I've only had my guinea pigs for over a week and the one is losing fur around his eye I've booked him in for the vets earliest I could get is tomorrow any ideas what it could be? I have two young boys and I put it down to fighting but it seems to have gotten worse! I'm new to this forum and I'm not sure how to post a picture any help would be great!
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I Think My Guinea Pig Has A Fungal Infection
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helen105281
Senior Guinea Pig
Only the vet can diagnose but it sounds like fungal to me, possibly Ringworm. Here is our guide which also covers the important hygiene measures that are needed:
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
The vet will need to rule out the possibility of other skin conditions like mange mites though. Please note that there are many types of fungal but only Ringworm tends to show up in any tests done by a vet.
The treatment we recommend on here is either the oral medication Itrafungol and/or Imaverol dips (which are not rinsed off). Both ensure the whole pig is treated and not the infected area. Imaverol is gentle enough to use on very young pigs.
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
The vet will need to rule out the possibility of other skin conditions like mange mites though. Please note that there are many types of fungal but only Ringworm tends to show up in any tests done by a vet.
The treatment we recommend on here is either the oral medication Itrafungol and/or Imaverol dips (which are not rinsed off). Both ensure the whole pig is treated and not the infected area. Imaverol is gentle enough to use on very young pigs.
Thank you! Here's his eye I have two pigs so should I separate them? If it's ring worm can't I catch that? I'll keep these in mind and see what the vet gives me hopefully it's nothing too serious!
Please have your boy checked by a vet for a beginning fungal infection. Tomorrow is fine; it is still in the very early stages.
@helen105281 has given already given you our guide on how to best deal with fungal piggies. Please be aware that you need to treat any companions in direct contact, too, in order to prevent them coming down with fungal, too. We find imaverol/enilconazole dip the most effective for that job, as it is mild enough to be used even on young guinea pigs and in sensitive areas like right next to the eye (unlike everything else, it doesn't sting), mouth or ears.
Thank you both so much! I got an early appointment so hopefully we can get this sorted! I feel for the poor thing I've had guinea pigs before and this is all new mine have never been ill or needed treatments! I've done all the checks on him it's only around his eye plus he's eating drinking as normal so that's why I put it down to fighting but I'm glad I booked with the vets now! So do you think it's fungal? I've googled pictures but his doesn't look as bad as some images?
As I said, it looks like the very beginnings.
Fungal, and especially ringworm, is sadly pretty common in young shop or breeder guinea pigs who have been exposed to the spores and whose not yet fully developed immune system is further lowered by a series of major upsets to their still young lives. You can reclaim the vet and treatment cost from the shop, as the infection has clearly happened at the shop.
Yeah I rung them and they said they would cover costs, I don't think I'll ever pet a pet from them again as I had to take my other guinea pig to the vet last week! He had an allergy or something I thought it was a uri but yeah I'll mention the treatments to the vet hopefully it's a fungal infection! I've changed their bedding at least 3-4 times this week due to the other one having allergies so I hope it wasn't me putting stress on him! Poor thing thanks again all! Really appreciate all the comments, I feel more knowledgable and what I should tell the vet thank you all!
Could you please add your country and/or UK county to your details, so we can always give you the most effective advice and (local) recommendations possible, as we have got members from all over the world. I assume that you are in the UK, as medical products are different in the US.
Here is how you can add your location to your details: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...cation-and-creating-an-avatar-picture.107444/
helen105281
Senior Guinea Pig
Yes it can do, especially if it is Ringworm, did the vet say which type of fungal? If it is Ringworm, our guide shows the different stages. What is the name of the cream you have been given?
Not ring worm as such just like a skin infection he thought it was mites but it's just under his eye and he said keep an eye out but it hasn't spread its just under his eye. I got Isaderm? It says a gel for dogs but on further read it's for small rodents too! It's only suppose to be applied for a week and if his eye isn't any better I guess another trip to the vets or I may just buy that imaveol stuff and just use it on him it looks really red but I have caught him scratching it so I've had him out loads today to make sure he doesn't!
helen105281
Senior Guinea Pig
It could well be fungal still, just not Ringworm so if the gel makes no improvement I would definitely try Imaverol.
I'm phoning the Vet tomorrow his eye is almost closed its so inflamed and swollen! That cream is suppose to be an anti inflammatory too! I'm going to just buy that stuff everyone has given nothing but good feed back! I've bathed his eye with cold water he seemed to like it
Bless him! Thanks guys I'll post on here if I need any more information(:
Bless him! Thanks guys I'll post on here if I need any more information(:
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