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What's This On My Baby Guinea Pig's Head?

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Clair

Clair

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi,

2 days ago 4 week old Romeo appeared to have a couple of tiny scratches and a small bump on his head. Today the lump seems quite pronounced. I have not had any experience of mites so I don't know what to look for. I have taken some photos so maybe someone can advise if it's just a bump and a scratch and I needn't worry or if I should be taking him to the vet. He does not appear to be rubbing or scratching his head and I would have assumed if it were mites I would be seeing him do this. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thank you!DSC05882 (2).webp DSC05883.webp DSC05886.webp DSC05887.webp
 
I would have him checked by a vet for either fungal/ringworm or mites. It could be anything in that place, so you need an expert diagnosis and appropriate treatment for such a little one. Please be aware that you will need to treat any piggies it is contact with.
http://shop.gorgeousguineas.com/identification-32-w.asp
We have got tips on how to best deal with a fungal outbreak in your guinea pigs in our Caring for Ill Piggies section.
 
Ok thanks, I have appointment now for tomorrow morning so it will be interesting to see what they say.
 
Fungal and mites can often look rather similar in the initial stages. Please not that there are more fungal complaints than just ringworm, but that any lab tests are just for ringworm.
Ringworm is highly infective and one of the things that can transmit to humans and other pets, so please read our advice to prevent further infection.
 
I am thinking fungal too, though it is difficult to tell.

Is he a baby? if so, Imaverol dips are gentle enough for babies. Imaverol is mentioned in the guide Wiebke refers to but I can give you the product link once you have a diagnosis as only 1 site sells it for pigs without a prescription.
 
I've been to the vets today and she's said that she thinks it's mites so Romeo and his cagemate have been treated for that and she has prescribed antibiotics as the lump was quite big on his head. I have 2 baby piggies looking very bedraggled now in their hutch!
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Topical mites treatment takes about 48 hours to work its way into the skin and around the body. When do they have to come back for the next round? Mites need to have at least 3 rounds at the interval specific for the product used. The first round should kill any mites, the next two rounds any emerging eggs that can stage a return.
 
Well she said they only needed one treatment. It's Ivermectin that she's used but she said to take them both in two weeks and she'll check them over.
 
That is about a standard interval.

If the bald bit turns out to be fungal, ivermectin will slow it down, but not clear it up. Your vet is obviously hedging her bets, too. If is not a classic case, then it can be very difficult to know what you are dealing with.
 
Yes I don't think it's obvious as like me, she wondered if it might just be an infected wound. I think she was mainly pleased to see such a baby guinea pig though, she said she doesn't get to see such little ones usually. Oh well, it will be interesting to see what she concludes after two weeks then!
 
@Wiebke
Hi, I am going to email some pictures to the vets but I am a bit concerned about Romeo. I will try to attach some more photos to explain.

These were taken yesterday morning...
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My daughter was very upset but I concluded what had been causing the lump on his head was probably a build up of blood under the skin which had clearly released somehow so my conclusion was that it's healing up and as the vet has given antibiotics surely that would get rid of any infection.

At the time (on Sunday night) I noticed a bit of blood by his eye and assumed this to be where he'd rubbed it and got some near his eye.

Today however, I notice there is another lump near his eye. I am going to call and email images to the vets. I am assuming this is not normal for mites, I just wondered if anyone has come across this before?

Thanks
 
I cannot remember if its lice or mites but one can really make them itch and they will scratch themselves to shreds if you leave them. Definitely need to speak to the vets again. Another person who is fantastic at working with skin problems is Chrissie at Gorgeous Guineas, she is a rodentologist and this is an area of her expertise. I have had a few awkward ones over the years which she has helped me treat. Contact her on www.gorgeousguineas.com and send her the photos.

I also wanted to say that your guineas are just utterly adorable!
 
Thankyou! I will try e-mailing your contact too. It's a bit worrying when you don't know what you're dealing with. I just want to make him better!
 
Clair said:
Thankyou! I will try e-mailing your contact too. It's a bit worrying when you don't know what you're dealing with. I just want to make him better!
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It happened to me with my first guineas many years ago. One of them really damaged herself scratching but I thought it was them fighting (didnt have a clue in those days!). The vet and Chrissie helped me, it was lice (or mites) I can never remember which one! Its pretty quick to sort out, at least you have spotted it and done something about it as soon as its appeared. You will be fine ;-) x
 
The vet has called back, they are now thinking along the lines of an abscess that may need lancing. I am going tomorrow morning after dropping the kids at school.
 
sorry you're dealing all of these problems. fingers crossed that your vet can get them all sorted so they can have a nice, long, healthy life!
 
Saw a different vet today, the thinking is now a Fungal Infection. So that is now what we are treating for. She asked me where I got the piggies from but they have always been with me since they were born. The only thing I can think is that I got a hutch from freecycle from a lady who kept rabbits, chickens and dogs. We are thinking that Romeo has caught it from the hutch. But I washed it out with cage disinfectant before I moved them in and it was anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral. So I am hoping this vet is right and now we are treating the right thing. If it was from the hutch it has now cost me more in vet bills than buying a new hutch would have done so getting one from freecycle was a false economy! I just hope Fudge doesn't get it!
 
It does look more fungal, especially in the later photos. Is the vet thinking Ringworm or a different type? What is the vet treating with?
 
Hi - hope you can get to the bottom of this and get those little fluffballs back to full health!

Just wondering what vets you are using? As in Cheam you're very near one of the best piggy vets in the country who's based in Ewell. Might be worth going (if you don't already of course!) to try get a better diagnosis.
 
Just checked on Romeo is hea is now looking like this, surely it isn't right!
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Tbag said:
Just wondering what vets you are using? As in Cheam you're very near one of the best piggy vets in the country who's based in Ewell. Might be worth going (if you don't already of course!) to try get a better diagnosis.
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I'm using Goddard Vetinary Group. I saw Hayley on Friday because Anne wasn't at work but I saw Anne today. I've just spoken to her and she's reassured me that his head should look like that and it's just the scab come off. I'll just be glad when he's better!
 
helen105281 said:
It does look more fungal, especially in the later photos. Is the vet thinking Ringworm or a different type? What is the vet treating with?
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I'm not sure but she warned me about ringworm especially as I have young children!
She's treating with Surolan.
 
Ah that's good to know! You're in the best hands then!
 
Surolan is good but does not treat the whole pig so there is a chance it could come back. I would ask about Imaverol dips too to make sure.
 
It looks very much like ringworm. Please read our ringworm guide, as it also explains how ringworm develops. It gets worse before it gets better.
 
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