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Tiny clumps of hair loss

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shinyhunter101

shinyhunter101

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My guinea pig Coco is a little older then two years and I have noticed that she looses little clumps of hair when I brush her. The clumps are only made up of 4-7 strands connected with some sort of blackish crust at the roots. I took a sample on a piece of sticky tape and I see tiny, tiny little black bits of dust-like dots on her hair. They don't move though, and Coco's skin does not appear red or irritated.

Coco does not scratch herself often, so I don't think she's itchy. However, my parents said they will bring her to the vet as soon as possible to check it out.

Any ideas? -c
 
shinyhunter101 said:
My guinea pig Coco is a little older then two years and I have noticed that she looses little clumps of hair when I brush her. The clumps are only made up of 4-7 strands connected with some sort of blackish crust at the roots. I took a sample on a piece of sticky tape and I see tiny, tiny little black bits of dust-like dots on her hair. They don't move though, and Coco's skin does not appear red or irritated.

Coco does not scratch herself often, so I don't think she's itchy. However, my parents said they will bring her to the vet as soon as possible to check it out.

Any ideas? -c
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could be mites... ?!?!?
i'd reccommend going to the vets like you said...
as theres all mannor of skin complaints piggies could have...
hope she'll be okay... :))
x
 
Yeah, mites seem like a likely possibility. I just hope humans can't get whatever she has on her. Thanks 4 advice :)
 
Also is this contagious to other pigs? I don't know for sure if it's static mites but if it is then my other pig, Peppy, does not have it. Or maybe I just can't see the mites because her fur is dark.

My parents suggested bringing only Coco to the vet and using the medication with Peppy too, to be safe in case she has it. I don't think that is a good idea though. Is it?
 
Sorry for bringing up an old topic :)

We recently bathed our pigs and Coco had tons of black-brown flakes pour out of her fur in the soapy water. The flakes don't move which makes me think it might actually be a fungal thing? The little bits of "dust" dissappeared from her fur after we bathed her but they're probably back by now. Peppy had some flakes too...

Just thought it might help :)
 
Have you taken them to the vets yet love? and what did they say?
Great idea to bathe them :) (bet they weren't impressed eh!)

Both pigs need to be treated :)
 
Hello!

I don't know if anyone remembers anymore, because this thread is so darn old; but yes, they were soon taken to the vet. It was diagnosed as some sort of mite, but they didn't know the species. They gave us some topical medication to clear it up :)

Thanks!
 
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