I have two teddy
cavies - sisters, almost two years old (
not from a pet store). One of the two has always shed hair in small clumps of two or three strands (or single strands) but with a piece of flaky skin attached to the bottom of the strand. I have noticed some itching (but not a huge amount) - no bald spots or irritated looking skin patches. She doesn't seem to itch much when she's out for floor time or cuddling with me. The other piggy has never had this problem, and has always shed normally. I assumed the flaky skin was just the way she was, but now wonder if she might have a mite of some sort. If she has had a mite all this time, wouldn't her sister have shown some signs of it too by now?
Also - does anyone know how a pig would acquire a mite even if it hasn't come in contact with any other animals and lives in a super clean cage etc? I'm not sure how this would happen.
Any advice would be much appreciated. If I have to treat both pigs, I certainly will - just don't want them to go through any unecessary angst if there is really nothing wrong other than a case of flaky skin.
Thanks very much.