minnie_ozzy
New Born Pup
Hi there! One of my piggies, Minnie, has been plagued by some health problem nearly her whole life (
For the past 6 months or so, she's had slowly growing bald patches over her body. I've just moved them to my new residence, where the vets actually seem to know what they're doing with guinea pigs! We were getting nowhere with our previous vets.
We've ruled out mites, fungal infection, ringworm, and I've been supplementing her with extra vitamin C on the vet's advice on the slim chance that a deficiency is causing this, however, it has not made a difference. Which means that the only cause left that the vet thinks is likely is a hormonal problem caused by ovary cysts, which lines up with her nipples also being swollen. Given her age (4), how she's quite a thin pig (but still healthy thankfully), and that she seems very content, spaying her seems an unnecessary risk, but I will be discussing my options with the vet
Onto the bald patches! Unfortunately, they have worsened quite dramatically in the past few months (I wasn't her primary carer until January), with 2 separate 7cm and 6cm x5cm patches starting to join up on her side, an almost completely bare stomach, and a patch on her jaw. I've seen around that skinny pigs need moisturising with coconut oil, and was wondering whether I should take similar steps, or if the fact she still has most of her fur would keep her skin nourished (her skin looks completely healthy)? Although it's winter now, she lives in an insulated outdoor cage (living in the East of England, where for most of the winter it's 0-10 degrees C), and doesn't seem to mind the cold as much as her (fat and fluffy) brother! But I am concerned about how to keep her warm in future years if she keeps losing her fur (which the vet says is likely), as unfortunately, my landlord has made it clear that they can't live indoors, and I desperately don't want to have to give her to a family member, where I won't be able to see her (
All advice and suggestions are appreciated, including anything else I should consider bringing up to her vet!
For the past 6 months or so, she's had slowly growing bald patches over her body. I've just moved them to my new residence, where the vets actually seem to know what they're doing with guinea pigs! We were getting nowhere with our previous vets.
We've ruled out mites, fungal infection, ringworm, and I've been supplementing her with extra vitamin C on the vet's advice on the slim chance that a deficiency is causing this, however, it has not made a difference. Which means that the only cause left that the vet thinks is likely is a hormonal problem caused by ovary cysts, which lines up with her nipples also being swollen. Given her age (4), how she's quite a thin pig (but still healthy thankfully), and that she seems very content, spaying her seems an unnecessary risk, but I will be discussing my options with the vet
Onto the bald patches! Unfortunately, they have worsened quite dramatically in the past few months (I wasn't her primary carer until January), with 2 separate 7cm and 6cm x5cm patches starting to join up on her side, an almost completely bare stomach, and a patch on her jaw. I've seen around that skinny pigs need moisturising with coconut oil, and was wondering whether I should take similar steps, or if the fact she still has most of her fur would keep her skin nourished (her skin looks completely healthy)? Although it's winter now, she lives in an insulated outdoor cage (living in the East of England, where for most of the winter it's 0-10 degrees C), and doesn't seem to mind the cold as much as her (fat and fluffy) brother! But I am concerned about how to keep her warm in future years if she keeps losing her fur (which the vet says is likely), as unfortunately, my landlord has made it clear that they can't live indoors, and I desperately don't want to have to give her to a family member, where I won't be able to see her (
All advice and suggestions are appreciated, including anything else I should consider bringing up to her vet!