• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Terrible ringworm, please help!

SusieW

SusieW

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Feb 23, 2018
Messages
125
Reaction score
250
Points
340
Location
Nottingham, UK
Hello everyone,

I am looking for advice for my youngest pig. He has developed terrible ringworm on the whole of one side of his face. He lives with 3 boys, none are infected but have all had ringworm in the past which I have successfully treated using canesten cream. I have been applying cream twice daily since about a week ago when I noticed the fungal infection (at this point it was a tiny patch). However, it is not getting better, just spreading. He had a huge scab on his face which he has just scratched off and is now red and sore and slightly bloody. It is really near his eye and he is a nightmare to apply the cream to as he is so wriggly, but I have been just about managing.
He is a sickly guinea pig (rescued from a very poor living situation in Feb aged 1, weighing 616g and with a bad cold. His teeth often snap off and he isn't very robust. He now weighs almost 1kg just from eating a normal diet, but I am worried his poor diet and life before has meant he isn't as resilient as the others. I'm trying to avoid the vet as it causes him so much stress, and I feel as though there are people here who know more about this topic than the vets!
Should I just keep applying the cream or is there anything else I can do? Or is a vet trip on the cards?

Thank you so much. :)
 
I'd take him to the vet if I were you . Personally I think when a guinea gets a fungal infection near their eye, they're better off having oral medication - which can be prescribed by a vet.
 
Last edited:
SusieW said:
Hello everyone,

I am looking for advice for my youngest pig. He has developed terrible ringworm on the whole of one side of his face. He lives with 3 boys, none are infected but have all had ringworm in the past which I have successfully treated using canesten cream. I have been applying cream twice daily since about a week ago when I noticed the fungal infection (at this point it was a tiny patch). However, it is not getting better, just spreading. He had a huge scab on his face which he has just scratched off and is now red and sore and slightly bloody. It is really near his eye and he is a nightmare to apply the cream to as he is so wriggly, but I have been just about managing.
He is a sickly guinea pig (rescued from a very poor living situation in Feb aged 1, weighing 616g and with a bad cold. His teeth often snap off and he isn't very robust. He now weighs almost 1kg just from eating a normal diet, but I am worried his poor diet and life before has meant he isn't as resilient as the others. I'm trying to avoid the vet as it causes him so much stress, and I feel as though there are people here who know more about this topic than the vets!
Should I just keep applying the cream or is there anything else I can do? Or is a vet trip on the cards?

Thank you so much. :)
Click to expand...

Hi! Home treating on spec with a bit of cream is unfortunately not enough by any stretch. Please see a vet ASAP! Ringworm is an opportunistic fungal infection that is not at all unusual in neglected, stressed, young or ill guinea pigs with lowered immune system.

Ask your vet for systemic oral treatment (UK: itrafungol, US: ketoconazole) to make sure that it really is getting everywhere it needs doing; it also the least stressful way compared to applying a dip or shampoo every three days and having to use a syringe or cotton but around any sensitive areas. You may need to sign a disclaimer. But a systemic treatment is the best bet to get on top of it as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Please also take the time to read our hygiene guide. Ringworm is the single most infectious and transmittable issue that can affect mammals, including humans. In order to get on top of it, I would strongly recommend to invest in a vet grade disinfectant like F10 that is proven to kill ringworms and help to prevent reinfection. Pet shop disinfectants are mild and antibacterial only. Our hygiene tips really work because we have learned them the hard way; don't underestimate ringworm, please!
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
 
Thank you so much everyone.

I feel extremely stupid, neglectful and surprised to hear about oral treatment for ringworm. When I visited the vet last year for ringworm with the other boys she told me there were no treatments available for guinea pigs apart from human over the counter creams that are for fungal infections and as it worked effectively and quickly with the others when they had ringworm I didn't expect there to be more options in treatment, so feeling very upset and disappointed in myself and in the vets not to be aware of that.

I already have fungicidal disinfectant that I use daily in the boys' home and am pretty obsessive about cage hygiene so bewildered as to how it has appeared in the herd again and really disappointed in myself too.

I will take my boy to the vet tomorrow and ask for the oral treatment for him. If we get nowhere I may have to think about a vet change. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge, I really do appreciate it. :)
 
Sounds like your current vet isn't piggy savvy at all. I agree with Betsy, using the locator will help you find a more knowledgeable vet near you. Sending lots of healing vibes, hope you can get on top of it quickly!
 
Please don't feel stupid, you have done the right thing by going to a vet. Unfortunately we all have no option but to trust the expert we have gone to see. There are several prescription medications for ringworm. I have used imaverol before (not prescription) but I have also been prescribed a cream and a spray (on separate occasions) before being given oral medication. A word of warning if offered oral medication, you may want to ask for the prescription only depending on how much your vets charge. I paid around £15-20 for the prescription from my vet and around £55 for the medication online. However if my vets had supplied the medication it would have cost in the region of £120-140
 
Thank you all so much for your knowledge, support and kindness. It is really appreciated. Just wanted to update you. We've been to the vet first thing this morning and I did mention the oral medication but had no positive response about it. She said the ringworm is now coupled with a bacterial infection where he had been scratching at his face, so we now have antibacterial cleanser, antibiotics and painkillers. She's shaved his face so it's easier to clean so he looks awful and feeling very sorry for himself. We are going back in a couple of days to see how things are going but if things don't improve with him I think I'll show her this thread with all your information about different options on it? I looked at the vet locator but unfortunately there are none anywhere near us. :(

Thank you all again. Here's a picture of my boys feeling more healthy! The little poorly guy is the one on the right.p1090277.webp
 
I’m sorry that your piggy is poorly and that your vet clearly isn’t particularly Cavy savvy. Poor fellow must be so sore with an infection as well as a fungal infection. The most effective treatment (especially for fungal in faces where eyes need to be protected) is oral treatment with intrafungol or sporanox. These are the most effective treatments. I would suggest that you specifically ask for one of these by name. It may be that your vet will have to research it (to get the right dose) and perhaps to order it in for you, but that is no reason why they should refuse it. Good luck when you go back.
 
Are you able to travel to a good vet at all? Chine House in Sileby is around 30 mins from Nottingham (obviously depends where you are based). He's one of my local expert vets and is extremely good though it is a bit pricier going to him so I usually use a local knowledgeable vets 4 pets as they refer me on there when its outside of their knowledge levels
 
SusieW said:
Thank you so much everyone.

I feel extremely stupid, neglectful and surprised to hear about oral treatment for ringworm. When I visited the vet last year for ringworm with the other boys she told me there were no treatments available for guinea pigs apart from human over the counter creams that are for fungal infections and as it worked effectively and quickly with the others when they had ringworm I didn't expect there to be more options in treatment, so feeling very upset and disappointed in myself and in the vets not to be aware of that.

I already have fungicidal disinfectant that I use daily in the boys' home and am pretty obsessive about cage hygiene so bewildered as to how it has appeared in the herd again and really disappointed in myself too.

I will take my boy to the vet tomorrow and ask for the oral treatment for him. If we get nowhere I may have to think about a vet change. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge, I really do appreciate it. :)
Click to expand...

Please order F10 for disinfection and deep clean; it is the only product proven to also kill spores, which can stay alive for up to 18 months. I've had twice an outbreak from spores carried in.

I would strongly recommend to look for a more piggy savvy vet. You have already been linked our recommended vets guide. Perhaps members from your area may be able to tell you which vet is the best to use. Unfortunately guinea pigs are classed as exotic animals and do not feature large on a general vets curriculum, especially not on an old school general vet's. It is one these experiences that you usually only learn the hard way, so please do not feel bad about it. You are not a bad piggy mum because you have seen a vet promptly and taken their advice... :(

The problem is that you still need to treat for ringworm... whether there is in an additional infection or not. but I would recommend to get a second opinion on the whole business anyway!
 
Last edited:
I think you are doing a marvelous job trying to find a solution for your poorly boy.
You should not feel bad at all becasue you have done everything within your power to help him feel better.

Finding a good guinea pig vet is difficult, and sadly many vets are not always open to suggestions, which is a shame.
We have a specialist who we travel to for serious issues and I have been very lucky that my local vet (not as expensive and much more convenient) admits I probably know more than she does about guinea pigs (thanks to this wonderful Forum) and she almost expects me to arrive with pieces of paper detailing the treatment I would like!
She is always happy to look things up and work with me, but I understand that is not how all vets operate.
 
Thank you so much everyone. We have seen another vet at our usual vets today. His nails and teeth have been snapping off/falling out and the skin on his body is very weak and quite damaged with no obvious cause. The vet said she hasn't seen anything like this before. His face is looking less sore and we are continuing with the treatments but the ringworm culture they did actually shows no sign of ringworm. He has a high vitamin C diet and none of my other pigs have any problems. Our vet suspects he may have an underlying problem- she's thinking maybe an autoimmune problem, but is going to send our notes to the vet in Sileby and we'll be making an appointment soon. Bit upset about it all but just want to do the best for the little guy. Only had him 4 months (rescued pig) but quite attached to him and can't bear him suffering.

Thank you all again for your support. :)
 
SusieW said:
Thank you so much everyone. We have seen another vet at our usual vets today. His nails and teeth have been snapping off/falling out and the skin on his body is very weak and quite damaged with no obvious cause. The vet said she hasn't seen anything like this before. His face is looking less sore and we are continuing with the treatments but the ringworm culture they did actually shows no sign of ringworm. He has a high vitamin C diet and none of my other pigs have any problems. Our vet suspects he may have an underlying problem- she's thinking maybe an autoimmune problem, but is going to send our notes to the vet in Sileby and we'll be making an appointment soon. Bit upset about it all but just want to do the best for the little guy. Only had him 4 months (rescued pig) but quite attached to him and can't bear him suffering.

Thank you all again for your support. :)
Click to expand...

Poor boy! I hope that your vet can find out what is going on; it is certainly not sounding like ringworm! :(
Fingers firmly crossed! At least he is now with a mummy that is caring about him!
 
PS! I've noticed some of you have donated to the forum- how would I go about doing this?:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top