Imaverol /Fungus question

[Spring100]

Hi everyone,

For the past 3 weeks I have been treating both guinea pigs for fungus with Imaverol. Bathed with this solution every 4 days for 2 weeks. And last week (on vet's advice) I rubbed the spots with this solution.

The vet believes that I should stop the treatment now, but I have doubts. The packaging states a maximum of 2 weeks, but what if it is not completely gone by then?

The male still has 2 spots on the back that appear not to have completely healed. The female appears to no longer have any active spots. But her ears are still very dry. And she has a large bald spot on her back where no new hair is growing yet. Her skin is no longer so flaky, but it still looks dry.

How long should (can) I continue with the Imaverol? Should I stop now and see if it recovers? Or continue? Until...? What is your experience?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone,

For the past 3 weeks I have been treating both guinea pigs for fungus with Imaverol. Bathed with this solution every 4 days for 2 weeks. And last week (on vet's advice) I rubbed the spots with this solution.

The vet believes that I should stop the treatment now, but I have doubts. The packaging states a maximum of 2 weeks, but what if it is not completely gone by then?

The male still has 2 spots on the back that appear not to have completely healed. The female appears to no longer have any active spots. But her ears are still very dry. And she has a large bald spot on her back where no new hair is growing yet. Her skin is no longer so flaky, but it still looks dry.

How long should (can) I continue with the Imaverol? Should I stop now and see if it recovers? Or continue? Until...? What is your experience?

Hi and welcome

The acute stage of a fungal infection has stopped when there are no new crusts forming on the skin. It will take longer for any hair to grow back since ringworm/tinea fungus sits at the hair roots. All affected hairs need to come out so it gets worse before it gets better.

Please take the time to read our very practical ringworm guide, which addresses all aspects; you should find it very helpful. The last chapter contains pictures of how an outbreak runs its due course. Have a look at them so you can determine where you stand with your piggies. We cannot tell you sight unseen.
Here is the link: Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures

 

[Spring100]

Thank you! I also find it difficult to judge. I have now treated a few spots on the back and will continue with this for a while. I rubbed the rest of the bald spots with coconut oil, because I think the skin is also very dry. The female has one spot that is very bald and where no hair is growing yet. I'll keep a close eye on this. If it gets worse, I will go back to the vet. I think we should switch to oral medication.

 

[Spring100]

Unfortunately, the fungus seems to return to the female. She was nice and clean after 4 weeks of imaverol. But still a bald spot without any hairgrow.

I've stopped for a week now and unfortunately today I see dandruff around her bald spot again. It seems to be over for the male now.

I have made an appointment for Monday at the vet and am going to ask for oral medication.

I understand from the manual that I still have to wash both guinea pigs twice with anti-dandruff shampoo for humans. Also the male after 4 weeks of imaverol treatment? They will be together from this weekend (6 weeks after the operation).

It makes me really sad! Weeks of washing and dipping. Deep cleaning the cages every week. And still dandruff and no hair grow

 

[Wiebke]

Unfortunately, the fungus seems to return to the female. She was nice and clean after 4 weeks of imaverol. But still a bald spot without any hairgrow.

I've stopped for a week now and unfortunately today I see dandruff around her bald spot again. It seems to be over for the male now.

I have made an appointment for Monday at the vet and am going to ask for oral medication.

I understand from the manual that I still have to wash both guinea pigs twice with anti-dandruff shampoo for humans. Also the male after 4 weeks of imaverol treatment? They will be together from this weekend (6 weeks after the operation).

It makes me really sad! Weeks of washing and dipping. Deep cleaning the cages every week. And still dandruff and no hair grow

Ringworm will unfortunately return when the spores hygiene has been neglected or the treatment has not reached the far larger infected area outside the visibly infected bare spot - that is where the creaming/dabbing on method falls short.

The blind angle with oral treatment are the spores sitting loosely in the coat that cannot be reached but that can cause a new infection at some point. That is why we recommend a whole body fungal bath at the start, at the same time you deep clean the cage and bedding in order to interrupt any new outbreaks, stop already existing infections from becoming acute and minimise the risk of picking up new spores.
The bath at the end is there to make sure that your piggies are not carrying any spores across that could cause a new outbreak. It doesn't need to be a fungal bath but if you have it, then it better to use that. As far as ringworm is concerned, overkill does work. Simply because the spores are so long lived and so highly infectious. It is actually much more a hygiene problem than a health problem in some ways but you cannot just do the one side and overlook the other.

The hair regrowth will take longer than you think but it will happen. Be patient. I feel for you since I have learned all the ringworm lessons the hard way myself and have tried to learn from my and other members' mistakes. But I was able to keep the last ringworm outbreak (in a vet surrender due to advanced, incorrectly home treated ringworm) to just that one piggy in a room of 30 - which was a real pain to deep clean. But my measures did work and have since worked for many others.
I hope that they will work for you, too.

 

[Spring100]

Thank you for your detailed response.

I washed both piggies twice a week for 3 weeks with imaverol. I think the fungus on the female has been there longer. In addition, the shelter said she had a litter in the summer, so she may have had a lower immune system.

I hope I get oral medication on monday. I also asked for it a few weeks ago, but the vet is very reluctant to do so. They say it may be bad for the liver. I'd rather not give it myself, but that fungal has to go! I can hardly wash her twice a week with Imaverol for the rest of her life. So hopefully the vet will cooperate with a follow-up plan.

No matter how difficult, I'm just going to let it sit for a while and not wash her this week. Then the vet can clearly see that it is really coming back. The dandruff should be visible on monday!

I have anti-dandruff shampoo at home, so I will wash them both twice during the process.

Fingers crossed!

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for your detailed response.

I washed both piggies twice a week for 3 weeks with imaverol. I think the fungus on the female has been there longer. In addition, the shelter said she had a litter in the summer, so she may have had a lower immune system.

I hope I get oral medication on monday. I also asked for it a few weeks ago, but the vet is very reluctant to do so. They say it may be bad for the liver. I'd rather not give it myself, but that fungal has to go! I can hardly wash her twice a week with Imaverol for the rest of her life. So hopefully the vet will cooperate with a follow-up plan.

No matter how difficult, I'm just going to let it sit for a while and not wash her this week. Then the vet can clearly see that it is really coming back. The dandruff should be visible on monday!

I have anti-dandruff shampoo at home, so I will wash them both twice during the process.

Fingers crossed!

Hi

I've used oral systemic fungal quite a few times over the years and haven't seen any life-shortening effects in my piggies, a fair number of which have lived to 6-8 years of age despite being all adoptees and quite a few rescues from really bad situations.

None of my piggies that died with suspected or confirmed liver failure has ever had oral fungal medication - and I have had so far over 90 piggies passing through my life in around 50 years.

I hope that this helps to allay your concerns? Oral treatment can really make all the difference when you are dealing with a protracted entrenched ringworm situation, as other forum members can attest.

 

[Spring100]

Thanks for the reassurance. It certainly helps! I will also share this information with the vet. In the Netherlands, policy is always extremely cautious. But last time she did say that if the imaverol doesn't work, we will look at oral as an option.

Despite the fungus, her health has already improved enormously! Her coat has become much shinier and softer. She has also gained weight and has become much more lively. So I have the feeling that we are on the right track! The male is younger and was already healthier when I got them in November.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for the reassurance. It certainly helps! I will also share this information with the vet. In the Netherlands, policy is always extremely cautious. But last time she did say that if the imaverol doesn't work, we will look at oral as an option.

Despite the fungus, her health has already improved enormously! Her coat has become much shinier and softer. She has also gained weight and has become much more lively. So I have the feeling that we are on the right track! The male is younger and was already healthier when I got them in November.

Never underestimate the power of a healthy immune system - it is your best ally in fighting off these opportunistic problems.

 

[Spring100]

Went to the vet today. The vet first wants to do a fungal culture before we consider oral medication. They prefer not to prescribe this. As I wrote before...in the Netherlands everything is extremely careful.

So now let's grow a fungus test. This had not yet been done because another veterinarian did not think it was necessary.

Because the flakes are coming back full again, I'm going to start washing again. I think I first washed her thoroughly with anti-dandruff shampoo. And then again with imaverol twice a week. We will continue looking until the fungal culture results are received.

Fortunately, the male seems to be recoverd. But because they are sitting together, I washed him again just to be sure.

This takes a long time. Very frustrating, but hopefully we can get rid of it one day! The fungus test should be available in 2 to 3 weeks. So to be continued...

 

[Spring100]

Happy note: They have been together for a few days and things are going very well! And on Thursday my 6x2 c&c cage arrives, so even more space is coming!

 

[Spring100]

Unfortunately no good news for this update.

All tests for fungal come back negative. That is why the vet does not want to prescribe oral medication.

The Imaverol doesn't help. In the meantime, the flakes are only getting worse. The original spot has been significantly expanded. She is also slowly losing more hair.

She has a lot of flakes that don't go away with washing. I have tried Imaverol for several sessions. Also use another shampoo in between to remove the flakes.

She doesn't itch, but it is sensitive when you touch it. I have no idea what to do anymore. I've been to 3 different vets and no one seems to have a clue how to help her.

Does anyone here have an idea what on earth this could be? She has a lot of flakes. No red skin or wounds. The scales expand around the original spot and are on her back. She is not itchy.

I am now waiting for an email from another new vet. I'm so sad about this whole situation. I have been washing and treating it for months without any results. I slowly see her skin deteriorating. I'm afraid this isn't going to end well at all.

Furthermore, she is very lively. The male is still clean and fully recovered. The Imaverol was a success for him. That's why I keep thinking that it must be a fungus, but so far no one wants to prescribe anything other than Imaverol.

 

[Wiebke]

Unfortunately no good news for this update.

All tests for fungal come back negative. That is why the vet does not want to prescribe oral medication.

The Imaverol doesn't help. In the meantime, the flakes are only getting worse. The original spot has been significantly expanded. She is also slowly losing more hair.

She has a lot of flakes that don't go away with washing. I have tried Imaverol for several sessions. Also use another shampoo in between to remove the flakes.

She doesn't itch, but it is sensitive when you touch it. I have no idea what to do anymore. I've been to 3 different vets and no one seems to have a clue how to help her.

Does anyone here have an idea what on earth this could be? She has a lot of flakes. No red skin or wounds. The scales expand around the original spot and are on her back. She is not itchy.

I am now waiting for an email from another new vet. I'm so sad about this whole situation. I have been washing and treating it for months without any results. I slowly see her skin deteriorating. I'm afraid this isn't going to end well at all.

Furthermore, she is very lively. The male is still clean and fully recovered. The Imaverol was a success for him. That's why I keep thinking that it must be a fungus, but so far no one wants to prescribe anything other than Imaverol.

Hi

Now that there are close up pictures of the problem areas, it doesn't look like ringworm to me at all. Please keep in mind that we do not have direct access to your piggies and can only ever perceive things through the filter of your own perception and interpretation.
Please compare with our reference pictures in the last chapter of our ringworm guide so you can rule it out for yourself. A ringworm patch is always totally bare and there is a different crust than flaky hair on the surface in an active patch. Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures

It could be another form of fungal (labs will only test for ringworm as the most agressive, contagious and species jumping form but there are others) or - if I am correct that this is a teddy you have - something that is called 'teddy skin'. It's a genetic breed specific issue that can affect some teddy piggies (not all) and that will respond to neither fungal or mange mites treatment although both should be done before you can come to that conclusion because teddy skin is something you'll have to live with. I've had two teddies with that issue whereas the sister of one of them never had a problem, and neither had any others of mine.

Imaverol is the best thing in terms of skin problems outside ringworm because it does address a very wide range right up to microbial issues, so that could be the reason why one of your piggies had a positive response. It does however not address skin parasites but you would notice itching and - in the case of hay mites - tiny egg cases fixed to the hairs around the bum and in the underlayers of the hairs. You can clearly feel them in darker haired piggies when you feel - it's like minuscule beads on a very thin string.

Unfortunately, once you get past the obvious major culprits, you are very much left in the desert because they are very hard to diagnose and often hard to treat.

Personally, I cannot fault your vet. They have done all the right things and any new vet won't be able to do a lot more, either.

 

[Spring100]

Thank you for this extensive information. This really means a lot to me. The feeling of no one knowing what's going on and kind of giving up is so sad.

These are indeed Teddy's. I do think there was some kind of fungus, because there was clearly 1 bald spot in a circle shape. The ears and feet were also very dry and white. The ears and feet have healed. The round spot no longer has flakes. Only her skin has developed very flaky skin. The hair does not shed quickly, but a lot of new hair growth does not occur, making it slowly to go bald.

I don't blame the vets. But most of all I feel powerless.

Do you have any tips on how I can treat 'Teddy skin'? Is there a certain shampoo or lotion that can help with this flaky skin?

I think I will discuss the Imaverol with the vet. Perhaps I can continue to use this once in a while. I am also waiting for information about another type of test for fungal and yeast. The 3rd vet wanted to try this.

The last vet suspected that there was a fungal infection. But this has disappeared due to months of treatment with Imaverol (with intervals). The only question mark is how we can get healthy skin with hair growth again.

She had been treated for mange and lice. I really don't think this is it, neither does the vet's i've seen.

 

[Spring100]

I ordered a number of products from Gorgeous Guineas. Just in case. But this has been stuck at customs for weeks, so I have no idea if I will/can ever receive this...

I can also imagine that her skin hasn't gotten any better from all the washing...

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for this extensive information. This really means a lot to me. The feeling of no one knowing what's going on and kind of giving up is so sad.

These are indeed Teddy's. I do think there was some kind of fungus, because there was clearly 1 bald spot in a circle shape. The ears and feet were also very dry and white. The ears and feet have healed. The round spot no longer has flakes. Only her skin has developed very flaky skin. The hair does not shed quickly, but a lot of new hair growth does not occur, making it slowly to go bald.

I don't blame the vets. But most of all I feel powerless.

Do you have any tips on how I can treat 'Teddy skin'? Is there a certain shampoo or lotion that can help with this flaky skin?

I think I will discuss the Imaverol with the vet. Perhaps I can continue to use this once in a while. I am also waiting for information about another type of test for fungal and yeast. The 3rd vet wanted to try this.

The last vet suspected that there was a fungal infection. But this has disappeared due to months of treatment with Imaverol (with intervals). The only question mark is how we can get healthy skin with hair growth again.

She had been treated for mange and lice. I really don't think this is it, neither does the vet's i've seen.

As I have said in my last post, there is nothing that really helps with 'teddy skin'. The more often you bathe and cream, the drier the skin becomes and the more you disturb the skin microbiome. Teddy skin can get better or worse at times but because the dry skin is very likely due to a breed genetic disposition, there is very little you can do about it. I've tried it all myself with my first case and have got nowhere in years. It got better again after a year or two but it never went away completely.

You can see the skin coming through my little Nye's rather ratty looking teddy coat on the left (he was my other case). He did come with a weaker immune system and was very prone to skin parasites (which never affected his mates) but he also developed 'teddy skin' the older he got. It is not life-shortening considering Nye lives to 6 years and Nerys past her 8th birthday; it is just an unsightly nuisance problem that remained after a round of fungal treatment (oral didn't do the trick, either) and skin parasites could be exluded. The problem only affects teddies.

 

[Wiebke]

I ordered a number of products from Gorgeous Guineas. Just in case. But this has been stuck at customs for weeks, so I have no idea if I will/can ever receive this...

I can also imagine that her skin hasn't gotten any better from all the washing...

Gorgeous guinea products won't help either; done all that myself with Nerys (2008-16).

 

[Spring100]

This is exactly what her fur looks like! Only slightly less bad.

I'm going to do a very extensive test for fungal. But if nothing comes out of that, I conclude that this should be the problem. In any case, I won't wash her anymore. Hopefully her skin will recover somewhat in the coming months.

I'm glad to hear that this doesn't affect life expectancy. I think she certainly had a lowered resistance due to the circumstances she was in before I got her. That wouldn't have helped either.

 

[Wiebke]

This is exactly what her fur looks like! Only slightly less bad.

I'm going to do a very extensive test for fungal. But if nothing comes out of that, I conclude that this should be the problem. In any case, I won't wash her anymore. Hopefully her skin will recover somewhat in the coming months.

I'm glad to hear that this doesn't affect life expectancy. I think she certainly had a lowered resistance due to the circumstances she was in before I got her. That wouldn't have helped either.

If a full course of imaverol hasn't worked, then there is no fungal or microbial problem. It is a very efficient dip for a wider range of skin problems, including ringworm and other issues so your vet has already covered that angle. Hence why I cannot fault them.

That picture is one of Nye's last pictures when he had become increasingly frail and his hair loss worse but it shows the issue best. He passed away on the evening of the Queen's funeral and the love of his life, Hyfryd, followed him 5 days before Christmas in the same year, aged 7 years. They are back together at the Rainbow Bridge now. Hyfryd was my then biggest sow and Nye my smallest husboar but they were very attached to each other.