I have just rehomed three boys, while I was doing a health check just to make sure that everything is fine and behind their ears seemed to be ringworm, not fully sure yet but I will hopefully be able to take them to the vet tomorrow for a check. I have researched ringworm, but I'm still really worried about possibly giving them antibiotics or even just general care for them? Any advice or own experiences like how long it will take to disappear or what is the most ideal amount of cleaning times? Also as I just got them so they are really afraid of me which is going to make this whole process worst because I'm scared they will end up hating me especially because they seem to not be very well socialised.
Hi and welcome
Antibiotics are not used for treating ringworm in guinea pigs (it is a fungal skin infection) but you want to have your piggies vet checked if in any doubt. The real challenge with ringworm is to get on top of the invisibly tiny spores as quickly as possible - they really hit back with a vengeance and can turn it into a long running saga if you skimp on the hygiene and just cream.
Our Ringworm Guide talks you through everything you need to do or consider with ringworm. If you follow the advice it does really work.
PS: Please be aware that guinea pigs have naturally a bald area behind the ears. They regulate their body temperature by increased blood flow through especially the ears. In order to shed heat efficiently, the ears should not be in contact with a thick insulating layer of hair behind them. Mostly, ringworm appears on the face in different places and not typically behind the ears. In secondary infections from picking up shed spores, ringworm can then appear in other parts of the body that are most likely in contact with any bedding or cosies during sleep or while scent marking (the tiny scent gland is right in front of the genital area),
If the individual shape of the bald patch (like our fingerprints) in all your boys is the same on both sides of the body, then you are not likely dealing with ringworm, which will only affect the area around one spore with a distinctive pink ring (only visilbe on white skin) on is outer edge and a balding area covered with a white crusty exudate on the inside. You can find pictures of how a ringworm patch runs its due course at the end of our ringworm guide link.
For more body quirks that can potentially trip up new owners, you may find this link here helpful:
Guinea pig body quirks - What is normal and what not?
We have got a special New Owners practical information collection, which addresses specifically all the things that new owners most commonly come against. You may want to bookmark the link, browse, read and re-read at need. You will take different things away from a number of guides at different levels of experience.
Here is the link:
Getting Started - Essential Information for New Owners
