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Now I have ringworm.... I want to cry.

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kat04kt

kat04kt

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So I started itching on my collar bone around last week, woke up yesterday and there's a huge ring patch on my collar bone. Deffinitely ringworm, deffinitely from the piggies.

They are going back to the vet today. The baths are traumatising them. I can't do it any longer. I get teeth chattered at, and have been bitten on a couple of occassions, they are completely distressed and I can't do this anymore. Every time one area clears up, another presents itself.

I'm doing literally everything by the letter. They are kept indoors, on burgess excel nuggets, they get fresh veg every morning and evening - high quality, high vitamin C food, they have fresh hay every day, I don't pick them up to avoid them getting stressed, but they still hide pretty much all day long. They are terrified of me. They went to stay with someone on this forum while I went back home last week and with him they were fine, happy to be handled etc. I get them home and they are teeth chattering at me. I spent time with this guy and another lady from a rescue learning how to hold and handle guinea pigs - those guinea pigs were ok with me - mine are not. There is literally no other way to look at it, they are petrified of me - I'm the lady who comes at them with cream and sticks them in the bath. They hate me.

It's obviously something in the home, I have no dogs or cats so it's something they've brought with them when I got them and spread about - I've not had them that long - 6 weeks probably now, I discovered the skin infection after ten days, and since then it's been a constant battle.

So what to do now? I've spent an absolute fortune on piggy goodies, fleece blankets, cosy's, fabric tunnels etc etc - alot of this stuff you can't wash on 90 degree's - so I guess it all has to be thrown out? I honestly feel like crying.

They are in a huge c&c set up - I've already sterlised everything using bleach but doesn't appear to have done the trick.

I'm thinking I need to buy a brand new cage - only issue is now, we've got Christmas coming up and I just don't have the spare cash to start forking out hundreds of more pounds when I've already spent hundreds. More c&c grids at £50 a ago and new coretherm/lino at £20 ago, more fleeces and tunnels and cosy's - it's just too much. I've spent money on vet bills, treatment and a range of products that are so far now simply redundant and useless.

I can't go on like this. My OH is not happy at all. He can't even touch me, he's tried to be as patient as possible with me wanting guinea pigs - he didn't want them and now this. If he gets it too.....oh I seriously dread to think just how annoyed he's going to be.

This is really so distressing to me. I'm completely OCD about cleaning and cleanliness, I'm not saying that as in, 'oh yeah I'm a neat freak' - I mean I actually spent 9 months in therapy trying to overcome a phoebia of germs. I'm all about the bleach....I don't live in a dark, damp, mouldy flat, with pet hairs and dirt everywhere, everything in my home is light and airy and none of my furniture is more than a couple of years old and all from ikea! Yes I'm one of 'those' people. How the hell has this ringworm taken such a hold? I wash my hands about 50 times a day on account of my illness, like I said 9 months worth of intensive therapy! It's beyond me on how this can of taken such a hold.

I'm not giving them up, but seriously what do I do to put an end to this now?

And if I have to bin the c&c cage - what am I best putting them in that's reasonably priced?

xx
 
Hiya - give me a ring and we'll have a chat. Hopefully I can help a bit.

Suzy x
 
So sorry you are going through this, do give Suzy a ring, I'm sure she will be able to give you some fabulous tips and ideas to try. Keep your chin up.
 
What have you cleaned your cage with?

A lot of disinfectants don't actually get rid of fungal spores - best place to get something for this is from somewhere that sells reptile supplies, as reptile enclosures are prone to mould growth. Put some water in the bath, add some disinfectant, soak the grids, hides and stuff, then hose off with the shower.

I have also always washed my fleeces, cosies and stuff at 90 degrees, and nothing has ever shrunk or fallen apart. You could also put some fungal-killing disinfectant in with the fleecy stuff and wash it on a lower temperature instead if you're wary of washing at a higher temperature.

I use this disinfectant (from this supplier - quite cheap and quick delivery) http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/rep...fectant-range-f10sc-disinfectant--162934.html - they also do wipes, hand gel etc. Smells really nice too!

Hope that helps - don't despair - pet ownership is often stressful and emotional at some point, but it's worth it in the long run!
 
It is great that Suzy has offered to chat - she will have seen it all before!

It sounds like you are in a pickle and need a plan. I hope that you can take a bit of time to assess what you need and don't be too hard on yourself.:) Ringworm is a a tiny but very tough fungus which can hang around for a while on towels, cloth etc but I think it has a harder time surviving on hard surfaces eg a C & C grid. You sound like you are doing all the right things with preventing the spread eg hand washing. Ask Suzy and your Vet and your pharmacist for more tips - you sound like me that you need the information before tackling something.

And although your piggies are hating the baths, you did find you could handle the other piggies who are not having such trauma - so that is hopeful for the future?:)
 
wash your stuff at 90 anyway - put a tiny bit zoflora in there too. I'm sure one wash like that they will be okay, I have washed fleece that temp before.

Go get something called Surolan from the vet to apply directly to the ringworm they have - forget the baths if they are so traumatic.

Get some latex gloves for handling while they get well

wash your clothes after handling until it's gone

Suzy will give you the name of a proper cage discinfectant that will rid them of the ringworm - I can't remember off hand.

You'll do it!
 
I am so sorry to hear you are having such a hard time. I went through this at the start of the year.

The first thing you need to do is try and calm down. I understand how hard it is when it just wont go and there seems no end in sight.

I do not think you need to change cages I think the main problem you will be having is that one piggie (or more) has not quite got rid of the ringworm and keeps reinfecting the others and now you.

Have you got some Canasten for you? Keep checking yourself for other new spots but it will be fine.

As for the piggies. I found the only thing that worked was Nizoral taken orally (http://www.guinealynx.info/fungus.html). My vet perscribed this for me and they needed a 1/4 of a table between the group eat day. Once a week I would miss this dose and bath them in Nizoral (ensuring I got rid of as much of the scabby areas as possible and cut off all the hair around the area).

Any towels I used were washed at 90' in virkon. I also sprayed every inch of their cage with virkon everytime the hay was changed.

We had 2 reoccurances but for now we seem to be winning. It does seem that some piggies are more prone to this than others.

It will all be fine it just takes a little persistance and time. There is light at the end of the tunnel. :))
 
F10 is the best disinfectant and the only one I use now as it is sporicidal including fungal spores - virkon is only effective against bacterial spores not fungal spores.

Trigene is also sporicidal as but I've not tried it yet as I find the F10 works well.

Suzy x
 
You might need to go to the doctor yourself for treatment. I tried creams, they didn't work and I had fungal spread. It's easily treated with tablets though - I caught it off our puppy.
 
I just wanted to say I know how depressing it is to have guinea pigs that hate you. my girls were either neglected or mistreated at their first home and I have never been able to bring them round to me, they HATE being picked up hate being brushed and giving them a bath, I try honestly I do but it is a anightmare. They are terrified of EVERYTHING and essentially hide all day.

I do think guinea pigs are far more difficult animals to look after then the "accepted wisdom" would suggest, if that makes sense.

Henry on the other hand is a gorgeous boy and is fine with people, bit p'ed off at the moment with the baytril but otherwise ok.

I would wash everything at 90, get it good and clean and Suzy will help loads too.

Good luck and really hope your OH doesn't get it!

x
 
sophieandhoney said:
I just wanted to say I know how depressing it is to have guinea pigs that hate you. my girls were either neglected or mistreated at their first home and I have never been able to bring them round to me, they HATE being picked up hate being brushed and giving them a bath, I try honestly I do but it is a anightmare. They are terrified of EVERYTHING and essentially hide all day.

I do think guinea pigs are far more difficult animals to look after then the "accepted wisdom" would suggest, if that makes sense.

Henry on the other hand is a gorgeous boy and is fine with people, bit p'ed off at the moment with the baytril but otherwise ok.

I would wash everything at 90, get it good and clean and Suzy will help loads too.

Good luck and really hope your OH doesn't get it!

x
Click to expand...

No piggy hates anyone - they don't have the ability to hate! They're just nervous - it's gotta be scary being a little pig!

Time, patience and perseverence (I can't spell that!) will bring them out of their shell - unfortunately some just take a lot longer than others :(
 
Oh Kat I am so so sorry to hear all this. No wonder you are upset. Once this awful ringworm goes you will be able to build up a bond with your boys. You are a fantastic guinea pig mum and are doing all the right things. You have just been unlucky to have this problem. This will pass and everything will be okay. You are not alone with guinea pigs who have not bonded. My little Amina hates being picked up and each time I walk past the cage runs and hide. It is upsetting holding her as she clearly hates it so much. We will win them round with love eventually. I am here if you need to talk any time.
 
I would say it takes at least 6 months of patience to tame guinea pigs from my experience with really terrified piggies, some tame quick than others. Don't give up, they are the most rewarding animals once tame :)
 
Aww thanks so much everyone, you're all so lovely.

Had a good chat with Suzy.

On her recommendation: ordered a tonne of F 10 products, including a fogger - which should kill anything fungus related in my flat. Piggies are going to be moved to the kitchen for the time being, while I have a chance to get to everything and sterlise it again. Good hints on the washing stuff. Thanks!

Vets tonight with a list of medication that is effective, in the hope I don't get ripped off and told to 'treat it with vitamin c tablets' (still annoyed at that vet!).

So I think in the mean time the only things left to buy are some steel gloves and armoured body plating.......lol. While Floyd stands his ground teeth chattering at me.....I just gotta stand my ground and get on with it. I might see if my OH will video me doing the treatment so you can tell me exactly where I'm going wrong!

So check back on here tonight to watch my boys running rings round me....

xx
 
Aww glad you have been given advice. You will get rid of this ringworm and you will bond with your boys.
 
Big hug to you :rose
It's great that there are so many knowledgable and kind people on here to help. (I'm not one of them unfortunately!)

Hope this makes you smile - I was in a training conference 'thingy' in Germany years ago, there were a whole load of us sitting round in a circle at smart desks...suddenly someone pointed to my cheek and started shouting out that I had ringworm! Then lots of other people started looking/calling out/coming round me, I was totally bewildered as I hadn't ever come across ringworm before! :{ (I'd been to visit my friend who was caring for some wild kittens and had obviously picked it up from them) I immediately started touching the patch on my face, people started shrieking "NO! Don't touch it!" Honestly, what a palava.

It sounds like you've come a long way with the germ-phobia, well done you, getting animals is a big step forward I imagine.

You go girl! x
 
You will have received some fab advice from Suzy, i just wanted to give you virtual hugs and please do let us know how you get on! We are all here even if you need to vent at times! :)
 
Ok no video I'm afraid as I came away without any treatment and just a prescription.

So the vet prescribed itrafungol to be taken orally - I asked about Imaverol and she said, yes it would work but was worried about the eye area. Suzy said it was fine on the eye area but the vet wanted to charge me £80 for a bottle!!

Anyway, I'm going with Suzy's advice - so I bought the imaverol on the internet for £17 - it's 4 treatments spaced 3 days apart - the itrafungol is syringe fed every day for 7 days rotating off and on for three weeks. Impossible there's no way!

It took three people to hold Floyd still just to examine his face. So I figure ok well atleast with a dunk I can get him in his igloo and literally lower that into the solution. Whatever it takes really to get him better - he's got some pretty horrible lessions underneath his body.

If that doesn't work then I still have the prescription to treat systematically if needs be! So now I'm just waiting for the stuff to arrive! xx
 
You go girl operation kill fungal is go. Just a quick note - don't put the Imaverol in there eyes - I know you wouldn't but the way I read your post is it's fine to put it in there eyes and I'm pretty sure your pigs would really hate you as it would sting like hell remember to avoid there eyes.
 
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I think it's ok to use a cotton ball around the area around the eye? Is that ok?
 
just a quick update - the boys have had two imaverol sessions and the difference is unbelievable already.

Floyd's eyes look so much better. Hair is reappearing on his nose and both of them seem in good form. Need to do two more sessions!

My ringworm is now, I hope, alot better too!

x

p.s I've changed my username for privacy reasons!
 
A picture post their last imaverol session, that's Floyd saying - 'ok missy so where's the cucumber - you can't bath us then not give us cucumber'.

Manny is sulking thinking, 'I don't like you, I don't like baths!' hehe.

bathtime.jpg
 
Oh love i'm sorry this has been just horrendous for you! :{
(sorry also about the name change :...)

PHEW last session, all paws, claws and fingers crossed in this house that the nasty ringworm is all gone! mallethead

HUGS AND HEALING WHEEEEEEEEKS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
 
Only just caught up with this thread and while I don't have anything to add about the ringworm (you sound like you have been given great advice already), I just wanted to let you know not to worry about your pigs "hating" you. Most pigs dislike medical treatment, but they don't hold grudges long-term - my Pig teeth chatters at me when I come into the room in the mornings whenever he is on antibiotics, but as soon as the course is over he seems to forgive me. It does just take a long time with some pigs to build up trust - I think it took about 2 years with Pig (and like I said, he still chatters at me sometimes now).
 
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