Piggies ears turned very white and scaly

[ThePiggyWhisperer]

Hi, this is my first post for help here, so apologies if I make mistakes!

My year old female guinea pig Ruby used to have soft dark ears but then the edge got sort of pale and crusty. We suspected fungal infection so applied Canestan (the thrush version) for about a week. This did not help at all! The ear has now gone almost completely white and scaly, flaky looking, with a defined line almost where her ear meets her head, and the other now has a similar appearance. I took her to vet who checked for ringworm, decided it was not present, but suggested a treatment of Ivermectin for mites.

It is now a week after applying the first dose of Ivermectin and there has been no change in the ears appearance. It does look very bad, but she doesn't seem to be in any discomfort, eating well, playing in the hay etc.I have attached a picture - was wondering if anyone has seen anything like it and has ideas about causes and treatment - I have searched the web for similar pictures but cannot find any that are as white and scaly looking. I have now started to notice signs of it appearing on another piggy too (in our herd of 4, Ruby, Peaches, Maisy and Mr Fezziwig). Many thanks in advance!

Matt

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, this is my first post for help here, so apologies if I make mistakes!

My year old female guinea pig Ruby used to have soft dark ears but then the edge got sort of pale and crusty. We suspected fungal infection so applied Canestan (the thrush version) for about a week. This did not help at all! The ear has now gone almost completely white and scaly, flaky looking, with a defined line almost where her ear meets her head, and the other now has a similar appearance. I took her to vet who checked for ringworm, decided it was not present, but suggested a treatment of Ivermectin for mites.

It is now a week after applying the first dose of Ivermectin and there has been no change in the ears appearance. It does look very bad, but she doesn't seem to be in any discomfort, eating well, playing in the hay etc.I have attached a picture - was wondering if anyone has seen anything like it and has ideas about causes and treatment - I have searched the web for similar pictures but cannot find any that are as white and scaly looking. I have now started to notice signs of it appearing on another piggy too (in our herd of 4, Ruby, Peaches, Maisy and Mr Fezziwig). Many thanks in advance!

Matt


View attachment 246755View attachment 246756

Hi

Please see your vet for a potential fungal skin infection. We cannot diagnose without hands-on access but we can help you with practical tips on how to best get on top of the spores and prevent a recurrance once you have got a diagnosis.

 

[ThePiggyWhisperer]

Thank you for your response, but did you actually read my post? I stated that I have seen a vet, she said she did not think it was a fungal infection, but a mite infection, and prescribed Ivermectin. I am not asking for a diagnosis, I am asking if anyone has seen a mite infection that looks like the images I posted. I would appreciate not being slapped down on my first post, it would be nice if it were given some time for someone to respond to my actual request.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Can you clarify - given both words are used in your posts - does your vet not think it’s ringworm
(In your first message) or do they not think it’s fungal (in your second message).
There are many types of fungal infection so even if it isn’t ringworm it might be a different type of fungal infection.

I’ve not personally seen anything looking like this and it be mites and instead it does look like fungal of some sort.

Ivermectin will cure it if it is parasites but won’t do anything if it’s fungal.

 

[ThePiggyWhisperer]

Hi, my apologies for not being clear. thank you for responding again. The vet tested for ringworm using fluorescent light, negative, and concluded it was unlikely to be fungal because we had used a broad spectrum anti-fungal for a week (the canesten) with no improvement and a lot of deterioration. I agree it does look fungal. The ivermectin does not seem to be affecting it. I guess a return to the vet is in order

 

[Wiebke]

Hi, my apologies for not being clear. thank you for responding again. The vet tested for ringworm using fluorescent light, negative, and concluded it was unlikely to be fungal because we had used a broad spectrum anti-fungal for a week (the canesten) with no improvement and a lot of deterioration. I agree it does look fungal. The ivermectin does not seem to be affecting it. I guess a return to the vet is in order

Hi

I agree with @Piggies&buns .

We have seen quite a few cases on here over the years ringworm was ruled out initially on here after a fluorescent light test, only that it eventually turned out to be ringworm after quite a saga. It is sadly not a fail-safe method of diagnosing ringworm as expected and vets treating guinea pigs very regularly no longer use it for that reason.

The ear looks full of white crusty fungal exudate to me, too, and not just inflamed skin with eventually small dead skin flakes, which is what you'd see with mange mites. Ivermectin can temporarily suppress a fungal skin infection but not cure it. It comes back as soon as the ivermectin wears off.

If I were you, I would in any case deep clean with F10 and use ringworm washing and handling hygiene (which also works for mange mites, by the way including laundry temperature guide lines) so you are not up against it in case it is ringworm with thousands of long-lived shed spores everywhere some weeks down the line, which are the real issue with it. The time between infection and acute outbreak is 10-14 days but if you discover crusty spots in other parts of the body or on companions some time down the line please keep a ringworm outbreak in mind
Please read our ringworm guide re. hygiene measures that will also help with mange mites: Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures

We can only tell you what we pick up on due to our personal and and certainly ample forum experience when it comes to ringworm or other fungal skin infections (labs will only test for ringworm by the way) but I hope that you can get on top of whatever it is.

 

[Posyrose]

Welcome to the forum to you and your piggies. I hope you can get to the bottom of your piggies' issues.