Itchy skin?

[Chickenpies]

Hi!
I noticed my guinea pig has been itching and grooming himself frequently. I’ve checked his skin multiple times and I have found nothing, no mites or anything! But I have noticed bald patches from where he has groomed himself. I am unsure what to do because I don’t want to bathe him as it can strip him from his natural oils.
Can anyone suggest anything?
Thank you

 

[Piggies&buns]

Please have him seen by a vet for diagnosis
You won’t be able to see mites - they aren’t visible to the human eye - but you can see their evidence such as excessive scratching, bald patches and usually black specks on the back end which are the egg casings.
Please don’t bathe him - if he has a skin condition, bathing won’t necessarily help and it certainly won’t be helpful tl bathe before seeing a vet. Bathing a piggy before seeing a vet can remove all the evidence a vet needs to make a diagnosis

 

[Viennese Furbabies]

Please take your piggy (and bis buddies) to the vet. Skin conditions need to be treated as soon as they become evident. With the right kind of treatment, your piggy will be on the mend soon. Wrong treatment can lead to a much bigger problem than it was at the beginning. So please don't try any kind of home treatment.
All be best!

 

[Chickenpies]

Please take your piggy (and bis buddies) to the vet. Skin conditions need to be treated as soon as they become evident. With the right kind of treatment, your piggy will be on the mend soon. Wrong treatment can lead to a much bigger problem than it was at the beginning. So please don't try any kind of home treatment.
All be best!

Thank you! We will do. Teddy is a lone guinea pig, he has never liked his past companions. He often grooms my hand too, I’m not sure if that has anything to do with it. But thank you

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thank you! We will do. Teddy is a lone guinea pig, he has never liked his past companions. He often grooms my hand too, I’m not sure if that has anything to do with it. But thank you

Grooming your hand will be because he sees you as his herd, its not likely to be connected to the itchiness on his body.

Let us know how you get on with the vet

 

[Wiebke]

Please also check whether the air in your piggy room could be dry due to radiators coming into into use. My own piggies always a few days of increased itchiness until their skin adapts to the dryer winter room air.

But a vet check if you are worried would help to allay any concerns. If there are no bald patches turning up, then it is more likely an environmental rather than a parasitic or fungal issue but feel the hairs in the underlayer at the bottom end for to hay mite egg beads fixed to them. Hay mites usually with the hay.

Here is some more information: New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites