Ringworm? (Dry Skin/Hair Loss)

[xRoan]

Howdy all!
Basically, the pet store that I bought my girls from has had an ongoing issue with ringworm. When I bought my girls, they were fine. However, my newest girl has significant hair loss and dry skin that has progressed over the past couple of days. My other girl, the silkie, has a spot developing on her nose (which I don’t have a picture of).

Our vet appointment is the 6th of May and can’t be moved any sooner; other exotic vets are booked until July.

Is there anything I can do between now and then to prevent whatever this is from spreading? Thank you!

 

[Siikibam]

Have a read of the fungal guide. You’ll have to be really strict with hygiene. Deep cleaning using F10 solution, throw away any cardboard. Wash fleeces (if you use that) at a high temperature and soak any wooden furnishings. You’ll have to wear gloves when handling them and change your clothes soon as you’re done. Is there absolutely no way the vet can move the appointment forward at all? Perhaps send them pictures and/or exaggerate a little? That’s a long time to leave them.
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures

It’s best you don’t home treat them. You’d essentially be getting rid of the evidence and potentially making things worse.

 

[xRoan]

I’ll call the vet again on Monday and see what I can do but I’ve already called three times (once to be put on a cancellation list, and twice to book additional appointments)

I’ll see what I can do about the F10, not entirely sure what that is but I’ll figure it out.

It also seems as though my other furry critters have got a chance at catching it now, correct? Dog/cat/horse? And other family members, if their clothes come in contact with mine while in the laundry?

 

[Wiebke]

I’ll call the vet again on Monday and see what I can do but I’ve already called three times (once to be put on a cancellation list, and twice to book additional appointments)

I’ll see what I can do about the F10, not entirely sure what that is but I’ll figure it out.

It also seems as though my other furry critters have got a chance at catching it now, correct? Dog/cat/horse? And other family members, if their clothes come in contact with mine while in the laundry?

Hi!

F10 is a vet grade disinfectant that is effective against fungal spores and not just bacteria, like most normal disinfectants. You can find recommended US brands in our very comprehensive and step-by-step ringworm hygiene guide link. Please take the time to read it and to follow it.

Ringworm is not the worst illness in terms of fatalities; but it is by far the most contagious and species jumping issue due to its long-lived spores. Getting on top of those spores and cutting off all potential transmission angles is absolutely vital. There are no shortcuts. In nearly 15 years of existence on this forum and with plenty of long term owner experience we have found just about every potential transmission angle and have been able to work out how to deal with it. Throwing the kitchen sink at it for a comparatively short time is well worth it if you can avoid a long running saga.

Yes, unfortunately you and your other pet animals can also catch it. It is crucial that you can disrupt the cycle in the 10-14 days between infection and acute outbreak because once a patch is going acute, it has run its due course (pictures of that at the end of the ringworm guide).

Can you see a general vet sooner?
Here is information on your customer rights: New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

 

[xRoan]

Update: I caught ringworm and am now on medications. F10 is in the mail and should be delivered today. I hate this

 

[Wiebke]

Update: I caught ringworm and am now on medications. F10 is in the mail and should be delivered today. I hate this

OUCH! Poor you!
Make sure that you also reclaim any medical cost for yourself from the pet store and complain to your local council over trading standards.

 

[xRoan]

It didn’t hurt/itch until I realized it was there, which was when I offhandedly reached up to scratch it and felt the circular ridge.

Insurance covered the medications, but I’ll probably have the store cover medical costs. I’ve got a mini zoo, with a horse, dog, cat, and lizard on top of the three guinea pigs, and the vet bills will be atrocious if every one of them catches it.

 

[xRoan]

Quick question; I bought a new Guinea — she’s from the same store that the other three are from but a different litter.

I’m planning on quarantining her, but I don’t really have anything big enough right now. She’s hanging out in an old wire hamster cage next to the big cage. I’m worried it’s too small but I don’t want to risk her catching ringworm unnecessarily. Will she be ok until the 6th, when the other girls go to the vet? Or should I just bond them and ask the vet re: treating them all at once?

 

[Piggies&buns]

A hamster cage isn’t suitable. If she is going to be quarantined to not risk catching it, she needs to be in a separate room in a suitable cage (120x60cm) and always handled first (so as to not risk transmission) until the other piggies are better and no longer shedding spores. Putting her separate cage next to the others means she is likely exposed to the ringworm spores. However, you also have to consider age, piggies under four months of age cannot be quarantined (and need to be bonded straight away) due to their very high social needs.

 

[xRoan]

That’s what I was assuming but figured it couldn’t hurt to check. The store hasn’t been super on top of cleaning, either, so she’s probably got it.

I’ll bond her, she’s about a month, month and a half old right now.

Thank you!