Sep 05, 2015 youll see missing areas of hair on a guinea pigs body, sometimes covered with scales or sores. I first noticed this on the 9th feb but i only noticed the scab at the top in the middle of his back, which is now a bald patch, i thought since the scab came off without me peeling it off, whatever it was was healing already. A healthy animals receiving good nutrition and exercise feels firm in the body. Hamsters are supposed to be cute and fluffy so hair loss and bald patches are typically a sign that there is something wrong. Irritation and itching may also be seen in infected guinea pigs. Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal. Here are the most common causes of balding in guinea pigs and treatments. I found a bald spot on my guinea pig last night while i was feeding him. Read emergency advice that helped one posters guinea pig make it through the night. Identify abscesses in your guinea pigs mouth and jaw. Guinea pigs suffering from itchy skin may have speciesspecific lice, a mite infection called sarcoptic mange or the fungal infection known as ringworm, writes veterinarian jeff kahler, who notes that ringworm can be transmitted to people from their guinea pig. Itchy guinea pig likely has 1 of 3 ailments animal.
To treat ringworm in guinea pigs, start by taking your guinea pig to the vet for evaluation and treatment options. Pellets are usually the culprit, so be careful not to overfeed. Unfortunately, sometimes the first hint of illness is a dead cavy in the cage. Guinea pigs hair loss can also be caused by guinea pigs. My guinea pig has a small bald spot with a red raised sore. Guinea pigs usually have bald spots inside the front legs see photo at right, perhaps as a result of grooming, with the hair being continuously rubbed off by cleaning their faces and eventually failing to regrow. Mange mites live in a guinea pig s skin and cause them a lot of pain. Treatment involves washing the wounds with water and disinfect ant, and using a spray to keep the flies away. If the hair is thin beyond this spot, it is a good idea to have your veterinarian do an examination. The cases that i have demonstrated here are moderate. If you notice that your piggie gets very irritable when you touch certain areas, that is another. They can go from having one bald patch to many and then all of the hair will be gone or they may only lose the hair slightly, more like the hair thinning out without ever losing it completely. Abscesses can also form in the mouth or jaw of a guinea pig. The spots may be itchy, so youll see your guinea pig scratching them repeatedly.
This is a common condition in female guinea pigs, leading to swelling of the abdomen, and hair loss along both sides. A cutaneous horn looks like a growth on the outside of the skin. Usually, if a pig has a fungal infection such as ringworm, by the time you notice one bald patch, there are several others. Aug 16, 2019 to treat ringworm in guinea pigs, start by taking your guinea pig to the vet for evaluation and treatment options. While they are usually healthy animals, there are a number of diseases that commonly affect pet guinea pigs. A bald patch is an area of baldness on a partially bald head. Signs that your guinea pig is sick and needs a vet. Parasites too can cause skin problems, these include lice and mites that live on the guinea pigs hair. Parasites too can cause skin problems, these include lice and mites that live on the guinea pig s hair. Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal and mite.
Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal and. When my sisters recently gave me a guinea pig, millie, she had a bald spot on her back but no other bald spots. Hi, i noticed today that my piggie spike has a huge bald patch on his belly. It is caused by small parasites called mites that live in the skin. Lice are tiny, wingless insects that live in a guinea pigs hair. Abscesses in these areas can become large very quickly. A guinea pig s color has nothing to do with its life, except for if it is getting bald patches or patches of color that werent there before. When you handle your guinea pig, gently open its mouth to see the abscess. The average weight of a mature guinea pig is right around 2 pounds. Applying aloe vera lightly to the skin will help easy the burn and pain the pig experiences. However, their numbers can increase when a guinea pig is stressed, has decreased immunity due to other illnesses, andor is unable to keep the mites reduced by normal grooming, and the increased population. By knowing what the most common illnesses are, you can be better prepared to monitor for signs and symptoms that your guinea pig may be getting sick. If you are petting your pig and getting handfuls of hair, odds are your pig is blowing its coat.
If your guinea pig has sarcoptic mange, then it will likely have bald patches where its been scratching and biting its own skin in an attempt to get rid of these painful pests. Pregnant females often lose a lot of hair because their hormones are unbalanced and this always grows back, so there is no need to worry. Guinea pigs suffer from a number of skin complaints and it is the general belief among guinea pig owners that skin issues account for most if not all of their trips to the vet. The mites are desperately itchy and the guinea pig will do anything to try and stop the irritation. Jan 26, 2020 if you notice your guinea pig has some bald spots, you might become alarmed.
A dominant guinea pig might be picking on a less dominant one, and pulling his hair out as a result. Or you can get a plain vitamin c tablet for an adult, crush it and sprinkle it on his veggies. The most common reason for hair loss in guinea pigs is usually mites. Excellent thread nicole, ill definitely be referring to this whenever i see something suspicious. There are five very common diseases in guinea pigs. This is normal, especially in boars, but if it looks a bit sore then there might be another underlying problem. The vet will probably prescribe an antifungal medication to be administered over the course of 56 weeks, and possibly a topical cream to treat bald patches. Its a very unpleasant condition for your pet, so it needs to be dealt with quickly and prevented from. Hair loss in guinea pigs apart from the bald patch behind the ears that all pigs have is usually a result of mange mites or a fungal infection. Jul 22, 2010 the ringworm infection is characterized by bald patches that commonly start at the head. Also, with fungal infections, the bald spots still tend to have some fur that clumps together, and the guinea pig will be scratching a lot. He is keep on biting his back and his i can see his skin. How to check your guinea pigs hair guinea pig illnesses.
But its gradually got bigger and im worried somethings wrong with him. My guinea pig has been scratching his back a lot every single day. Mange mites live in a guinea pigs skin and cause them a lot of pain. The ringworm infection is characterized by bald patches that commonly start at the head.
Jul 14, 2011 bathe all of your guinea pigs even if only one of them shows signs of lice or mites. An exception is that sometimes guinea pigs may have a bald patch on their behind, caused by the substance they use to mark their territory. The primary sign of ringworm infection is bald patches, usually starting at the head. Prevention involves good management, including cutting of eye teeth of young piglets. I have guinea pig that has bald spot what should i do. In fact, the guinea pig that holds the record for the longest hair was a peruvian. The animal will not simply present as going a bit bald, but will scratch frantically, drawing blood from the inflamed skin, and will also be very twitchy and ill at ease. A very young child may pull out a guinea pigs hair. The new guinea pig owner, after reading about hair loss and mites, lice and fungus diseases, will. Asked in guinea pigs are guinea pigs bald when born. Mange mange is one of the most important problems of small pig herds. Since cavies are sensitive to many antibiotics, good supportive care might be.
Apr 16, 2016 signs that your guinea pig is sick and needs a vet. Patches may first appear on the face around the eyes, nose and ears, and from there the infection can spread to the back. Remember to also check under the piggies belly and under the chin. Contrary to its name, this infection is not due to a parasitic worm, but to a microsporum species of fungus, typically the trichophyton mentagrophytes fungus, also clinically referred to as ringworm. When in pain, a guinea pig will often stop eating andor drinking. Flystrike flystrike occurs when flies are attracted to wounds or skin soiled. Unlike the abyssinian, the peruvian has long straight hair. This guinea pig still has her companion and i cant think what can be causing stress but dont know why else her hair is falling out. You can help prevent respiratory infections in guinea pigs by keeping the cage clean, keeping the cage in a draftfree room, and quarantining any new guinea pigs. Hair loss in guinea pigs can happen for a number of different reasons and it is important to consider the other factors affecting it before trying to decide what the cause might be. Her companion had died shortly before so i think it was stress. However, their numbers can increase when a guinea pig is stressed, has decreased immunity due to other illnesses, andor is unable to keep the mites reduced by. Its a very unpleasant condition for your pet, so it needs to be dealt with quickly and prevented from spreading to your other guinea pigs. These itchy spots get worse as the guinea pig does everything it can to scratch it repeatedly.
Your guinea pig may look fine on one day, then have a large abscess the next day. A congested guinea pig is a sad, frightened guinea pig. Hair loss in guinea pigs guinea lynx a medical and. It can appear as a large bump, cone, spike, or horn. Alopecia or hair loss in a guinea pig can be caused by a number of medical conditions including external parasites, ringworm a fungal infection, bacterial skin infections, nutritional deficiencies. Guinea pigs can also develop skin problems from parasites such as lice and mites. Again the signs to look out for are constant scratching and hair loss. Id noticed the fur thinning down there before but i thought it was due to old age as hes almost 5. My one year old male guinea pig has developed a very small brown spot on his stomach with. One of the main problems is that guinea pigs come from a dry climate and cannot always cope with the humidity they often experience in captivity. The first thing you notice is a bare patch which then develops sores on it. My oldest male started doing this to his cage mate the other one had completely hairless areas on his legs and belly.
The twoweek interval allows the eggs to hatch and the lice killed before they lay new eggs. The rex guinea pig is a shorthaired cavy with hair no longer than 1 cm long. Hair loss in guinea pigs guinea lynx a medical and care. Ive pet her there before and its not itchy and she doesnt scratch there much so i can conclude she does not have mites. Feb 22, 2011 my guinea pig has scabs and is going bald. One of the main problems is that guinea pigs come from a dry climate and cannot always cope with the humidity they often experience in. That means by the time your guinea pig, or cavy, shows any signs of disease, he might already be very sick.
When the other guinea pig started to get defensive, my oldest one started plucking himself bald where he could reach on his own body. Nov 04, 2014 many many cases of hairless guinea pigs come to the sanctuary where mites and fungal are a problem. Ileus is caused when gas builds up in the gastrointestinal tract stomach and intestines. Ringworm commonly starts around the head area, unlike mites, which often presents as a v shape on the back. Also, mange mites itch terribly and open sores develop where the guinea pig has been scratching. Mar 24, 2019 when my sisters recently gave me a guinea pig, millie, she had a bald spot on her back but no other bald spots. Oct 23, 2016 of all the different types of guinea pigs, the peruvian guinea pig takes the cake for the longest hair and by far.
The pig in the video below is blowing his coat in january. It can also be caused by things in your hamsters environment. Jul 21, 2010 fur mite infestation is a commonly encountered skin problem in guinea pigs. Guinea pigs can become obese if fed too much of the wrong food. My guinea pig has small balding patch on her back and its been there for probably two weeks now. Ringworm infection is a common infection in guinea pigs. There are no hairs on that area at all, and its about the size of a. Your guinea pig may have an intestinal blockage torsion andor a dangerous buildup of gas.
If you can find a childrens plain chewable vitamin c tablet, you could give him a portion of that. These mites cause such itchiness that your guinea pig may even go into. I actually went and dug through old threads a while ago to find some pictures to reference from because francies scent gland looked a bit worrying, shes absolutely fine though, she was just doing a lot of scenting i think so this is super useful, having the pics at our fingertips thanks. Fur mite infestation is a commonly encountered skin problem in guinea pigs. How to deal with common problems in guinea pigs pets4homes. A guinea pigs color has nothing to do with its life, except for if it is getting bald patches or patches of color that werent there before.
As prey animals, guinea pigs hide signs of illness. If your guinea pig has bald spots, then this could be due to mange mites or a fungal infection, both of which are easily treatable with a special shampoo. All potbelly pigs and even the more miniature varieties will always have some form of dry and itchy skin, this is very common in pigs. Barbering barbering refers to the behavior where a guinea pig trims the hair of himself or another guinea pig by chewing or tearing it. If your guinea pig is perscribed antibiotic and the crying continues after a few days, please ask your vet to do an xray to check for stones. From my own experience, bald patches, excessive itching could indicate they have mites. Take your pig to a qualified exotics vet for a check up. In another case, a combination of unprepared vet and uncooperative guinea pig resulted in a painful patch of fur loss. These specific hairs are used to protect the rest of. If the bald spot is limited to the area hidden when the rabbit tucks her head back toward her shoulders. Most commercial guinea pig diets have vitamin c built in, but it degrades within 90 days after the food is milled, so it is best not to rely on the pellets alone. If your guinea pig squeals when having a wee, it could be cystitis or a urinary tract infections uti. A severely sunburned pig may show signs of hind limb paralysis or squeal and not want to move its back legs.
The skin becomes itchy, and the pig scratches and rubs against pen walls and other objects. Under normal conditions fur mites are present in small numbers and exist symbiotically, not bothering their host. A guinea pig suffering from a respiratory problem may experience sneezing, lethargy, discharge from the nose andor eyes, loss of appetite and difficulty breathing. In fact this behaviour is often the very first sign of a mite infestation and it is only when you hold your guinea pig to try and calm it down. A guinea pigs nose is constantly active, sniffing for changes in the environment, nearby pigs, and food. The cage they were in was very small, and crowded, and of course it was a stressful environment for them, with this change, etc. Many many cases of hairless guinea pigs come to the sanctuary where mites and fungal are a problem.
Hair loss can be a symptom of an assortment of different health conditions. Hopefully, you will never have to deal with mange mites. After a few days, the pig may flake and peel but it will eventually clear itself. Flakes or a dandruff like skin shedding is normal and there is no reason for serious concern. Aug 15, 2011 it may even start doing this to itself. I can see the skin like a v shape and today, i think i felt something hard. A small list of guinea pig health problems with additional guinea pig health links. The two common guinea pig fur mites are trixacarus caviae sarcoptic mange mite. When i got them back, josh who was a rescue and always kinda skittish, though is. Guinea pigs are highly susceptible to respiratory infections, caused by bacteria, dampness, drafts, and a dirty cage. I also recommend treating the environment every four days by removing and replacing the substrate and spraying with a spray containing the same ingredient as the medication used to treat the guinea pig. Guinea pigs do like to have a hideout place to dart into because this makes them feel more secure, so weve often incorporated this fact into how we have them out with us. There are some short hairs and some flakey yellow skin when you scratch at it.
Fungus can cause bald patches, scaly skin, and hair loss. Barbering, or chewing on the hair, is sometimes seen when rabbits are housed together or with guinea pigs. Aug 04, 2009 she lives with another guinea pig who doesnt have one. Itchy guinea pig likely has 1 of 3 ailments animal health. Read what forum members have to say about managing chronic bloating. Guinea pigs have got incredibly soft and thin skin. Naturally occuring bald spots behind the ear of a guinea pig. It may not be boredom, though, so be sure to check for mites in case this is the reason for their hair pulling. Most mammals have three different types of hairs, including guard hairs. A guinea pig can acquire ringworm infection from another guinea pig or from contaminated objects such as bedding. Richardson reported a case where a guinea pig kept outside was losing hair to a robin to provide nesting material. The sooner that you speak with your vet about a mange mite problem, the easier it will be to cure the problem. Until today he has been eating a very rich diet, which included guinea pig food, hay, oranges, parsley, green peppers, and kiwis. A very young child may pull out a guinea pig s hair.
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