Try wiping your pig down with a damp or wet clean cloth once a week or every few days. Her other rossets although have all the fur but do look quite flakey. 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. The primary sign of ringworm infection is bald patches, usually starting at the head. The first sign of a ringworm infection in guinea pigs, is the appearance of bald patches which typically develop around their heads. Her companion had died shortly before so i think it was str. Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal. One of the common causes for hair loss is due to barbering, a behavior by which guinea pigs will chew or tear their own or each others hair off as a result of conflicts between adult males or between adults and young. While there are many possible reasons for hair loss, the most common reason by far is microscopic mange mites, a painful parasitic condition easily treated with ivermectin.
There are five very common diseases in guinea pigs. Hes got a rosette about his head, i slight bald patch where the hair grows away from it. Like a guinea pig version of eczema or something just because of the fact it looks quite dry. No itching or spots anywhere else fuery had a similar bald spot when he was dealing with a fungal infection. Guinea pigs do however have very small bald spots behind their ears, i have five and they all have them, it should be normal. 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. Patches may first appear on the face around the eyes, nose and ears, and from there the infection can spread to the back. The vet we saw said and i quote i dont know much at all about guinea pigs. Guinea pigs are amongst the most popular pets in the united states because they are relatively small and easy to look after. Flakes or a dandruff like skin shedding is normal and there is no reason for serious concern. One of our guinea pigs has a bald patch on her back.
The most common reason for hair loss in guinea pigs is usually mites. Norml handling of guinea pigs wont cause it if one washes ones hands every time after handling the guinea pig or their bedding. 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. She often nibbles at this spot but it doesnt look red or sore although it does have a couple of red spots on the bald area of skin.
Though guinea pig skin cases are usually pretty straightforward, you can get cases that stump even the best general practitioner. Jan 26, 2020 if you notice your guinea pig has some bald spots, you might become alarmed. If you have a long hair guinea pig, then you might need to brush them more often to keep their hair tanglefree. Or if you start seeing bald spots and lots of hair is shedding, it.
It may also be exhibited by females that are under stress. Hair loss can be a symptom of an assortment of different health conditions. One of the most common and easily curable health issues in guinea pigs is the. If they have any bald spots other places then they probably have some kind of mites or fungus, and you should take them to the vet. If you have other pigs in the same hutch it could be from fighting or it could be nothing sinister at all, just simply that the guinea pig has rubbed against something and caused hair loss. 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. Avoid guinea pigs with bald patches or red patches of skin. Rightso anyway he felt her over briefly and looked at the bald patches, asked a couple of really obvious questions i. It may not be boredom, though, so be sure to check for mites in case this is the reason for their hair pulling. Aug 04, 2009 allot of guinea pigs begin to loose fur with old age, my cousin had a guinea pig when it was younger and when it was 4 it began to loose its fur and within a few weeks it went bald and died abut 34 weeks after, they took it to a vet and was told its old age, so just dont get to worried if it looses all of its fur. Jul 22, 2010 the ringworm infection is characterized by bald patches that commonly start at the head. 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. Nov 04, 2014 many many cases of hairless guinea pigs come to the sanctuary where mites and fungal are a problem. If you notice any bald spots or patches of missing hair on your guinea pig, treat it as something serious and investigate as to how it happened.
The only time you should worry is if the skin is red and inflamed, crusty with scabs, or looking sore in any other way. From food, treats, habitats, bedding, litter, beds, toys, harnesses, carriers grooming products and more chewy has the best small pet supplies from toprated brands. Vegetables high in vitamin c include tomatoes, red or green peppers, asparagus, and spinach. A guinea pig s bald spot could be caused by external parasites, allergies, or illness. Pigs are known to be hypoallergenic animals, although this is debatable. Lice and their eggs are usually seen in the bald patches behind your guinea pig s ears and the mites can be seen microscopically all over the body.
A vet would be able to diagnose the problem just by carrying out an examination of your pet and the bald patches that may have appeared around their heads or other parts of their bodies. Mange mites one of the two main causes of mange cause the condition known as sarcoptic mange. Guinea pigs need a minimum of 10 mg of vitamin ckg body weight daily for maintenance and at least 30 mgkg body weight daily during pregnancy. Guinea pigs have got incredibly soft and thin skin. The most common reason for hair loss is when a guinea pig is infected with parasites.
They dont require your attention 247 or long walks in the park and, as long as you feed them some good oxbow guinea pig food, they will live a good life. The bald patches are on her stomach and bum and look kind of stubbly. However, if the shedding is combined with itching and leaves bald patches your guinea pig probably has mites. Apr 12, 2020 maine started having little bald patches appear. I took her to see a vet before the lockdown but the medication the vet prescribed wasnt helping. 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. Baby guinea pigs will occasionally loose the hair from their noses when nursing. The most likely cause is something like lice or fleas have a look yourself, and, either take to a vet or try using a shampoo for guineapigs to get rid of them. Guinea pigs are rodents so naturally they scratch behind their ears very often. It may have also gotten an infection from extremely dangerous mange mites or fungus. Jan 11, 2010 guinea pigs can get mites and fleas also and bald patches can be caused by scratching the skin. Prevention includes prompt treatment of external parasites, good husbandry, and lowering humidity levels.
I took both of them to the vet a couple of weeks ago, and the vet noticed that there was a bald patch on the younger pig s left leg. Also, avoid brushing in their bald patches as it can hurt them. What do you do if your guinea pig has developed a bald patch. There are some short hairs and some flakey yellow skin when you scratch at it.
Although ketosis occurs most often in pregnant guinea pigs, it can also happen in obese guinea pigs male or female. Females sometimes show similar bald spots during late pregnancy. If you can get back to me on what breed he is that would be great. This bald spot will grow rapidly over the next few days, often with dry, flaky skin. Humid climates may be especially problematic for guinea pigs. Guinea pig hutches, guinea pig runs and guinea pig tunnels. If treating for parasites doesnt resolve your guinea pigs discomfort, there may be other issues at play. When your guinea pig is getting older loss of hair is a sign of aging.
Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal and mite. It looks like there is a tiny bit of hair loss as well, its hard to tell. When she developed this problem before, i just gave her more vitamin c and it cleared up. The skinny pig is an almost hairless breed of guinea pig.
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. A guinea pig can acquire ringworm infection from another guinea pig or from contaminated objects such as bedding. The nostrils, rump area, underchin area, ears and eyes should be clear and free of discharge fur should not be damp or stained in any way. No itching or spots anywhere else i was looking over ginny really closely while weighing her, and she has some dryflaky skin, right above her ears and on the nape of her neck. 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. Shop chewy for low prices and a wide selection of the best small pet supplies.
Speak with your veterinarian if you suspect any of these parasites to determine the best course of action. They have a short, thick body with broad shoulders. How to check your guinea pigs hair guinea pig illnesses. Here are the most common causes of balding in guinea pigs and treatments. These bald patches will develop a crusty, flaky type appearance with red patches which look quite sore, especially around their eyes, ears and noses. 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. Parasites arent the only cause of dry, itchy skin and hair loss in guinea pigs.
As we previously mentioned, the easiest way to tell if your guinea pig has caught a ringworm infection is to see if its fur starts falling, creating bald patches around the head. The primary sign of ringworm is the presence of bald, scaly patches, usually starting on the face nose, around the eyes, and ears and head. Himalayan guinea pigs are average in size, typically ranging from 8 to 12 inches when fully grown. My one year old guinea pig has a large bald spot on her back. If your guinea pig is scratching at the bald patches it could be ring worm or mites if its ring wormring worm will look like a brownish color. May 24, 2010 one of our guinea pigs has a bald patch on her back. What causes ringworm in guinea pigs because ringworm is a fungal infection it is highly contagious which means if one pet has it, then other animals in the household may well catch it too if they. In addition to unlimited grass hay, capybaras should be fed guinea pig pellets with vitamin c. Also check for soiling around the rear end, as this may indicate a problem with diarrhea. Now ive put her on a diet shes overweight, started giving her more veggies romaine lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli, and upped her dosage of vitamin c i drop it into her water bottle. It might have been but my guinea pig is white all over and has a silky coat. Any loss of hair in guinea pigs that isnt behind the ears should be investigated. For a stylish and easy to clean home look no further than the eglu go guinea pig hutch, while the outdoor guinea pig run is ideal for offering your pets even more space. Feb 05, 2008 she developed two bald spots on her back near her rear that are semetrical.
They do look quite dry flakey on and around the bald patches. Allergies such as pollens or grasses, or even irritants from the environment may also causes balding spots. Guinea pigs all have a bald spot behind each ear, this is normal. Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal and.
Why does my guinea pig have a bald spot on her back. The guinea pig s coat should be wellgroomed full, fluffy, and smooth looking, with no bare patches. Hi dont panic, there are several reason for bald spots in guinea pigs. Any hair loss in an older guinea pig should be investigated. Guinea pigs themselves can get impetigo as a result of this bacteria, so if your guinea pig has impetigo, it could cause impetigo in someone who had a suppressed immune system. Himalayan guinea pigs are considered an albino breed, however they do develop some color pigments in certain areas. Of course if you are still worried, check the area around the patched if it is a little irratated or red then perhaps it is a small infection. Inadequate diet if a guinea pig is suffering from vitamin c deficiency, he can experience balding or hair loss. Many owners assume that guinea pigs lose their hair as they get older, but this isnt true. Often the ringworm can cause initially circular but spreading bald patches with scaling that can appear crusty or raised. Skinny pigs typically have hair on their muzzles, feet, and legs, but are hairless over the remainder of their bodies. Irritation and itching may also be seen in infected guinea pigs. 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.
Your guinea pig could be shedding because its really hot and sweaty, so you should place your guinea pig in a cool, shady spot. While light to medium shedding is quite natural, an abnormal loss associated with flaky skin, rough skin crust, dandruff, inflammation, or an open sore in the skin can be a significant concern. The bald patches will generally have crusty, flaky, red patches within them. May 20, 2008 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. Learn what you can do to help your guinea pig on petcoach. This is a particularly nasty condition where the mites get under your guinea pigs skin, causing a lot of pain. The hair would just clump off because the skin was so flaky underneath. Fungus can cause bald patches, scaly skin, and hair loss. Often guinea pig parents wonder why is their guinea pig missing a patch of fur. Some of them have a thin covering of fuzzy hair on their backs as well.
Guinea pig health and wellness guide all guinea pig. Symptoms include scratching, biting, thinning hair and bald patches. Skin irritation, redness, and itching are also common symptoms associated with ringworm infections. The cases that i have demonstrated here are moderate. But, if the hair loss is excessive it might be because of the changes in the temperature, so your piggy is adjusting its coat. My guinea pig is losing hair on the sides, bald patches. As well, f ungal skin disease is another common cause for hair loss with an associated scaling of the skin in the guinea pig. Hamsters are supposed to be cute and fluffy so hair loss and bald patches are typically a sign that there is something wrong. The primary sign of ringworm is the presence of bald, scaly patches, usually starting on the face nose, around the eyes, and ears and. Disorders and diseases of guinea pigs all other pets. Himalayan guinea pigs a complete guide to an adorable breed.
The mites are desperately itchy and the guinea pig will do anything to try and stop the irritation. There are many reasons for hair loss to occur in guinea pigs. We have a guinea pig with small bald spots around the nose. Bald patches behind the ears it is absolutely normal for guinea pigs to have small bald patches behind the ears. Aug 16, 2019 to treat ringworm in guinea pigs, start by taking your guinea pig to the vet for evaluation and treatment options. Skin diseases to look for in guinea pigs morpeth herald. Symmetrical hair loss over the hips of females can be due to ovarian cysts. He sheds lots of hair and only has quite short hair. Bald patches in the beard can come on suddenly or over a period of time. 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 pig in the video below is blowing his coat in january.
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