Ringworm advice please! just in case.

[PIGGIES FOREVER]

Hi all.

How do you go around disinfecting wooden houses/ hides? If dealing with ringworm. I know you use F10 disinfection. If soaking in F10 it would use so much because the size of my hides/houses, but if spraying them, would that kill the ringworm spores!? I wouldn't bin my hides/houses. Just what advice on how you can deal with this situation if it was to happen. And of course I know that the guinea pig would need to go to the vet and any other pigs they live with would need treating as well. Thanks in advance.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Using F10 concentrate to soak houses does not use a lot of F10. You only need a very small amount to dilute into the correct amount of water for the dilution that you need (and when dealing with ringworm you want to use the strongest solution). You can make up quite a quantity and not use too much of the concentrate.
If you use the ready mixed F10 then it will use a lot of it as it is already diluted.

 

[PIGGIES FOREVER]

Using F10 concentrate to soak houses does not use a lot of F10. You only need a very small amount to dilute into the correct amount of water for the dilution that you need (and when dealing with ringworm you want to use the strongest solution). You can make up quite a quantity and not use too much of the concentrate.
If you use the ready mixed F10 then it will use a lot of it as it is already diluted.

Would spraying work as well?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Would spraying work as well?

It depends if it is sprayed enough that the solution gets in well enough. Peace of mind that it really has got in enough would make me soak it rather than spray it.
It also depends on if you use the ready mixed F10 whether the solution is strong enough - I dont know it’s dilution rats when ready made (I don’t buy it, I only get the concentrate as it works out cheaper) but my guess would be it is just at general use dilution. The benefit of using the concentrate is that you can make up batches as needed at the correct dilution for the situation - high disinfection in the case of ringworm

 

[PIGGIES FOREVER]

It depends if it is sprayed enough that the solution gets in well enough. Peace of mind that it really has got in enough would make me soak it rather than spray it.
It also depends on if you use the ready mixed F10 whether the solution is strong enough - I dont know it’s dilution rats when ready made (I don’t buy it, I only get the concentrate as it works out cheaper) but my guess would be it is just at general use dilution. The benefit of using the concentrate is that you can make up batches as needed at the correct dilution for the situation - high disinfection in the case of ringworm

Would the houses, toys etc... have to be done after every clean out or just at end of treatment?
How long does things have to sit in the F10 for?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Would the houses, toys etc... have to be done after every clean out or just at end of treatment?
How long does things have to sit in the F10 for?

In the event of a ringworm outbreak the houses would need to be removed, soaked for a few hours and then left to dry. However, it would then be a good idea and save you a lot of work to not return any wooden houses to the piggies until the end of treatment and once they are fully clear of ringworm.

 

[PIGGIES FOREVER]

Would the houses, toys etc... have to be done after every clean out or just at end of treatment?
How long does things have to sit in the F10 for?

Oh, and could you use the same made up F10 solution for several items before discarding it and making up new batch? And how long could you keep a made up F10 solution for before discarding it? Does it lose its power once made up and how long for?

 

[Piggies&buns]

Oh, and could you use the same made up F10 solution for several items before discarding it and making up new batch? And how long could you keep a made up F10 solution for before discarding it? Does it lose its power once made up and how long for?

if you make it in a bucket/container for the purposes of soaking houses in the event of ringworm, then once you have soaked the houses, you would discard the water in the bucket

If you make up a batch of F10 and put it in a spray bottle for something such as general cleaning, then anything you don’t use can remain in the spray bottle and (if I remember rightly) lasts for six months once made.

i have empty litre spray bottles and make up on litre of solution at a time for my deep cleans and just use what I need, and then pop the spray bottle back on the shelf ready for the next deep clean.

 

[PIGGIES FOREVER]

In the event of a ringworm outbreak the houses would need to be removed, soaked for a few hours and then left to dry. However, it would then be a good idea and save you a lot of work to not return any wooden houses to the piggies until the end of treatment and once they are fully clear of ringworm.

Been having a think about you comment above, it would be o.k to use towels or blankets over the cage grids to make dark spots for the guinea pigs to hide? That would be o.k, wouldn't it? While treating for ringworm, they don't necessary need houses in this situation, as long as they have a dark spot. I don't like plastic hides but use drain pipes for tunnels and I don't normally use fleece items because bedding gets stuck to it and tempting for guinea pigs to chew.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Been having a think about you comment above, it would be o.k to use towels or blankets over the cage grids to make dark spots for the guinea pigs to hide? That would be o.k, wouldn't it? While treating for ringworm, they don't necessary need houses in this situation, as long as they have a dark spot. I don't like plastic hides but use drain pipes for tunnels and I don't normally use fleece items because bedding gets stuck to it and tempting for guinea pigs to chew.

yes that would be fine

 

[PIGGIES FOREVER]

yes that would be fine

Great thank you.