ProudPiggyMama
Member
Cavy Slave
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2011
- Posts
- 18
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2011
- Messages
- 18
Hello! I'm a new mama to a rescued male guinea (not sure of his age; he was adopted from a neighbor who never bothered to learn his age.), and today, during his first grooming, I noticed what looks like a two bald spots, both ovals about the size of a quarter on his back. This is my first piggie, and I wanted to know what was normal with bald spots. Also, what is an 'acceptable' amount of scratching? I'm not sure if they are part of rosettes, or what.
I gently ran my fingers over the area while trimming his hair, and he didn't make any noises of distress or pain, and he didn't squirm away or scream. The rest of his fur is a little dirty, but I trimmed out most of the mats and dirty bits. He wasn't kept in the best of conditions- he was in a smallish, 2.5x1.5 cage with very little room to run around, no hidebox, and several old corncobs. His water had bits of bedding in it, as it was in a dish. I was told to "just give it some iceberg lettuce sometimes, corn, whatever". His cage was underneath a bird's cage, which contained several finches. He didn't have any hay.
Since getting him home, I've been feeding him about a cup of veggies a day. For the first couple of days (I've had him for four days now), he was very shy and quiet, and hid in his hidebox without eating or drinking while I was in the room.
So far, I've given him:
day 1- One strawberry, a slice of green peppers, which he nibbled and then left alone
Day 2- carrots and green peppers again, with a bit of wheatgrass- he ate most of the carrots and ignored the peppers, and nibbled at the wheatgrass
Day 3- one baby carrot, and a leaf of romaine lettuce; then later two small leaves of kale- he ate everything I offered to him
Day 4- One tiny slice of banana and three baby spinach leaves, all of which he ate
If the problem is vitamin related, what would you suggest to fill in any 'holes' in his diet?
I have been supplying him with Bonanza alfalfa and timothy pellets (which he has barely touched) and fresh timothy hay.
ANYWAY- my main question: what constitutes a bald spot? The rest of his hair is thick and healthy looking, and he doesn't seem to have any insects crawling through his hair; nor does he have any dandruff-y looking flakes. He itches occasionally, and his eyes/ears/feet appear healthy. If it is a bald spot, what could be the causes?
I am still trying to locate a vet in my area (Jupiter, FL) that deals with small pets. Until then, I was hoping I could get suggestions or tips on this problem.
I gently ran my fingers over the area while trimming his hair, and he didn't make any noises of distress or pain, and he didn't squirm away or scream. The rest of his fur is a little dirty, but I trimmed out most of the mats and dirty bits. He wasn't kept in the best of conditions- he was in a smallish, 2.5x1.5 cage with very little room to run around, no hidebox, and several old corncobs. His water had bits of bedding in it, as it was in a dish. I was told to "just give it some iceberg lettuce sometimes, corn, whatever". His cage was underneath a bird's cage, which contained several finches. He didn't have any hay.
Since getting him home, I've been feeding him about a cup of veggies a day. For the first couple of days (I've had him for four days now), he was very shy and quiet, and hid in his hidebox without eating or drinking while I was in the room.
So far, I've given him:
day 1- One strawberry, a slice of green peppers, which he nibbled and then left alone
Day 2- carrots and green peppers again, with a bit of wheatgrass- he ate most of the carrots and ignored the peppers, and nibbled at the wheatgrass
Day 3- one baby carrot, and a leaf of romaine lettuce; then later two small leaves of kale- he ate everything I offered to him
Day 4- One tiny slice of banana and three baby spinach leaves, all of which he ate
If the problem is vitamin related, what would you suggest to fill in any 'holes' in his diet?
I have been supplying him with Bonanza alfalfa and timothy pellets (which he has barely touched) and fresh timothy hay.
ANYWAY- my main question: what constitutes a bald spot? The rest of his hair is thick and healthy looking, and he doesn't seem to have any insects crawling through his hair; nor does he have any dandruff-y looking flakes. He itches occasionally, and his eyes/ears/feet appear healthy. If it is a bald spot, what could be the causes?
I am still trying to locate a vet in my area (Jupiter, FL) that deals with small pets. Until then, I was hoping I could get suggestions or tips on this problem.
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