Barbering?

[Emmalou46]

Hello,

I have just been to pick my piggies up from the lady who looks after them whilst we are away. She runs the sanctuary where we adopted them from and also works at the vets. She didn’t mention anything, but when we got home I noticed Cocos hair looked thinned and I could see some of his scalp, there was no redness on the skin or signs of anything at all. I think he does seem to fret when we leave him, even though he must know her to a degree I think he still gets a bit upset. I weigh him weekly and always notice he loses weight when he’s been away for a week, I just put it down to maybe me feeding him too much but now I have noticed the barbering, maybe a trip to the vets is needed or should I give him a week to recover and see then?

Any advice as always is much appreciated
Thank you

 

[Piggies&buns]

I would weigh daily to monitor for the short term.
It looks like it is just a straight line of hair loss at present? I mention this as a V shape in the back end can be indicative of mange mites. Mange mites can become an issue when a piggy is stressed and immune system is lowered. It’s worth keeping an eye on this, and be inclined to see a vet just in case

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome




Here are some links you may find helpful:
New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

Arrival in a home from the perspective of pet shop guinea pigs

 

[Emmalou46]

Thank you for your replies, I will keep a close eye on him and try to get him into the vet next week. Weighed him this evening, so will keep a check on that too. He’s fine with me stroking him and touching the area. She mentioned to me about him squeezing under the divider between the cage so don’t know if he’s caught the fur on that

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your replies, I will keep a close eye on him and try to get him into the vet next week. Weighed him this evening, so will keep a check on that too. He’s fine with me stroking him and touching the area. She mentioned to me about him squeezing under the divider between the cage so don’t know if he’s caught the fur on that

It would be so easy if we could just ask our piggies, wouldn't it?

 

[Emmalou46]

Hi, I’m not sure if there’s a lump or not, at first I thought it was his bone as it’s that hard, not soft or squidgy. Can they get lumps that are rock hard? Weight is doing ok but he’s seemed a bit more lethargic today. Can’t get him into my exotic vets until Thursday morning. X

 

[Emmalou46]

My local vet can see him today, so going to take him, I don’t think they are a specialised exotic vet as such though but would prefer to get him seen now and then if I need to again on Thursday by the exotics

 

[Emmalou46]

He’s had a full check over, ears, eyes, mouth, teeth, stomach, lungs, heart, skin, temp taken, etc etc, no lump, it was his pelvis I could feel but because of the way he was sat on my knee I couldn’t feel it the same on the other side so panic over for now, he has been quiet today, spending a lot of time in his hammock, so I hope he picks up a bit. Will keep an eye on his weight and keep weighing daily. Vet seemed to think barbering was from stress of different environment and away from home

 

[Emmalou46]

Has this bald patch got worse or am I just being impatient and paranoid. Just wondering if a trip back to the vets is needed. I’ve been weighing him daily and he’s actually put on a bit of weight approx 25g in just over a week, eating well, still no soreness on the skin. These piggies are such a worry