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Ringworm - My mind is going into overdrive!

L

Laura23

New Born Pup
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Hi All,

Apologies for the long essay but my mind is going into overdrive and I’m at my wits end ends :(

First time owning guinea pigs and I have posted a couple of threads before this.

Brought home 6 week old guinea pigs on 23/03/25 (Sunday) from a hobby breeder. The next day I noticed the start of fur loss around the eye of one of them but skin was normal underneath. By the Wednesday there was bloodied mark on it which I thought was from scratching. Took them both the vet on Thursday 28/03/25. Vet said it didn’t look like ringworm but couldn’t say what caused it and prescribed anti inflammatory pain medication.
Within the next week I noticed fighting between them (more than dominance issues) and fur loss and scabbing on the other guinea pig along with what I thought was bite marks elsewhere on both guinea pigs. Took them both back to the vet and they were fighting whilst there. The vet said there were bite marks but some lesions she thought may have been ringworm. Put the UV light over them which never glowed on the obvious places over the lesions but did glow on parts near bum etc which I asked could be it be due to them peeing and sitting in it. She wanted to treat them for ringworm from that visit but I asked could cultures be performed to be certain as the treatment she wanted to prescribe costs couple of hundred pounds and with them fighting I wasn’t convinced (I know I’m no vet :(. The vet took some fur samples from different areas and done the cultures. They also advised to separate the guinea pigs due to fighting so I bought another cage the same day. We also started using gloves when handling from this day and started using F10 to disinfect cages rather than my other disinfectant used.
Cultures came back positive on 11/04/25 the same day my 8 year old daughter came out with a ringworm spot so I knew what the vet would say when they called that day. Vets then orders the medication and I collected on 14/04/25 and I started that day. They prescribed oral medication and imeverol dip.

My worry now is the length of time that it’s now taken before treatment started (3 weeks since first fur loss). Partly my fault as I wanted to be certain due to them fighting and also the cost. I have a few questions to ask:

1) both cages are in the kids toy room which is now out of bounds and has laminate flooring. How thorough do I have to clean the rest of the house and what can I use on floors in the guinea pigs room? With my daughter also having ringworm she has her own towel, brush, changing bedding daily etc and ensuring she washed her hands regularly.

2) Since we got the guinea pigs, they have been moulting like crazy which I gather is due to the time of year also so I’m finding their hair all around the house. Even after using gloves and now separate clothing to clean their cages and handle. Is my house doomed with the fur getting everywhere?

3) all clothing I wash now I’m putting it through a 60 degree wash but I’m worrying if the fur from clothing is going to ruin my washing machine etc. anything else I can do?

4) we are due to go on holiday at the end of July and the balance has to be paid by 2nd June. My mum was going to have the guinea pigs for the week but I’m worried now I’m going to battling this ringworm for a while and I don’t want to bring it to their house for it break out there also. They have a dog also.

I’m at my wits end already and the treatment has only just begun. My mind is going into overdrive of how I’m able to get rid of this from the guinea pigs and also my daughter. I just don’t have the time to continuously disinfect the whole house daily.

Luckily the kids are off school at the minute for the Easter holidays so I’m trying my best to do what I can but I return to work next week so not going to have the time then to clean every surface in the house along with treating and cleaning the guinea pigs cages and environment(we now have 2 due to separating).

What I thought would be lovely pets for my daughter and son as they have pestered me for a few year for them, has now turned into a nightmare and I’m starting to wish I never gave into them :(

Again apologies for the essay and thank you reading.
 
Also to add that I have a separate mop and brush and dustpan to use in the guinea pigs room. But with me finding still fur around the house along with some I don’t see on floors etc, our household vacuum will be picking these up. It’s a shark hoover so it’s bag less. What’s the best way to clean this and how often? Thank you x
 
Sorry you are going through this. Sounds like an utter nightmare.
I would be not letting the kids near the piggies at moment I presume you won’t be…
It sounds like the piggies are in a separate room so that is good.
Once the hair has been cleaned from rest of house you really shouldn’t be finding more if they are isolated in that room - which is a good thing.

Only tips I have is:
Handle them for meds wearing dispoasbale gloves, never bare skin.
Remove and throw away any wooded houses and replace with plastic ones.
Get Some F10 disinfectant to clean cage and plastic houses with.
Get some f10 soap for when you touch them.
Wear disposable plastic aprons when touching pigs so you can throw them away save the washing of clothes so much.

Obviously your daughters ringworm will need bringing under control also..
There is great guide here Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures

The oral medication should get on top of their infection soon hopefully. I hope it improves for you
 
I don’t have any experience of ringworm so can’t advise sorry but I’m sending you hugs. It sounds like you are doing all you can. Good luck. I hope it clears up quickly. I’m sure by your holiday they will be clear and be able to go to your parents. ❤️
 
Hi and welcome back

I am so very sorry that you had ringworm carried and that is has pread to your piggies. Please make a complaint to the place you bought them from and also lodge a complain with your local council over trading standards. Ringworm affects human children usually worse than adults, so a place selling children's pets should not be cavalier about their treatment and sale.

Please give the laminate floor in the piggy room also a good deep clean with F10 disinfect (order the concentrate - it lasts forever and it is the only that can also kill ringworm spores). This is what I did when I had my last outbreak with 30 piggies in adjoining cages on a laminate floor.
I did manage to contain the outbreak to a single guinea pig (he was a vet surrender for badly advanced, long term incorrectly treated ringworm) who I quarantined in a different room on a floor and next to a surface I could easily wipe down with the disinfectant.

Wear old overclothing when dealing with the piggies. What treatment are they on?

I would strong recommend that you read our step by step ringworm guide. It deals with all the hygiene aspects and transmission angles - we know from out own multiple experiences on here that they actually work. My experience with Barri was my own touchstone that my recommended measures really work.

The biggest and most important deep clean is the one at the end of treatment in order to ensure that no spores are carried across to cause a new outbreak. At the same time, please conduct a full body bath (even more so if your piggies are on oral treatment) to get rid of any spores sitting loosely in the coat that could cause a new infection a few weeks or months down the line when the spores come into contact with the skin; either directly or by falling onto the bedding - often in a sleeping area. Full body baths should also take care of your hair shedding problem. I am very sorry about the timing.

But you should be about to get on top of the ringworm within about 1-3 weeks, depending on treatment and severity. If spores have been shed all over with more advanced ringworm, there is a smaller risk of a return but with the right treatment and disinfection from the start you should be able to get on top of that within a week - for good since that time it won't have the chance to spread.

The trip-up with my ringworm adoptee was the missing sign-off bath after a success course of oral treatment before I adopted him. It was the same issue when my first ringworm was carried in by piggy that had undergone quarantine with her ringworm affected family but didn't develop ringworm herself. However, she arrived with some spores in her coat and caused several outbreaks over the coming 2 two years.
I learned most of the lessons in the ringworm guide the hard way then since nobody at that time (oral treatment was just coming in) had ever thought the hygiene and transmissions issues through before. So far, we have been able to help most members, even those dealing with more advanced cases.

Here is the ringworm link: Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures
Here are our bathing tips: Bathing (including cleaning grease glands)
 
Thank you for the tips and information :)

I’m hoping we see light at the end of the tunnel with this. The vet has put them on Itrafungol oral medication. They want to see them after the end of treatment to do some more cultures and see what they return with.

I’m hoping for a positive outcome after this :)

Laura x
 
Laura23 said:
Thank you for the tips and information :)

I’m hoping we see light at the end of the tunnel with this. The vet has put them on Itrafungol oral medication. They want to see them after the end of treatment to do some more cultures and see what they return with.

I’m hoping for a positive outcome after this :)

Laura x
Click to expand...

Itrafungol is very effective in my own experience and so much less hassle than bathing 16 piggies every 3 days... as I had to do before it came in. You should be past the acute, spore shedding stage within 1-2 weeks.

The blind spot with itrafungol is that while it can reach every part of the body as a dip can't, it cannot reach what is not in direct contact with the skin - mainly any spores sitting in the coat. It would be good to give them a bath now, to prevent any spores from getting onto the bedding and minimising the risk of further secondary infections and then a second bath at the end of treatment, so your ringworm spore free piggies will have a new start in a ringworm free, deep cleaned environment. You should also get quite a bit of loose shedding hair out that won't be tracking into the rest of the accommodation. ;)

For a 1-2 times treatment you can use a human anti-dandruff shampoo. It is a bit harsh on the skin but you do not have to go to the length of buying an expensive fungal dip. The job it is being used for is a mechanical one: simply washing spores off the coat.

All the best. I sincerely hope that you are feeling a bit calmer and more in control now. We are here to help you with any questions and moral support. Ringworm may not be a fatal disease but it is by far the most contagious issues and it can really drive you nuts.
 
Thank you. The vet gave us Imaverol to put on using a sponge and said to this twice a week during the treatment.
Would you suggest also giving them a full bath with some anti dandruff shampoo also?

Laura x
 
Laura23 said:
Thank you. The vet gave us Imaverol to put on using a sponge and said to this twice a week during the treatment.
Would you suggest also giving them a full bath with some anti dandruff shampoo also?

Laura x
Click to expand...

No, not with the imaverol - so he is treating for advanced ringworm both orally and topically.

Please make sure that you do not apply any imaverol too close to the eyes - at the most you use a cotton bud with suds near ears and eyes; especially with the itrafungal getting there better much better anyway. It can make the eyes swell up really badly.
 
When my late blackie had ringworm,I remember I wore disposable gloves when I gave her the intrafungal medication and I put my clothes in a black bag to be washed separately to other clothes then washed my hands before putting on others.I also remember that the dose of intrafungal at the time after 2 weeks wasn't doing the job so I emailed my vet and got the dose put up to the maximum which worked and I was very lucky her cagemates never caught it.I hope you get on top of it.F10 is a very good disinfectant like others have mentioned.
 
I can’t add to the advice given but it sounds as if your piggies are in excellent hands with you.
They are lucky to have landed in such a loving and caring home.
Holding you in my thoughts
 
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