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Ring Worm?

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vladimir31

vladimir31

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Hi Guys!
I just got two baby guinea pigs this weekend (my first piggies ever!), Vladimir who is 5 weeks old and Prince who is 8 weeks old. The breeder I got them from warned me that Prince had been treated for ringworm as a baby but that he is now fine.
I took them to the vets today for a quick check up and I first saw a nurse who could only give me advice on bedding and food, which made me cross as I wanted a health check and I was paying 15£ per piggie for the consultation!
I found Vladimir's ears a little bit dodgy but she keps saying that she was not qualified enough to know if there was anything wrong so she said I had to see the vet, which I did and costed me an extra 30£.
The vet thought that his ears were nothing to worry about, perhaps some mites, and put some cream on it and said he looked really healthy and happy.
I did notice a little scab on his back so I showed that to her and explained the little story about Prince's ringworm, so she said that it looked like it was ringworm too! (which I found a bit strange, basically if I didnt say anything she would have not noticed?)
She then advised me to send the lesion to the lab (which costed me an extra 30£) and prescribed me some shampoo and applied some on him. We wont get the results before two weeks and she asked him to be separated from Prince (I dont even have another cage yet so he is in a little box absolutely miserable, both piggies are not eating anymore and just look incredibly sad to be separated)
When I look on the internet, pictures of ringworm dont seem to look like what they have (Prince also has a little scab on his back, both are tiny on each of them)

I have attached pictures- what do you think? Can I put them back together and shampoo them daily?

I am a little bit cross to have paid 90£ for a consultation which did not bring me any answers or treatment except from a shampoo and I feel like they took advantage of my non experience with piggies, although they were lovely staff!

All thoughts welcome..

ringworm1.webp

ringworm2.webp
 
Hello :) just spoke to you on facebook :)

Possibly ringworm but most likely fungal of some sort What was the shampoo prescribed? Whereabouts are you located, we may be able to recommend a good vet.

I wouldn't separate the piggies personally we never do if one has a fungal infection as it upsets them to be apart, I know others do with ringworm at times. If the other is going to get it he will have it by now... You could shampoo them both

Have a read of the ringworm guide it is general for all fungal and gives you ideas on hygeine etc... Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

tagging in @helen105281 for you she is a genius with skin issues
 
I'm no expext but to me that looks like the scabby bits you can get if your piggie gets mites. I don't know what cream she put on, the treatment for mites is drops of liquid on the back of the neck. I'll tag someone else to see if they can help. @Adelle
 
Going off your IP you are somerset (Bath) based Have done a search for an experienced guinea pig vet and came up with the below
Karen Clothier
Rosemary Lodge Veterinary Hospital,
Midford Lodge, Wellsway, Bath.

01225 832521

Bath Vet Referrals
 
Thank you for your reply :)

It is called Malaseb! I think I will put them back together as they are definitely upset right now and I was so pleased to see that they seemed to get on!
They have quite a few carboard houses / wooden houses to sleep in and since I had them they always sleep together in one of them- good sign?
 
It could possibly be mites, but mites and fungal do look the same to start but the treatment if very specific and different. Ideally a good cavy savy vet can let you know for sure I would be looking for another after today
 
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Malaseb is indeed an anti fungal shampoo, how often did they say to use it? Did you actually see a vet or a nurse?
 
vladimir31 said:
she said once every three days I think!
Click to expand...

Sounds about right to me. Same with Nizoral shampoo. Please do a patch test behind piggies ear to make sure they are fine with it before shampooing.
 
I will do- thanks! I'm obviously new to guinea pigs and I already love them so much!
 
Any sign of it on the other piggy?
 
well the other piggy has something very similar(first picture, Prince), the second one is Vladimir
 
vladimir31 said:
I will do- thanks! I'm obviously new to guinea pigs and I already love them so much!
Click to expand...

Try the shampoo, but I would be after a second opinion. I would recommend giving the vets recommended above a ring and asking about consultation charges etc... It pays to find a good vet honestly. Fungal and mites if caught early is treatable quickly but you need to know what you are dealing with. Hoping the shampoo works but if it gets worse please see another vet ASAP
 
Ah! Right so they both have it. Definitely no point in separating as they more than likely both have the same. ...
 
Hi and welcome

Whatever it is, it is just starting, so it is usually not quite easy to tell straight away. Please see a vet for a diagnosis, as mange mites and ringworm require different treatment. It looks slightly more fungally to me, but we simply diagnose just from a picture and we do not recommend to treat on spec, especially not with low dosed broad spectrum pet shop products.

If it has happened within two weeks of you getting your guinea pigs, then you can reclaim the expense from the pet shop.

Since we have members from all over the world, we find it helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county so we can tailor any advice and recommendations to what is available and possible where you are. Please click on your username on the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This then appears under your username on the left of each post and means that we don't have to keeps things as general as possible. Thank you!
 
If it is fungal, you will need to do a deep clean to get rid of all fungal spores. As Lee has said, the best disinfectant is F10 for killing fungal spores. All bedding will need to be washed at 60degrees, and all wooden items either need to be destroyed or completely soaked in F10,to kill the spores (wooden toys are often a culprit in re-infecting). Also, you should be careful to take precautions yourself as ringworm is contagious to humans, too.
If you have doubt about the diagnosis then it would be best to do as Lee suggests and see a Cavy savvy vet.
 
Wiebke said:
Hi and welcome

Whatever it is, it is just starting, so it is usually not quite easy to tell straight away. Please see a vet for a diagnosis, as mange mites and ringworm require different treatment. It looks slightly more fungally to me, but we simply diagnose just from a picture and we do not recommend to treat on spec, especially not with low dosed broad spectrum pet shop products.

If it has happened within two weeks of you getting your guinea pigs, then you can reclaim the expense from the pet shop.

Since we have members from all over the world, we find it helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county so we can tailor any advice and recommendations to what is available and possible where you are. Please click on your username on the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. This then appears under your username on the left of each post and means that we don't have to keeps things as general as possible. Thank you!
Click to expand...

She has seen a vet Wiebke just a little unclear on diagnosis by sounds of it...
 
sport_billy said:
She has seen a vet Wiebke just a little unclear on diagnosis by sounds of it...
Click to expand...

Sorry, I'm still busy catching up with my own piggies after a holiday.

Please start treating, and please treat both piggies. Make sure that you wash your hands carefully and ideally wear disposable gloves, as ringworm is the one thing that you can catch from and transmit to guinea pigs and all other mammalian pets.
You may find our ringworm hygiene and care tips helpful: Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
 
thank you guys- you've been really helpful!
I'll wait and see and shampoo them but will probably ask for a second opinion as recommended
Love this forum already!
 
The very best treatment for dealing with fungal issues, is an oral medication called Itranfungal. It is a prescription only drug, and it works really well, without the need for bathing, etc. It also treats all of the issue, as it can be easy to miss bits when using shampoos and dips.
 
Sorry I was tagged but haven't been able to come on as been ill. I agree it is difficult to tell at this stage whether it is mites or fungal. Malaseb is a good fungal shampoo but as Furry friends has said Itrafungol would be a less stressful option. The treatment for mites would be with Ivermectin, 3 doses a week apart.
 
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