Possible Ringworm - Oh God!

[Dilly's Piggies]

So today I noticed a small circular patch of hair loss on my Lunkarya sow Dolly, it's on her nose, it's not red or crusty, but there is white flaking. The same pig has always had skin problems, especially on her ears and she has yellow crust on her back feet. Her skin has been troublesome from day 1 and everyone including my vet has said it's just dry skin related to her breed.

But after seeing this bald patch today I am now extremely suspicious about a fungal issue. I've checked all the other pigs and they look fine, it's just her but I know this irritating ringworm can spread like wildfire so I'm on edge right now. I don't have a picture at the moment but I'll post one tomorrow in better lighting. I really don't want to separate her, for one I don't have a spare cage or anywhere she can go, so she will stay with her friends and treat them all if they show signs.

I don't understand how this happened, if it is ringworm, because my husbandry is on another level, they live on fleece, spot cleaned every day and thoroughly disinfected with F10 every 4 days. I'm OCD about their hygiene routine so I'm just mad at this right now.

I have Malaseb on hand and will bath her in that and get some anti fungal cream for her suspicious spots tomorrow, ughhhhh!

 

[Swissgreys]

I would probably be tempted to pop her along to the vets to get a confirmation one way or the other.
And ringworm isn't necessarily always associate with poor hygiene either, so don't assume it is something you have done wrong.

 

[Wiebke]

So today I noticed a small circular patch of hair loss on my Lunkarya sow Dolly, it's on her nose, it's not red or crusty, but there is white flaking. The same pig has always had skin problems, especially on her ears and she has yellow crust on her back feet. Her skin has been troublesome from day 1 and everyone including my vet has said it's just dry skin related to her breed.

But after seeing this bald patch today I am now extremely suspicious about a fungal issue. I've checked all the other pigs and they look fine, it's just her but I know this irritating ringworm can spread like wildfire so I'm on edge right now. I don't have a picture at the moment but I'll post one tomorrow in better lighting. I really don't want to separate her, for one I don't have a spare cage or anywhere she can go, so she will stay with her friends and treat them all if they show signs.

I don't understand how this happened, if it is ringworm, because my husbandry is on another level, they live on fleece, spot cleaned every day and thoroughly disinfected with F10 every 4 days. I'm OCD about their hygiene routine so I'm just mad at this right now.

I have Malaseb on hand and will bath her in that and get some anti fungal cream for her suspicious spots tomorrow, ughhhhh!

Hi! Please check with your vet and do not treat on spec.
Follow the very detailed tips in our ringworm guide. They really work, as they have been learned the hard way.
I've managed to keep a ringworm outbreak in a room of 30 piggies to just the affected at the end of last year with them. Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

The time between infection is 10-14 days, so you have got some margin to make sure that the others don't come down with it, too. Make also sure that you do not catch it yourself!

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Hi! Please check with your vet and do not treat on spec.
Follow the very detailed tips in our ringworm guide. They really work, as they have been learned the hard way.
I've managed to keep a ringworm outbreak in a room of 30 piggies to just the affected at the end of last year with them. Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

The time between infection is 10-14 days, so you have got some margin to make sure that the others don't come down with it, too. Make also sure that you do not catch it yourself!

I am going to take her to the vet this week. My Grandma picked up some anti fungal cream for me though, it's canesten clotrimazole 2%, is this safe because I'm only seeing 1% online?

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Hi! Please check with your vet and do not treat on spec.
Follow the very detailed tips in our ringworm guide. They really work, as they have been learned the hard way.
I've managed to keep a ringworm outbreak in a room of 30 piggies to just the affected at the end of last year with them. Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

The time between infection is 10-14 days, so you have got some margin to make sure that the others don't come down with it, too. Make also sure that you do not catch it yourself!

I just read your thread, does ringworm always begin as a bloody scab that looks like an injury? Dolly never had that, it just came up straight away as a bald spot with white flakes...

 

[Lady Kelly]

I just read your thread, does ringworm always begin as a bloody scab that looks like an injury? Dolly never had that, it just came up straight away as a bald spot with white flakes...

No not always as a bloody scab. The scabs only appear when it has irritated the piggy enough to scratch themselves to that extent. Donald's latest outbreak started as a dry flaky line along his eyelid. This time though none of the others have caught it

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

No not always as a bloody scab. The scabs only appear when it has irritated the piggy enough to scratch themselves to that extent. Donald's latest outbreak started as a dry flaky line along his eyelid. This time though none of the others have caught it

Oh dear, I had a glimmer of hope there that it wasn't ringworm lol!

 

[Lady Kelly]

Oh dear, I had a glimmer of hope there that it wasn't ringworm lol!

I've only dealt with it twice. Once in a hidden spot and ended up with 3 out of 4 with it. This time it's been stubborn to treat but has been confined to one pig. I think the earlier you catch it the better chance you stand

 

[Wiebke]

I just read your thread, does ringworm always begin as a bloody scab that looks like an injury? Dolly never had that, it just came up straight away as a bald spot with white flakes...

No - which is why I have posted several different pictures from piggies of mine in the guide that show the possible differences at the onset of ringworm. The scab happens when a piggy scatches itself bloody before a wider area starts showing fungal.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

No - which is why I have posted several different pictures from piggies of mine in the guide that show the possible differences at the onset of ringworm. The scab happens when a piggy scatches itself bloody before a wider area starts showing fungal.

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

She has had this dry skin problem on her ears from the day I got her, almost a year ago. This spot on her nose looks exactly the same but only came up yesterday out of the blue...

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

I've been using clotrimazole cream on her nose and ears for 2 days now, it is actually improving, I suppose it is fungal!

I have almost a full bottle of Malaseb shampoo, is it a good idea to bathe her in that also? And what about the other pigs, do I bathe them or leave them alone?

 

[Dilly's Piggies]

Noticed this on Dolly today, looks like a rash, don't know if it's a reaction to cream or the fungal is spreading? The cream has worked wonders on her ears and her bald nose patch looks better too, just concerned about this rash...

 

[TinaY]

I see this is an old thread, but my piggies have exactly the same thing now. How did you resolve it?

 

[Wiebke]

I see this is an old thread, but my piggies have exactly the same thing now. How did you resolve it?

Please start a new thread. Many of our posters will only dip in at need and not necessarily regularly.

 

[TinaY]

Please start a new thread. Many of our posters will only dip in at need and not necessarily regularly.

Hi Wiebke, thanks for letting me know! I actually keep trying to get some help on my thread about ringworm but I don’t know why I’m not getting any responses .

 

[Wiebke]

Hi Wiebke, thanks for letting me know! I actually keep trying to get some help on my thread about ringworm but I don’t know why I’m not getting any responses .

You can always tag somebody in by typing @Username, click on the name when it comes up in the list in order to generate an alert. Our alert system can be sometimes a bit capricious. All of us mods have to find a balance between automatic alerts and relying on tags in ongoing threads or we'd be drowned in alerts. Please respect that we are all doing this for free in our free time, so none of us can be around all the time or even every day.

 

[TinaY]

You can always tag somebody in by typing @Username, click on the name when it comes up in the list in order to generate an alert. Our alert system can be sometimes a bit capricious. All of us mods have to find a balance between automatic alerts and relying on tags in ongoing threads or we'd be drowned in alerts. Please respect that we are all doing this for free in our free time, so none of us can be around all the time or even every day.

Completely understand and SUPER thankful. Just desperate at the same time . If it wasn’t for this forum, my piggies would never get Itrafungol and I would still be washing them with Nizoral. And I would most likely use vinegar to clean their stuff and therefore spread the spores all over the house. So I am honestly VERY VERY thankful!

 

[Wiebke]

Completely understand and SUPER thankful. Just desperate at the same time . If it wasn’t for this forum, my piggies would never get Itrafungol and I would still be washing them with Nizoral. And I would most likely use vinegar to clean their stuff and therefore spread the spores all over the house. So I am honestly VERY VERY thankful❤!

I sincerely hope that you are over the acute stage now?

 

[TinaY]

I sincerely hope that you are over the acute stage now?

I am very confused if we are. The more affected one, Buckets, that had a large bald spot on the side of the back has grown back all the hair and the ears are not crusty any more. He looks completely fine now. The other one, Donuts, that initially just had crusty ears, still has crust on one ear. It is their 5th week on Itrafungol, we're going above and beyond with cleaning, following bathing instructions and creaming, so I do not understand what is happening. I am honestly wondering if we managed to dry out his skin from everything that we have done. Since they are growing a lot and being very happy, so I do not think they have any other health issues that would be messing with their fungus recovery. Is there a way to know if it is dry skin or still ringworm?

 

[Wiebke]

I am very confused if we are. The more affected one, Buckets, that had a large bald spot on the side of the back has grown back all the hair and the ears are not crusty any more. He looks completely fine now. The other one, Donuts, that initially just had crusty ears, still has crust on one ear. It is their 5th week on Itrafungol, we're going above and beyond with cleaning, following bathing instructions and creaming, so I do not understand what is happening. I am honestly wondering if we managed to dry out his skin from everything that we have done. Since they are growing a lot and being very happy, so I do not think they have any other health issues that would be messing with their fungus recovery. Is there a way to know if it is dry skin or still ringworm?

Try additional creaming. Ringworm on ears can be harder to get on top of as it has no hair roots to sit on and come out with when the hairs are falling out. it is also much harder to judge whether there is healthy regrowth (which means that the ringworm is no longer acute for that same reason.

Can you please post a clear picture of the ear.

 

[TinaY]

It is in the middle of the ear, on the top side and then there’s this redness behind his ear. I will continue creaming, thank you. This would look a lot worse if I wasn’t applying the cream for sure. Please let me know if the pictures are not good enough, he wasn’t that into taking pictures today . Thank you so much for this!

 

[Julie M]

View attachment 171952View attachment 171953View attachment 171954
It is in the middle of the ear, on the top side and then there’s this redness behind his ear. I will continue creaming, thank you. This would look a lot worse if I wasn’t applying the cream for sure. Please let me know if the pictures are not good enough, he wasn’t that into taking pictures today . Thank you so much for this!

That looks like a normal ear to me. I cant see any ringworm. Just the blood vessel's in the ear.

 

[TinaY]

Maybe it’s more visible here? The dandruff particles. It’s not the best picture I know.

 

[TinaY]

I I think it’s even more visible here.

 

[TinaY]

This is aunt with a better light. @Wiebke hope you can see it.

 

[Wiebke]

View attachment 171952View attachment 171953View attachment 171954
It is in the middle of the ear, on the top side and then there’s this redness behind his ear. I will continue creaming, thank you. This would look a lot worse if I wasn’t applying the cream for sure. Please let me know if the pictures are not good enough, he wasn’t that into taking pictures today . Thank you so much for this!

Hi!

I can't see an active ringworm spot, just some normal skin flakes?

Take a deep breath; you ARE past the ringworm!

 

[TinaY]

Hi!

I can't see an active ringworm spot, just some normal skin flakes?

Take a deep breath; you ARE past the ringworm!

Omg omg omg. This has been so hard, I can’t believe it! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the help and for literally getting me through this horrible experience. I almost cannot believe it. I would never be able to make it without this fantastic forum. If saw that some members were having titles as donators, I cannot give much, but would love to show appreciation for what you do. Please let me know how I can support this community that is saving piggies and their humans all over the world. THANK YOU Wiebke!

 

[Wiebke]

Omg omg omg. This has been so hard, I can’t believe it! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the help and for literally getting me through this horrible experience. I almost cannot believe it. I would never be able to make it without this fantastic forum. If saw that some members were having titles as donators, I cannot give much, but would love to show appreciation for what you do. Please let me know how I can support this community that is saving piggies and their humans all over the world. THANK YOU Wiebke! ❤❤❤

The forum runs on voluntary member donations. We usually have a call whenever we need another round to pay our fees. Everybody just gives as much as they can afford or want to, but with plenty of members chipping in because they value this place, we always get enough. In recognition of their support, donators get a badge, which is differently coloured every year. @sport_billy

I hope that you will continue to stay on and enjoy our friendly and supportive community past your medical concerns. We have an active social scene in the Chat sections while the Care sections are for advice and support with any questions about health and care aspects.

Make sure that you have a little celebration and that you start enjoying your piggies as the fascinating creatures they are.
If you need something to make you chuckle, why not have a look through this thread from the top of our Guinea Pig Chat?
Guinea pig memes - feel free to add!