looks like someone has given him a buzz cut! He is literally bald.
I am almost 100% sure it was not like this Saturday when I cleaned them and health checked them. I am also sure that it was not like this on Sunday, but am now doubting myself.

He is not itch and have not seen him scratching at all. I have immediately treated him with ivermectin and put some moisturising coconut oil on his bald patch.

Only thing that has changed in his environment is that on Friday I brought an oil filled radiator for the garage. Could this have cause it?

Will take some pictures tonight but just wondered if anybody can shed some light.
 
Could it be barbering by one of your other piggies?
 
I wondered that but seeing as his cage mate is feeling rather poorly and sorry for himself, I doubt it. Cookie is a short haired abysinnian. It literally looks like he has gone bald overnight.
 
Hi! I would have him vet checked to be on the safe side (although your vet will not thank you for home treating).

It could be an extreme case of barbering or a mix of mites and barbering; sometimes it is difficult to tell. That is the reason why it is always important to close out the medical angle first. Barbering ( Eating Hair)
 
I was watching him last night and he is quite itchy actually. Was really biting his foot bad. He hasn't lost any more hair and his skin is still normal, no marks or redness.
I am going to bath him today in some Malaseb I had from a previous guinea pig. If no improvement by Friday going to make a vet appointment.
 
Hank288 said:
I was watching him last night and he is quite itchy actually. Was really biting his foot bad. He hasn't lost any more hair and his skin is still normal, no marks or redness.
I am going to bath him today in some Malaseb I had from a previous guinea pig. If no improvement by Friday going to make a vet appointment.
Click to expand...

Malaseb is a fungicide and does not address skin parasites. Please be aware that by treating on spec at home you will make any vet diagnosis very difficult/impossible. If you are treating for the wrong problem, you only prolong the suffering and spend extra money; you are not saving anything or are helping your piggies.
 
He is not in pain or discomfort and still eating. I am closely monitoring him. I mainly wanted a list of reasons this could have happened. The vets I go to are good but not exotics so I wanted to go with more info rather than paying the vet for a load of rubbish. Basically I don’t just want the vet to say it’s mites and give me more treatment that I have at home.
I just don’t understand how it could have fallen out overnight.
 
I have solved the mystery. It is a very serious case of his cage mate Chester barbering him. I watched him tonight pull his hair so hard it made cookie squeal and kick out. I’m guessing there is no way to stop this happening?
 
So glad you now know the cause of the hair loss. One of our friends piggies barbers all the others (not to this extent though), there doesn't appear to be a reason for it.
 
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