Hi!
My sweet albino coronet, Stella, has had flaky skin for the last two-three weeks. We took her to the vet ASAP and they said it wasn’t mites, but gave her and my other ladies treatment just in case. It’s been at least two weeks since that happened and not only has she not gotten better, she’s gotten worse—the flakes are bigger and there’s more of them. Because of this, her hair keeps falling out with the flakes and she has a large bald patch on her rump. I’ve brushed her and bathed her but it won’t help. Please let me know if you’ve experienced this or have any info on it.
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Hi!
Have you checked for hay mites (chirodiscoides caviae) fixing their egg cases at the hairs around the bum end, to check that they could be the reason for the hair loss?
Has your vet considered a fungal skin infection? There are a lot more forms than just ringworm, which is the most common, aggressive and transmittable form of it. Fungal thrives in hot and humid conditions.
These descriptions and photos here are the best for a fungal body infection although I do not subscribe fully to the treatment recommendations and would recommend a good antifungal/anti-dandruff dip or shampoo.
Gorgeous Guineas Identification
Gorgeous Guineas Photo gallery
Treatment recommendations for fungal and both mange/selnic mites (trixacarus caviae) and hay/fur mites (chirodiscoides caviae).
The pictures show typical ringworm infections as that is the most common in newly bought shop and breeder guinea pigs; ringworm is also highly transmittable to humans unlike other fungal infections. Good hygiene and a disinfection with a vet grade disinfectant never comes amiss when dealing with skin problems, though.
If you are dealing with a fungal infection, you are dealing with a different one to ringworm.
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
Guinea Lynx :: Fungus
Guinea Lynx :: Parasites
Other potential causes of hair loss on the body: vitamin C deficiency or bacterial cryptococcus/staphylococcus skin infection. Your hair loss pattern is not typical for ovarian cysts or self barbering.
If in doubt, I would always recommend to ask your vet to treat for both mange and hay mites and a fungal skin infection with good quality products (i.e. high dosed ivermectin and not a broad spectrum low-dosed shop product).
Only if that has not helped can you then search further.
How piggy savvy is your vet and what is the brand name and active ingredient in the cream he has given you?
We generally do not recommend to treat fungal with creams as they are not the most efficient way to do so.
