Skin Problems Possible Ringworm? - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**fazillas** · #1 10-03-09, 03:54 pm

Hi :)

I just registered onto this forum. I have been a lurker for the past few days and found this site extremely helpful.

I got my guinea pig (Spike) about 2 weeks ago from the pet store. I now know better...He's a male. He has been getting a lot of floor and lap time but yet he still hides in his pigloo whenever it's there. I find that the only time he explores is when I remove the pigloo but I try not to do that as it's important for him to have his comfort zone.

The guy who worked at the pet store said that he was about 10 weeks old.

A couple of days ago, while I was stroking him, I noticed something similar to a scab a few inches below his front left leg. It's not a dark patch...almost like dry skin...I took a look at it today again and it has not changed. I will be taking him to the vet on Monday but I was just curious as to what it may be...he sheds quite a bit as well...he doesn't have any bald patches and even though he itches a couple of times a day, it's not excessive. He didn't seem in pain or discomfort when I touched the affected area.

Any help would be greatly appreciaed.

**Toadies** · #2 10-03-09, 08:07 pm

It's hard to tell from the picture what it might be. I'm glad that you're taking him to the vet, though. As for you, either wear gloves when you handle him or wash your hands like crazy after you handle him. Ringworm is not deadly, but it is contagious and it is also uncomfortable. Even if it isn't ringworm, until you do know what it is, it's better to be safe than sorry. Keep us posted.

PS-Welcome to GPC. If you've got pigg, this is the place to be.

**fazillas** · #3 10-03-09, 08:39 pm

Thanks for the quick response...

I never thought of protecting myself but you are right, until I figure out what it is, it's better to be safe than sorry.

He is amazing...I never realized how fast I would get attached to the piggy ...

I will keep you posted.

**Toadies** · #4 10-04-09, 01:54 pm

Aha!!! Gotcha!! Welcome to the wonderful world of piggies. It's a wild, but great ride!

**fazillas** · #5 10-06-09, 10:02 am

Thanks for the welcome, Toadies :)

So Spike sees a vet this afternoon at 3:30. I am really nervous about it. I hope that the skin lesion is nothing too serious and can clear up with treatment.

Will keep you posted on the diagnosis.

Tdchewy · #6 10-06-09, 10:10 am

One of my dogs, a shih-tzu, gets spots like this on her skin from time to time. She has a weakened immune system due to overuse of antibiotics. The weakened system invites demodectic mites to invade her body resulting in what we have been told is demodectic mange. The only way to rid her of this is to have her dipped in mitaban once a week for a month, then she recovers quickly. I hope for your sake that this is not whats going on. It gets quite expensive after time. Good Luck

**fazillas** · #7 10-06-09, 10:23 am

That does sound terrible...and I pray that Spike does not have that. Is there any other reason to get the demodectic mites? He is only a couple of months old so I am curious to see what else would be the cause of that IF that is what it may be...

He is such a sweet baby...

I found dried blood on the spot yesterday so I am assuming that he must have scratched himself raw at one point during the day.

I guess we won't know anything until later on today...I'm getting more and more nervous and the time seems to just go by so slow...UGH!

Also, would Ivermectin work to get rid of the demodectic mites?

Tdchewy · #8 10-06-09, 10:26 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazillas

Is there any other reason to get the demodectic mites? He is only a couple of months old so I am curious to see what else would be the cause of that IF that is what it may be...

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I was told that demodectic mange lays dormant in all dogs, but only manifests itself when the immune system is weakened enough that it cant be fought off any longer. This may not be the case for piggies, I hope it is not. I just posted the possibility because it looks so familiar to me.
Hope everything works out well. Good Luck!

Edit: Our latest piggy was adopted after being treated for a scratch on her foot and back that got infected. She's doing well now. So maybe your baby just got in a scuffle with another piggy at some point.

**fazillas** · #9 10-06-09, 10:34 am

Haha, it's okay...I swear, having a piggy is like having your own baby...I worry constantly about his well being ... My fiance says that I take care of the guinea pig way better than I take care of him...

I'm glad that you have told me about this...even though it may turn out to be something else, knowing what's out there will at least keep my eyes out for something in the future that may look familiar.

I really wish I knew before that buying pets from pet stores are not the best thing... The living quarters are so cramped and I highly doubt that they feed them greens or treat them the way they deserve to be treated.

What would you recommend to carry the piggy in? I had a hard time finding anything so I went and bought a cat carrier.

**Ly&Pigs** · #10 10-06-09, 12:24 pm

If your pig has mites, you need either Ivermectin, Advantage or Revolution. No dips, baths or any other treatment like sprays or powders as they are not safe for cavies.

If it's fungal then there are some safe fungal medications that can be used.

**fazillas** · #11 10-06-09, 12:57 pm

I have done some research on Ivermectin. Do you think that it's a good idea to get the vet treat Spike this time around and then I can buy the Ivermectin and keep up the maintenance...?

Because he is the first guinea pig I have ever had, I just want to be safe than sorry...

Another question about the Ivermectin (I'm thinking of purchasing a bottle and keep it at home for emergencies), do I need to get a needle syringe to draw the liquid out of the bottle? I have a couple of websites that I found Ivermectin on:

Ivomec For Cattle Swine Injection Merial (Farm Supplies - Cattle Wormers - Ivermectins - Injectable

and

This Little Piggie Marketplace

Which one would you suggest is a better one to get?

I feel so stupid for asking so many questions but I want my baby to be as healthy and happy as possible...even at the risk of me sounding so dumb...

This website is amazing! Thank you all for your quick replies.

**fazillas** · #12 10-06-09, 05:32 pm

So I just got back from the vet a couple of hours ago and here is the Dx:

She did a full physical check up and said that besides the sore, Spike looked perfectly healthy.

As for the sore, she did not think that it looked like a fungal/parasitic lesion but more like an injury or a sore that was taking a long time to heal (possibly due to him scratching it). She said that he had no mites or anything similar.

The vet gave me an ointment called Fucithalmic (Fusidic Acid). It actually comes in an ointment for the skin as well as for the eye. Because the one for the eye is gentler, she prescribed that for Spike. I'm supposed to apply it on the sore twice a day every 12 hours for 7-10 days. Because he is such a baby, she was reluctant in prescribing oral antibiotics.

That should take care of it. If not, she said that we would need to do a skin scrape to make sure that it is definitely not parasitic and if need be, as a last resort, give him oral antibiotics.

I hope that the ointment helps.

**RosiesMama** · #13 10-06-09, 09:51 pm

Sounds like a pretty good doctor visit! Hope the ointment helps fast. I can so relate to falling in love; I think it's the irresistable little piggy face.

**poopysmom** · #14 10-06-09, 10:14 pm

Heya Fazillas,

you know those coats that the piggy get to wear sometimes (they do up at the front and under the belly with velcro)? One of the regional shelter manager from my side posted a thread on how a rescued boar (one in 29 of an extreme freerange/abuse case) sore would not go away due to him keep scratching it. So she got one of those piggy coat and get him to wore it so he cannot scratch the offending spot. Progressive photos show that it has done wonders for Oscar's open wounds and also kept any dirt, dust , flies etc getting to his huge sores.

Just in case you are interested.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #15 10-07-09, 02:38 pm

Skin scrapes are pretty useless and painful. You should get ivermec and treat as a precaution. Waiting too late, and the mites will progress more painfully.

**fazillas** · #16 10-10-09, 10:21 pm

So I have decided to get Ivermectin.

I know of a couple of online websites that I can purchase it for. Can anyone recommend what to get or post the links to the sites I can buy it from?

Thanks

**vicky2** · #17 10-10-09, 10:30 pm

I suggest you use this site:
This Little Piggie Marketplace

**fazillas** · #18 10-10-09, 10:34 pm

Thanks, Vicky2.

I am thinking that I need the 1% right? The other one is only 0.5%.

**vicky2** · #19 10-10-09, 10:50 pm

I think it's 1% but you should double check on guinealynx for that one.

**Ly&Pigs** · #20 10-10-09, 11:06 pm

The solution will depend on what you get. If you get horse paste it will be 1.87% and the injectable will be 1%.