Planning for mites!

[Wetherill]

Today, I saw the saddest sight at a pet store, which I was visiting for the first time. They had around 8 guinea pigs—all which, to be fair, looked to be reasonably healthy, save for one sweet boy. His ears were clearly infected by fungus, and one was entirely decomposed, and was basically just black crust on his head. The one pictured is also decomposed, but still pink. He was panting, shaky, missing hair around the nose, had pink patches on his fur, and suuuuper itchy. I stormed to the front and aggressively demanded to find out what sex he was (I have boys, my boyfriend girls) and they told me he was male and showed me his vitals. I left the store, and I think I will go back for him. I plan to keep him in an entirely separate room from my boys before a quarantine/slow introduction. Mostly just wanted to share, but my issue is also the itching. I’m sure it will take a day or two to get into my vet’s office (who is unbelievably stellar), are there any extra precautions I should take besides handling him with gloves and washing my hands afterward? The LAST thing I want is three boys with mites. Here is a photo of the sweetheart.

Also, I know it is not right to buy from pet stores. But I know very well if I do not get this baby, he will die, especially considering his healthy, more conventionally desirable counterparts. I do not want him dead or in the wrong hands. I feel so awful.

 

[Piggies&buns]

It’s lovely you’re going to take him in.

He will need to be kept in a separate room until all issues are treated particularly if there is the potential for there to be ringworm.
Take extreme caution in case you are dealing with ringworm - wear different clothes, wash hands. Deal with your existing piggies first.

New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights
Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures

You mention slow introduction. Are you aware this boy will be highly unlikely to ever be able to live in the same cage if you already have two boys living together?
Three boars together doesn’t usually work (they usually fight) so if you get this piggy then he will need to be kept in a separate but side by side cage with your boys; or he will have to have his own new friend to be bonded with for you to have two separate pairs.

If you do mean you are going to try to bond him with your boys, then ensure you are prepared that it may not work with a separation plan and that the cage is a minimum of 300x100cm to give each a big enough territory.

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

 

[weepweeps]

Poor piggy. Well done for rescuing him. Could you rescue two boys? That way he’ll have a friend. You could then stack the cages so it would take up less space. Good luck.

 

[Wetherill]

It’s lovely you’re going to take him in.

He will need to be kept in a separate room until all issues are treated particularly if there is the potential for there to be ringworm.
Take extreme caution in case you are dealing with ringworm - wear different clothes, wash hands. Deal with your existing piggies first.

New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights
Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures

You mention slow introduction. Are you aware this boy will be highly unlikely to ever be able to live in the same cage if you already have two boys living together?
Three boars together doesn’t usually work (they usually fight) so if you get this piggy then he will need to be kept in a separate but side by side cage with your boys; or he will have to have his own new friend to be bonded with for you to have two separate pairs.

If you do mean you are going to try to bond him with your boys, then ensure you are prepared that it may not work with a separation plan and that the cage is a minimum of 300x100cm to give each a big enough territory.

Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?

Hi, thank you!

My first boar trio lasted one year, then fell apart. I set up an appropriately sized cage beside the existing one. I have dealt with the issue before and am aware it is unlikely to blow over smoothly. Before anything I am just hoping he turns out ok

 

[Betsy]

Well done for taking on a sick piggy. It's a huge amount of work, love, commitment and money to get poor piggies well again. If he is in the same area as the others, likely they have been exposed to whatever he has but aren't showing it yet. I hope you can get him well and healthy again.

 

[Wetherill]

Upon closer look, it seems to be ringworm. Vet visit tomorrow and ringworm shampoo and ointment for now! He is home safe and cozy. Say hi to Charlie

 

[Piggies&buns]

I'm sorry to hear that.
Please don’t use any treatment on him now, doing so can mask the symptoms and make diagnosis harder.

 

[Wetherill]

I'm sorry to hear that.
Please don’t use any treatment on him now, doing so can mask the symptoms and make diagnosis harder.

Hello,

I spoke thoroughly to my vet and he personally suggested specific treatments offered by my local pet stores. I am not doing him any mindless harm

Additionally, his ears are almost entirely gone, which would not be possible to mask with drops or ointment sadly

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hello,

I spoke thoroughly to my vet and he personally suggested specific treatments offered by my local pet stores. I am not doing him any mindless harm

Additionally, his ears are almost entirely gone, which would not be possible to mask with drops or ointment sadly

Ok. You post didn’t originally say you had already got a vet diagnosis and was told what product to use, it just seemed that you were seeing the vet tomorrow and that you had made a ringworm diagnosis yourself in advance and was going to use products based on that, hence my comment which is normal advice and the only advice we can give to anybody in that situation.

As a UK based forum we have to follow UK rules regarding diagnoses and treatments and that most pet shop products here are not strong enough to treat anything properly (they are not allowed to be prescription strength). I’m guessing you are in the US where things seem to be different. However we still need to follow UK rules in all our advice.