Ginge is losing her fur in big patches?

[Stevo]

Hi all, my 6 year old Guinea pig Ginge has lost patches of fur all over, some large now, we have used insecticide to not avail, we tried a fungus shampoo Nizoral but has become worse, the patches are not sore, or infected in anyway, no flaking skin just bald, she is now very thin all over, at first we just thought she was getting old but as the patches grew thought that cannot be right, it started almost a year ago on her back first and just thought it was due to her age, but as the patches appeared on the side about a month ago realised this was something else, we have a second Guinea pig Rosie 3 years old and she is fine.

Ginge is feeding and drinking fine and still strutting her stuff, no different to Rosie and seems absolutely fine, just a little on the thin side but is this due to age?

Any ideas what could be wrong.
I would upload some pitures but the site has no way of doing this, I watched the video, and I have no attach files button, all I have is preview, tags, options, post a poll and post thread?

Thanks Stevo.

 

[Siikibam]

Sorry to hear your girl is unwell. It’s always best to take piggies to the vet for a check if you are worried about something. You have to be careful with using over the counter medicines. They won’t be the right strength hence won’t clear anything up. And you also don’t know what you are treating. Using these meds can cause issues later when they need it and then the illness/parasite has built up a resistance to them.

You say she still eats well. How has her weight been? I would switch to weighing the same time every day (mornings). You can’t monitor hay intake by eye, and that’s what should be making up the biggest part of their diet. If she’s still losing weight daily then you will have to step in and syringe feed her to help her maintain. Yes they do lose weight when older but it’s not necessarily something to...’accept’ as a given.

We can’t tell you what’s wrong. Your best bet is the vet for a check. With regards photos, below the box where you type the message is a button ‘Attach files’. Use that to upload photos from your phone/computer etc. As for videos, you need to upload them to a third party site such as YouTube or Vimeo then post the link here.

I hope you can get your girl seen to soon and they get to the bottom of whatever it is. And

 

[Stevo]

Hi Thanks for reply, the attach button is now there but was not maybe not there on first post, she eats well and is put outside during the day to eat grass, they have a big hutch and run with fleece blankets to keep them warm, she has got thinner as she has got older but no different in the last year, she is no different than normal just going balder than me.....unfortunately I don't trust vets around here, they are hopeless, they are more interested in charging for things you don't need and never cure what is actually wrong with them, constant wrong diagnosis, I always successfully treated them myself.

 

[Siikibam]

Have a look at the vet locator below. It’s a list of vets that have been recommended by members on here. We don’t and can’t support home treatment. And I think in this case you will have to see a vet. You don’t know what’s wrong.

Has she ever been checked for ovarian cysts? What has her weight been like? As recommended start weighing her every day at the same time.


Please don’t put them outside now. It’s too cold (and wet) for them. But you can pick grass and dry to give to them.
Vet Locator

 

[GPTV]

Hi there
Welcome to the forum, as she is an older lady, there's a possibility she may have ovarian cysts? One of the textbook signs is symmetrical hair loss down their sides mainly or back.
Other things like a hormonal attitude, crusty nipples, persistent UTI's/bleeding can all add to the list of things to look out for with ovarian cysts, they can also be present for other illnesses so a vet check for a proper diagnosis is always recommended
(there are options such as hormone injections, spay, part spay if it is cysts).

Discuss with your vet also mites or fungal possibilities. Usually best not to home treat first as it may mask any symptoms the vet has to go on.

Is the hair coming out in clumps/hairs attached to scabs/skin flakes?
Could be fungal?

Lots of scratching, a 'v' of hair loss on her back. Could be mange mites? Usually treated with Ivermectin spot-on eg. Xeno is quite effective (most of the other over the counter meds aren't strong enough to be much good though).

A vet can do skin scrapes, tape tests, etc to determine what you're dealing with & treat more effectively according to the results

Oh! Just seen your pigtures.. Pretty little lady

It looks more like fungal or mites. Treatment will differ for the two different conditions though.
Have a look on the recommended vet locator in the menu if you're not keen on your vet. These are all recommended piggy savvy vets
Here's the link to it
Vet Locator

Ask about painkillers such as loxicom & if she needs them, as skin conditions can be painful/itchy & this often helps recovery

Make sure she's eating well.

Fingers and paws all crossed for a full & speedy recovery

Let us know how she gets on.

Hope you can get her sorted. Xx

 

[Stevo]

Hi Thanks, I did see the vet locator and there are none near to me 30-40miles away, she is not scratching, hair not coming out in clumps, no flakes the patches are smooth, no damage to the skin, everything looks normal healthy underneath too, will try the spot on for a week if no change will take her to the nearest in Bridge North, not worried as she is not in distress or in pain for now and is happy as normal.
Rosie watching me playing a game having a chill.

 

[Siikibam]

Please do not use over the counter meds or bond treat. You don’t know what is wrong with her. She should be checked by a vet fit the correct diagnosis and treatment. So I would book her in as soon as possible.

Unfortunately some areas don’t have vets nearby you’ll just have to book her in with one you can get a appointment with.

 

[Rivervixen]

Please don’t use home treatment without knowing what’s actually wrong she really does need a vet, welcome to the forum

 

[Piggies&buns]

Home treatments are never recommended. They rarely work effectively or at all, either making the problem worse or causing it to just keep returning because it is never properly dealt with.
Pet shop spot on treatments are too weak even if you could know exactly what the problem is and of course, if this is hormonal and cyst related, then a spot on isn’t going to do anything.
Please have her seen by a vet.

 

[Stevo]

Ok I will.

 

[Siikibam]

Let us know once you’ve gotten her checked out. Hope it’s something easily treated.

 

[Claire W]

There are many reasons for hair loss. I hope you can get her in to the vet. Please let us know how you get on

 

[Merab]

Welcome to the forum.
Try phoning local vets and ask about how good they are with guinea pigs, or do they have an exotic vet.
Vets only make it onto the forum locator if recommended by members so there are still many very good vets all around.
Hope you can get her treated quickly

 

[Stevo]

Hi All, I asked the lady at the pet Hotel and she directed me to a vet in Worcs that she uses and trusts, took Ginge there and they gave us some treatment for mites........she is now looking well and the fur is growing back nicely, she has even put a little weight back on, and most important the little bit of scratching I thought was normal has stopped completely, not seen them scratch for about 2 weeks now, not that they did scratch much anyway, the only down side was we lost one of our daughters fancy mice a few weeks ago, she was nearly 17 months old, her sister is still going strong though.

 

[Claire W]

Hi All, I asked the lady at the pet Hotel and she directed me to a vet in Worcs that she uses and trusts, took Ginge there and they gave us some treatment for mites........she is now looking well and the fur is growing back nicely, she has even put a little weight back on, and most important the little bit of scratching I thought was normal has stopped completely, not seen them scratch for about 2 weeks now, not that they did scratch much anyway, the only down side was we lost one of our daughters fancy mice a few weeks ago, she was nearly 17 months old, her sister is still going strong though.

That’s brilliant news I’m sorry for the loss of your daughters mouse though x

 

[Merab]

Thanks for the update and it’s good to hear positive news.
So sorry that your daughter has lost her mouse.