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Medical & Veterinary Topics This forum is not for emergencies and does not replace the advice of your competent guinea pig veterinarian.

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Old 05-11-08, 03:25 pm
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Hair loss...big time
Hi there!

My sisters have 2 guinea pigs, living together.

One of the guinea pigs is not doing too well, her name is Flower.

Flower has a lot of bald spots, but no visible fleas. Her hair is falling out in large bunches when you brush/pet her. Flower's skin seems dry and flaky. She doesn't seem to itch, but we're not sure.

Please help - any advice would be great.

We are going to the vet on Monday.
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  #2  
Old 05-11-08, 03:28 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
Have you read GuineaLynx page on hair loss?
Guinea Lynx :: Hair Loss
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  #3  
Old 05-11-08, 05:00 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
You need to go to the vet. The pig either has mites (not visible to the naked eye) or a fungal infection.

Just don't let the vet do a skin scraping because it often gives false results and is very painful for the pig.
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Old 05-11-08, 05:45 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
guinea pigs rarely get fleas. Mites are more common and you cannot see them. They live under the skin. But either way, ditto Ly.
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  #5  
Old 05-11-08, 05:51 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
Make sure you seprate the two guinea pigs! Just incase!
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Old 05-11-08, 06:12 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
Quote:
Originally Posted by bamby71994 View Post
Make sure you seprate the two guinea pigs! Just incase!
It's a bit late to separate now. The other could get them just the same as she's already been with the other far too long.

You do need to treat both though if it's mites otherwise flower will end up getting them back.
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Old 05-11-08, 09:29 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
Ok, I'll keep that in mind - so I'll bring both guinea pigs to the vet.

What is the medicine that the vet would prescribe... I haven't been to this vet before & want to make sure everything will be ok...
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Old 05-11-08, 09:35 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
Thanks Haley - I just took a look at guinea lynx.

Looking at the pictures & comparing, I'm guessing Flower has a fungal infection - should I still treat both when I go to the vet?
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  #9  
Old 05-11-08, 10:41 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
It may or may not be a fungal infection, the vet will be able to tell. So yes, take them both and if it's mites they will get treated with ivermectin. Fungal treatments will depend on what type of fungus.
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  #10  
Old 05-11-08, 10:51 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
I'll give updates as soon as possible. Thank you everyone for your great advice!
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Old 05-12-08, 10:56 am
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Re: Hair loss...big time
What kind will they be treated for if it's a fungal infection. I heard that creams are a no-no.
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Old 05-12-08, 12:19 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
There are shampoos such as nizoral and malaseb that can be used to treat fungal infections and there are also a couple of creams that are safe to use such as miconazole and clotrimazole. Then there are oral treatments that can be given.
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Old 05-12-08, 06:48 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
Is the pig a teddy?
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Old 05-13-08, 11:04 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
No, neither of the guinea pigs are teddies, HowietheGreat...
one is short hair and the other a mixed of long hair...


Anyways the vet will get results in a few days. She suspects they have mites.
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Old 05-14-08, 06:03 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
The vet DID do a skin scraping - I wasn't there...even though I told my sisters & highlighted it on a paper that it shouldn't be done.
Anyways, now we are waiting for results, the vet as I said, thinks Flower has mites.

So that would mean that Pumpkin, Flower's "roommate" / friend would need to get a dose for mites as well, right?
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Old 05-14-08, 06:10 pm
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Re: Hair loss...big time
Yes, any pigs you currently have need to be treated. Otherwise the mites can spread back and forth.
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Old 05-15-08, 12:03 am
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Re: Hair loss...big time
I know this is a bit off topic, but I was down in Kentucky visiting an aunt and I got to visit a few places that sold Ivermectin. I wanted to see if what I was looking at was the right thing to get. I haven't been able to find any that goes on the skin (is there a kind) so with the oral how do I know how much to give my guinea?

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