Dry skin on guinea pig face

[Chazziboots]

Hello

Woke up this morning and Henrietta has some dry looking skin on the side of her nose/mouth. Our exotic vet is on annual leave (closest one in 30 miles).
Any ideas what it could be? I've tried to take photos. She doesn't let me touch her or hold her yet and I'm not keen on chasing an animal to make them like me (had her 4 weeks). She's with 3 other sows

Thanks

 

[Claire W]

Hi, it looks like it could be a fungal infection / ringworm but only a vet can diagnose and prescribe the correct treatment

 

[Piggies&buns]

Please do see a vet for diagnosis and to be prescribed the correct treatment.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello

Woke up this morning and Henrietta has some dry looking skin on the side of her nose/mouth. Our exotic vet is on annual leave (closest one in 30 miles).
Any ideas what it could be? I've tried to take photos. She doesn't let me touch her or hold her yet and I'm not keen on chasing an animal to make them like me (had her 4 weeks). She's with 3 other sows

Thanks

Hi
Please have Henrietta vet checked for potential ringworm; we can only guess. It is most common in new guinea pigs although you are past the period where you can reclaim treatment cost from a seller.

With a positive diagnosis, please take the time to read our ringworm guide carefully; the biggest problem are the invisibly tiny spores that are highly contagious and long-lived and that can cause re-infection for over two years.
Your comprehensive and thorough hygiene measures to get on top of it and catching the companions in the 10-14 days' gap between infection and acute outbreak are crucial. I have had ringworm carried in on the coat of piggies exposed to spores a couple of times. We have had plenty of experience to work out all the various angles by which ringworm can be transmitted and how to cut them off. Our advice really works if you follow it.
Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures

You do not necessarily need to see an exotics vet although a vet with guinea pig experience would be preferable. Just creaming the affected spots does nothing about the reinfection risk from spores.

 

[Chazziboots]

Still waiting on another vet to call me back.

However I have just spoken to a vets who are 50 miles from me! Had to send them a close in-depth video and further photos. And then she gave me instructions for my other pigs and where to check. Again then sent them more videos and another guinea pig has it behind her ears. The vet said straight away it's ring worm. Which my local vet can prescribe me something for. So called the local vet, they won't do anything till they see the guinea pigs and can't see the guinea pigs for 2 weeks because the exotic vet is on annual leave. So called vets that did the video with me and she said to dip bath treat and get some anti fungal cream.

Can someone advise me what a "dip bath" is please and I need to get a fungal cream/spray.

She said nothing about how to treat the cage, clean their toys or if I need to treat all 4 - I think I should to be safe.

 

[Wiebke]

Still waiting on another vet to call me back.

However I have just spoken to a vets who are 50 miles from me! Had to send them a close in-depth video and further photos. And then she gave me instructions for my other pigs and where to check. Again then sent them more videos and another guinea pig has it behind her ears. The vet said straight away it's ring worm. Which my local vet can prescribe me something for. So called the local vet, they won't do anything till they see the guinea pigs and can't see the guinea pigs for 2 weeks because the exotic vet is on annual leave. So called vets that did the video with me and she said to dip bath treat and get some anti fungal cream.

Can someone advise me what a "dip bath" is please and I need to get a fungal cream/spray.

She said nothing about how to treat the cage, clean their toys or if I need to treat all 4 - I think I should to be safe.

A dip is a bath where you do not rinse but let the antifungal dry on the skin; you can find information on them in our ringworm guide link in my first post. Make sure that your piggies out of drafts and warm while they dry. Surolan or enilconazole are the most commonly used UK products.

You will need to dip all your piggies at least twice (more often with the ones with an acute infection) in order a) to prevent any latent infections from breaking out and b) to remove the spores from the coat so they cannot be picked up via the bedding. Please only use the suds around sensitive organs like eares, eyes or nose/mouth.

If you are told to cream, PLEASE only do so very thinly and be aware that the affected area is much wider than the bald area you are creaming. An acute spot will get a lot larger before it gets better since ringworm spores typically sit at the root of the hairs, which need to all come out in due time.
We have included pictures to show how an outbreak runs in our ringworm guide. Unless you are prescribed a systemic oral antifungal, any acute spot will have to run its due course for typically about 7-10 days.
Please order some F10 disinfectant online (either the spray or the concentrate which will last you a long time). It is most effective in dealing with ringworm spores and your biggest helper to prevent further outbreaks.

The guide also contains advice on what to do with any fabrics (piggy and your own) and other piggy furniture and how you can protect yourself since ringworm is the most species jumping problem you can come across.