Vitiligo in guinea pigs?

[Liane]

This is more of a curious question, rather than a health concern, I think.

Can guinea pigs be affected by the skin condition, Vitiligo? (Where patches of the skin change colour due to loss of pigment) I ask because one of my boys, Freddie, has always had dark brown skin, but I've noticed over summer that he has lighter patches on his ears now. He's just over three years old.

What do you think?

 

[piggyfan]

Do you think that his ears could have gone lighter due to the sun or maybe they were even burned by the sun? I notice my Amelia Jane's hair goes a bit lighter in summer and she has never been outside.

 

[Liane]

Do you think that his ears could have gone lighter due to the sun or maybe they were even burned by the sun? I notice my Amelia Jane's hair goes a bit lighter in summer and she has never been outside.

Hmm, I'm not sure. They were never really in the sun, I always put brollies and towels up to shade them. It's also inside his ears, which I found strange. I'll try and get a good picture tomorrow, see what you guys think

 

[Little Pig]

Just googled it as vitiligo is something I am interested in (I have a friend that has vitiligo) and apparently animals can develop it too. If it is this, it isn't really anything to worry about - you just need to make sure you keep him out of direct sunlight as the skin without pigmant has no protection against the sun. However, as we are not sure that this is what has caused the discolouration to his skin, I would probably pop him along to the vets to be on the safe side in case it is something more serious.