• 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

Their dandruff just won't go!

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

GuineaPigg

Joined
Oct 17, 2009
Messages
399
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
.
My piggies have had very flaky scalps for a while now, I've tried bathing them but it hasn't made any difference. I thought they might have scurvy but they get plenty of veg (carrots, herbs mainly as they're not fond of much else, though I do feed them cabbage too but not too often as I've heard it can cause bloat?) they have muesli food as that's what they've always eaten and it comes with added vitamin c in it.

Any ideas what could be the matter? They itch so badly that when I stroke them they've started to jump about. Apart from the dandruff they seem fine in themselves.
 
It could be mites. They can cause intense itching and flaky, scurfy skin. It's best to take your guinea pigs to the vet to get a firm diagnosis and treatment. Please don't leave it as it can be very serious for the pigs.
 
It could just be dry skin but it's probably more likely to be a skin problem like mites, a fungal infection or perhaps even lice.

How old are they? If they're very young you need to be careful what treatment you give.

Gorgeous Guineas sells shampoos and treatments made from natural ingredients, specially developed for guinea pigs. The website is really useful in helping to identify skin problems:
http://www.gorgeousguineas.com/indentification.html

As flips correctly points out, mites can be very serious if left untreated. As they've been this way for a while now, a trip to the Vets is a good idea.
 
Last edited:
I've bathed them in a shampoo that's especially made for fleas, mites etc. It's a Johnson's one.

They're coming up for a year old in September.

I'm wondering if they're actually allergic to the shampoo? I wash all the suds off but since I've bathed them their skin seems worse.
 
That Johnson's shampoo is quite harsh on the skin, so it is possible that they're just sensitive to it, but I'd still get them checked, to be sure. If they do have mites, I wouldn't rely on just a shampoo anyway. The usual treatment for mites is Ivermectin. This can be given in 'spot on' form (a concentrated lotion applied to the skin) or in bad cases, via injection.

I'd definitely get them seen by an expert and then, going forward, I'd use a gentler, milder shampoo like the ones from Gorgeous Guineas, just for regular bathing.
 
Hi

With the description of Dandruff I would go with is being Dandruft ie a Fungal outbreak.

You need an anti-fungal shampoo like Nizoral or Sporal-D.

Regards


SGP
 
sounds like mites but walking dandruff if you look very very close they should move if its walking dandruff mites, their is diff mites they can get,, you will need ivermectin total of 3 treatments all will need it done, see your vet for the treatment.x

also walking dandruff can bite you and infect you surrounding's and theirs..

it looks like dandruff but if you look very, close they move very , very slowly.
 
Hello, we've been treating the boys for a fungal infection for the last month and they're down to a weekly bath. Have been away with the girls for a few days and hubby's been looking after them, checked them this morning and Bubbles has dandruff again and a slightly puffy face to one side. Bathing them now as I type (well the girls have them wrapped in towels at the mo) but I think I may have to get them checked again, poor boys they've certainly been through it this summer at least they're friends again!
 
I would be inclined to suspect either mites or fungal, you can treat for both - I personally would, it would save time given the pigs are now irritated by the skin condition.

One routine for treating both runs as follows...

Day 1 - Ivermectin
Day 6 - Anti-fungal bath (this leaves at least 48 hours after Ivermectin dose before bathing)
Day 10 - Ivermectin
Day 13 - Anti-fungal bath

It can be slightly altered, it is not a rigid example and you can adjust it if you feel an anti-fungal bath is a more pressing need. The above is just an example, but the key elements in this routine are:

1) Ivermectin doses given around 10 days apart (a few days either side of day 10 is also okay);
2) Anti-fungal baths are given at least 48 hours after the Ivermectin doses;
3) Anti-fungal baths are given around one week apart.

A third round can also be added in more severe cases, following the same rules.

Some people do dose with ivermectin the same day of an anti-fungal bath; I would not recommend this if the ivermectin treatment is to be topical ("spot-on"/on the skin).
 
I have been told that both rabbits and Guinea pigs have a sort of lice that live on them. When irritated or dustressed sometimes it makes the lice increase and causes flakeines, i have this with one of my rabbits at the mo. Its something they will always have and live with but when it gets to that stage it needs to be treated. My littleun has injections at the mo every two weeks. Hope it clears for you , its a pain i know
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top