Baby with fungal ear

[Elsie's pigs]

Hi,

I have an 8 week old Guinea pig who is fit and well apart from a white crusty patch on one of her ears which I noticed yesterday. I took her to the vet today (unfortunately our usual pig savvy vet was unavailable). The vet didn’t fill me with confidence but he did say that it was fungal but didn’t look like ringworm. He said that he would have to look up how to treat her and would let us know on Monday! I asked what I could do in the meantime he suggested applying 1% Canesten cream, which I have done.

I’ve since done some research and it looks like most recommend just cleaning the ear with diluted anti fungal shampoo like Nizoral shampoo for humans, rather than jumping straight in with oral medication, which I think this vet will do on Monday from our conversation.

I am going to take her to see our usual vet as soon as I can get an appointment (hopefully Monday). My question is, what should I do until then? Does anyone have experience of treating such a young pig? Are Canesten and Nizoral safe for her at her age?

As it isn’t ringworm do I need to treat her cage mates (no signs of it on them) and the cage too? Should I throw away their wooden hides?

Sorry for all the questions, she is such a lovely little pig I just want to be doing everything I can for her.

Thanks, Elsie

 

[piggl]

Unfortunately I can’t offer you any advice but I will bump you up and someone with much more knowledge than me will be able to share their thoughts, I hope your girl is feeling better soon!

Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures

 

[piggieminder]

I had a young pig with fungal on his ear a few months ago it was treated successfully with Canesten cream and Nizoral baths. He was a bit older (5 months) so I can't comment on the suitability for your piggy's age. I followed the Ringworm thread (as linked above) and treated as if it was. I am not an expert but I wouldn't remove her from her friends as she is so young and if her friends are going to catch anything chances are they already have and you will have to treat any symptoms if they arrive. I would bath them all at the end of the treatment to make sure there are no remaining spores in the hair. Clean everything in the cage and the cage with F10 disinfectant.

 

[Elsie's pigs]

Thank you both. I have now noticed a small round scab by her ear, so it’s looking like she has ringworm proper. The forum’s guide is really helpful, I’ve been even more obsessively cleaning since reading it (luckily, I always use F10 and have an almost full bottle). Tomorrow I’m going to ask the piggy vet for oral treatment if he will give it to such a young pig, if not I’ll ask for imaverol.

My senior Abyssinian isn’t going to like having a bath, it’s a 3 man job just to cut her nails!

Thanks again, Elsie

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you both. I have now noticed a small round scab by her ear, so it’s looking like she has ringworm proper. The forum’s guide is really helpful, I’ve been even more obsessively cleaning since reading it (luckily, I always use F10 and have an almost full bottle). Tomorrow I’m going to ask the piggy vet for oral treatment if he will give it to such a young pig, if not I’ll ask for imaverol.

My senior Abyssinian isn’t going to like having a bath, it’s a 3 man job just to cut her nails!

Thanks again, Elsie

Hi and welcome

I am very sorry. Ringworm in newly bought piggies is sadly not at all uncommon.

I hope that our very detailed and practical guide will help you because it doesn't underestimate the contagion power of the spores and the angles in which they are transmitted.

We also have a practical bathing guide which helps to prevent any accidents and injuries from blind jumps while minimising the risk of escapes and also tries to minimise the stress.
Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)
Boar Care: Bits, Bums & Baths

You may also find these links here helpful in asserting your authority in piggy body language and social concepts so they are instinctively and immediately understood. That can help quite a bit.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips
Who is the Boss - Your Guinea Pig or You?

You can find all of these guides in our extensive practical advice and information collection, the access link to which you may want to bookmark because the information is laid out in thematical order. There is also an shortcut on the extended top bar. The guide format allows us to extend and update our information at need and as we have time. You may want to browse, read and re-read at need since you take different things away at different levels of experience from some of the guides.
Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection

All the best. We are here for practical tips and support if needed.

 

[Elsie's pigs]

Thanks again to all. I have started treating all 3 piggies with Sporanox.

I just wanted to check if I can give the baby a bath at the end of treatment too, or is she too young? She will be around 10 weeks old by then. I have Nizoral shampoo, but should I just use water on her?

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks again to all. I have started treating all 3 piggies with Sporanox.

I just wanted to check if I can give the baby a bath at the end of treatment too, or is she too young? She will be around 10 weeks old by then. I have Nizoral shampoo, but should I just use water on her?

You can give her just a water bath or dilute the sporonox with the same amount of water and just use the suds on the ears and face.
The last bath is more of a mechanical removal of any spores in the piggy coats from sleeping and scent marking etc. - this his how secondary ringworm patches are usually picked up. The signing off bath is there to prevent these when they reach the skin sooner or later. However if she hasn't had any full body oral or topical (skin) treatment before, then sporonox should be used to make sure that there is not another outbreak.