• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Help please!

Oinkpiggies

Oinkpiggies

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Aug 31, 2022
Messages
63
Reaction score
59
Points
245
Location
No
My piggy has a flaky ear. Could this be a fungal infection? His other ear looks fine. I want to take him to the vet anyways, but if anyone has any answers before the appointment i would love to know. Thank you ♡
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3585.webp
    IMG_3585.webp
    34.3 KB · Views: 3
  • IMG_3584.webp
    IMG_3584.webp
    32.5 KB · Views: 2
I’m not sure from your photos. Usually with fungal there’s a crusty patch on the skin and hairs lost as well as flaking in the fur. Best to take to the vet for checking but in the meantime adopt preventative measures to prevent the spread if it is. Here’s the link to our helpful guide. Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures
 
VickiA said:
I’m not sure from your photos. Usually with fungal there’s a crusty patch on the skin and hairs lost as well as flaking in the fur. Best to take to the vet for checking but in the meantime adopt preventative measures to prevent the spread if it is. Here’s the link to our helpful guide. Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures
Click to expand...
Do you think it could literally just be a dry ear? Like no fungal infections, just dry skin? He’s definitely going to the vet, but I’m just curious. I am really hoping it’s not mites :(
 
I really couldn’t say. I’ve had some piggies with mites - they’ve needed 3 full course of high dose mites treatment. I’ve had some piggies with fungal (that’s been no fun with all the cleaning, dipping and oral treatment) and I’ve had some piggies with dry flaky skin - no obvious cause and no specific treatment required. Definitely best to get the vet to confirm what it is as you don’t want to be second guessing and treating the wrong condition
 
And in the early stages all three possibilities (mites, fungal (the treatment for each is very different) and just plain dry skin) can look exactly the same - we couldn’t make any call either way

Let us know how you get on with the vet
 
Oinkpiggies said:
Do you think it could literally just be a dry ear? Like no fungal infections, just dry skin? He’s definitely going to the vet, but I’m just curious. I am really hoping it’s not mites :(
Click to expand...

Hi

I am sorry but we really cannot tell you without hands-on access. It is not quite as easy as one quick look.

Whatever it is, it doesn't look serious but it is good to have it seen and to hear what your vet things. Because there are no/very few hairs on the ears (to help guinea pigs shed heat by increasing the blood flow through the ear surface) it can be less easy to determine what is going on because helpful markers are absent or rather vague.

I cannot see any characteristic pinkish dots developing into clearly visible rings on the edge of an infective patch with distinctive white exudate crusts that are giving fungal ringworm its name, so we can safely exclude that.
Other, milder forms of fungal or parasites are still on the table, lacking our direct access. Since your piggy's ear is hairy, it could even be just shed skin flakes caught in the hairs.

I am sorry, but we have our limitations and playing guessing won't really help you, either.
 
No i understand. I just get worried because when something is wrong with them, it’s so hard to tell. And my 2 piggies are like my children lol. I adore them. So i just wanted some peace of mind :) i don’t mean to waste your time with these posts. Some info is just conflicting over the internet, so it can be helpful to hear from an actual person with experience. I also live in the US, and from what I’ve seen, guinea pigs are more popular in the UK, and this forum has helped me learn alot. I have a vet appointment tomorrow, i will let you guys know what the vet says. Thank you for responding! ♡
 
You're not wasting our time at all - better you ask than fret or worry yourself. It's just that while we're good, we don't know everything and we'd rather not give you false information, good or bad. Hope all goes well with the vet tomorrow!
 
Hope the vet trip goes well tomorrow.
Please keep on asking questions.
Even though we don’t always have answers we can offer support, reassurance and friendship.
 
Good luck at the vet. Whatever it is you've caught it early, well done on getting a vet appointment so quickly.
 
Hope all went well would love to know what the vet said....
 
Went to the vet today, and apparently it literally was just a skin irritation probably from his nails. They were due for a trim and i guess he scratched a little too hard and it made his ear form a scab. I’m surprised it’s not a fungal infection but I’m confident in what the vet said, he’s a really good exotic vet and i trust him :)
Thank you everyone for responding to my previous thread ♡
Pic of Einstein hiding in some hay in his carrier lol. Sweet baked potato 🥹
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3606.webp
    IMG_3606.webp
    42.7 KB · Views: 2
Hey guys just posted an update :) everything is okay with my Einstein ♡
 
That's a relief for you. It's great that you took him to the vet.You'd be shocked at how many people join to get advice, usually for something much more serious, don't like being advised to go to the vet and are never heard from again. I always assume the worst so it's lovely that you gave an update.
I for one would love to know more about your boys and see pigtures. He has got beautiful colouring, look forward to seeing his face.
I have The Beastie Boys, Dignified Sir George and his boisterous sidekick, Mischievous Master Boris.
 
Haha! What special names. Thank you so much (: I’ve always said for getting them at petco, they’re really beautiful lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: MnJ
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top