I have ringworm, what do I do about the pigs?

[Alicevftroy]

I am a fairly new guinea pig owner* with three guinea pigs and today I found out that I have ringworm or some other kind of fungal infection on my scalp, I'm not sure what to do. I don't know whether it has come from one of the pigs - one of them did have a patch of red inflamed skin a couple of weeks ago, it looked as though one of the others had scratched him but it healed up in a couple of days, which suggests it wasn't ringworm. There haven't been any other signs of infection on any of them since so I don't think they have it. We keep their cage tidy and disinfect it with small animal safe all purpose cleaner when we do a full clean out once a week. They came from a rescue where they had lived for 18 months and never had any issues.

But I'm not sure what to do, obviously I won't hold them until my infection clears up but should we do something to make sure they haven't got anything, like bathe them? If so what shampoo do we use? Do I need to get new bedding for them? Should I get a vet to look at them? Any advice is appreciated!

*My other half had guinea pigs growing up so we're not completely new to this, but his never got ringworm

 

[Piggies&buns]

I am a fairly new guinea pig owner* with three guinea pigs and today I found out that I have ringworm or some other kind of fungal infection on my scalp, I'm not sure what to do. I don't know whether it has come from one of the pigs - one of them did have a patch of red inflamed skin a couple of weeks ago, it looked as though one of the others had scratched him but it healed up in a couple of days, which suggests it wasn't ringworm. There haven't been any other signs of infection on any of them since so I don't think they have it. We keep their cage tidy and disinfect it with small animal safe all purpose cleaner when we do a full clean out once a week. They came from a rescue where they had lived for 18 months and never had any issues.

But I'm not sure what to do, obviously I won't hold them until my infection clears up but should we do something to make sure they haven't got anything, like bathe them? If so what shampoo do we use? Do I need to get new bedding for them? Should I get a vet to look at them? Any advice is appreciated!

*My other half had guinea pigs growing up so we're not completely new to this, but his never got ringworm

don’t have handle the piggies. wear gloves if to feed them etc.
don’t do anything to treat the piggies unless and until you have a confirmed case of ringworm within the piggies themselves.

do be aware that not all purpose small animal cleaners will kill fungal spores. F10 is a veterinary grade product which does though. I use either an all purpose animal cage cleaner Or white vinegar and water solution as a general cleaner but once a month I do a deep clean using F10

 

[Free Ranger]

Our first pigs were rescue and when my young son held one he got a slight scratch on his chest where his t-shirt collar was. This shortly developed into a patch of ringworm which was treated simply and quickly with some cream from the doc. It obviously came from the piggy because it was exactly where the scratch was but I can't remember either of them getting any symptoms or showing any signs - vets saw them for other things but never mentioned ringworm. I did the handling and cleaning and I never got anything either... and I'm sure I got a few scratches when moving the boys about. I use white vinegar in the cage which rinses out (plastic base) or just really hot tap water. The good thing about the vinegar is it dissolves the crusty dried pee (and the scale from our hard tap water!)

Years later a different pig developed a fungal infection in old age which really bothered her (itching, inflamed skin on body) and the vet prescribed a special shampoo. She wasn't too impressed but it did work a treat and after the necessary number of repeats she cleared right up - neither of the other two developed any symptoms. Unfortunately, this story has a sad ending which I will mention as a cautionary tale. During the last rinse of the last shampoo, just before I took her out of the sink, some water splashed her little face and I heard her snuff and sneeze... just the once. She rapidly developed a lung infection and the next day - realising something serious had happened - I rushed her in for antibiotics but it was too late; her lungs were full of fluid and she died shortly after arriving back home. I felt awful (I still blame myself) but the vet did say that she was very old and that's why she went downhill so quickly, but also her age was why the fungal infection had taken hold in the first place and that, being honest, she hadn't thought she would necessarily get over it. The implication was that this fungus was just in the environment but the reason it had caused a problem was down to our girl being elderly... the other pigs weren't treated at all and never showed any symptoms.

So perhaps your ringworm isn't from the pigs...? And even if it was they might not need treatment BUT if they do and you need to shampoo keep an eye out for water splashing their faces - especially if they are old.

 

[Wiebke]

I am a fairly new guinea pig owner* with three guinea pigs and today I found out that I have ringworm or some other kind of fungal infection on my scalp, I'm not sure what to do. I don't know whether it has come from one of the pigs - one of them did have a patch of red inflamed skin a couple of weeks ago, it looked as though one of the others had scratched him but it healed up in a couple of days, which suggests it wasn't ringworm. There haven't been any other signs of infection on any of them since so I don't think they have it. We keep their cage tidy and disinfect it with small animal safe all purpose cleaner when we do a full clean out once a week. They came from a rescue where they had lived for 18 months and never had any issues.

But I'm not sure what to do, obviously I won't hold them until my infection clears up but should we do something to make sure they haven't got anything, like bathe them? If so what shampoo do we use? Do I need to get new bedding for them? Should I get a vet to look at them? Any advice is appreciated!

*My other half had guinea pigs growing up so we're not completely new to this, but his never got ringworm

Hi!

Please follow the advice in our ringworm hygiene guide below. It contains a chapter on how humans can avoid catching ringworm from their guinea pigs but the advice works both ways and also applies for when you have got it. If at all possible interact, clean and handle as little as possible while you are still fully acute and shedding spores. If you have to, use disposible gloves and ideally an apron and pullover or towel that can be washed at higher temperatures after use if you have to medicate etc. your piggies.

We strongly recommend to use F10 disinfectant for ringworm as it is the only one proven to kill ringworm spores.

Here is our ringworm hygiene guide for more information which you should find helpful. At least this year the very detailed hygiene recommendations no longer look as over they top as before! Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

 

[Alicevftroy]

Thank you so much for all your advice, I've ordered some F10 so that my partner can give the cage a proper deep clean and I'll keep away from the Pigs until my scalp is healed. Gutted, I'll miss their hugs!

 

[MollythePiggylover]

all i can say is do not touch them with the infected area and try not to spread in any way you can

 

[Siikibam]

Thank you so much for all your advice, I've ordered some F10 so that my partner can give the cage a proper deep clean and I'll keep away from the Pigs until my scalp is healed. Gutted, I'll miss their hugs!

Hope it clears up soon. You can also soak any wooden (piggy) furniture in F10 if I remember correctly. If you have any fleece it needs to be washed at a high temperature.