Loss of hair around the eyes

[Marney Morgan]

We bought our 3 children their own guinea pigs 2 weeks ago. Loksok and Charlie are doing fine but poor Cookie
appears to be loosing the hair around his eyes and the skin underneath looks sore!! :-( they were bought
together, have always lived together. We change their bedding everyday, give them fresh food, water, bedding
and veggies every day!! Advice please - we are new guinea pig owners!!!

 

[bpatters]

Can you post a picture? It's most likely mites or a fungus, but the treatments are different, so it would help to see what it looks like.

Welcome to the forum! And we'd love to meet all your pigs. I do hope, though, that you just forgot to mention hay in that list of foods -- the most important thing you can give them is unlimited long strand grass hay.

 

[Marney Morgan]

Thank you for replying. Yes, fresh hay every day placed in the feeder tray and down as bedding. I couldn't get a photo to upload
but I took it to the pet shop and they asked me to bring all 3 down to the shop. They haven't offered any indication as to what it
may be but they have taken all 3 to see their vet. Cookie to see what's wrong and LokSok and Charlie to keep him company!!
Needless to say I have some worried children :-(

 

[Marney Morgan]

Thank you for replying. Yes, fresh hay every day placed in the feeder tray and down as bedding. I couldn't get a photo to upload
but I took it to the pet shop and they asked me to bring all 3 down to the shop. They haven't offered any indication as to what it
may be but they have taken all 3 to see their vet. Cookie to see what's wrong and LokSok and Charlie to keep him company!!
Needless to say I have some worried children :-(

 

[FuryanGoddess]

Hay really shouldn't be used as bedding, just for eating. I use aspen, some use fleece. Some Carefresh, which is paper. Keep us updated on your little ones.

 

[Marney Morgan]

Here is a pic of our poor Cookie!!! No call from the vet today to say what is wrong??? I am going to call them tomorrow afternoon if I havent heard by then??

Any clues???

 

[sleepingchild]

My little guy Zoloft had a similar issue, because his eye got crusty the hair somewhat came off, but he was placed on anti biotics and is totally fine now.

 

[bpatters]

Update on Cookie?

 

[foggycreekcavy]

Did you leave them at the pet store? In the future, find an exotic veterinarian to take them to. Pet stores and their vets often are not cavy knowledgeable.

Looks to me like Cookie either has an upper respiratory infection, mites, or fungus. It would be a good idea to treat all three pigs with ivermectin for mites--you can do this yourself without a vet visit. A cavy vet should be able to tell if it's a URI and prescribe antibiotics.